Tue, Sep 22
|Kimball Arts Center
THE FREQUENCY by DJ Lady D
THE FREQUENCY is a bold new monthly live speaker series supporting new energies, emerging thought leaders, and connections.
Time & Location
Sep 22, 2026, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Kimball Arts Center, 1757 N Kimball Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, USA
Event Info
THE FREQUENCY is a bold new monthly live speaker series supporting new energies, emerging thought leaders, and connections. Internationally renowned DJ/producer, TEDx speaker, Recording Academy Chicago Governor, and Collaboraction Executive Director DJ Lady D is introducing THE FREQUENCY to amplify voices, cultivate dialogue, and inspire collective action around today’s most pressing cultural issues. Lady D will bring together artists, activists, civic leaders, and changemakers for immersive experiences that blend music, storytelling, and conversation.
THE FREQUENCY continues in August with special guest speaker Leslé Honoré, followed by conversation, collective movement and dancing with DJ Lady D.
The FREQUENCY by DJ Lady D: SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 AGENDA
7:00 PM – Doors & Music
7:30 PM – Leslé Honoré
Through poetry and social media we can use art to record, witness and connect.
Participants will both engage in listening to a traditional poetry reading focusing on current events and also be lead in a writing exercise to build their own artistic tool belt.
9:30 PM – Close The Portal
ABOUT LESLÉ HONORÉ
Leslé Honoré was appointed CEO of Urban Gateways in 2022. Leslé is a Blaxican poet, activist, and published author. In her poetry and personal life, she helps people find their voices through the arts and helps marginalized communities stand in the gaps that social, economic, and racial inequalities create. Her community leadership is woven into her artistic work. As Elevated Chicago’s Co-chair Leslé infuses her expertise in poetry and art into youth engagement and leadership style into governance and programming. Her past work threads seamlessly into Urban Gateways’ mission to inspire creativity and impact social change.
Leslé was appointed co-chair of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Art and Culture Transition team inspring of 2022. She also serves on The City of Chicago’s Advisory Council on Women; The City of Chicago’s Cultural Advisory Council; Elevated Chicago’s Creatives Advisory Council and the boards of the Urban Theater Company and The Renaissance Collaborative. Leslé was awarded The Community Impact Award from Metropolitan Planning Council in October 2024.
Leslé attended Xavier University in Louisiana, where she studied English Literature and Spanish, before moving to Chicago in 1999. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, WBEZ (NPR), WVON/ABC7 Chicago and other major national TV news stations. She’s been a featured speaker at numerous events such as; The Obama Foundation Summit, The City of Chicago’s 19th Amendment Commemoration; Latino Progresando’s MEXtalks; Morgan Stanley’s Global Women’s Conference; SAIC’s Diversity and Inclusion retreat and Northwestern University’s Hispanic Heritage month celebration.
Born and raised in Gardena, California, she remains deeply rooted in the heritage and culture of her father, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana; and mother, who was born in Sinaloa, Culiacan, Mexico, and immigrated to the US at age 15. Leslé lives in Chicago with her three phenomenal children: Sage, Solomon and Scarlett. She believes in HBCU’s and says that “tacos and gumbo without kale can save the world.” Her Children’s book, Brown Girl, Brown Girl was released in November of 2024. Her forthcoming children’s books My Brown Boy and If You Raise Free Daughters are scheduled for release in January 2026 and 2027.