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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 in spring 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.
He was our brother Our childhood Our actor Our poet Our friend With a smile Forever untainted in our hearts Warm and brilliant and kind Mirror to our milestones We grew with you We thought we would Grow old with you This good bye In another 50 years Would still have been too soon
All of us you touched Over television Film Music Verse All of us linked in infinite gratitude And now profound grief
Thank you for the life You gave us That talent you Poured out For us How you reflected us Represented us Loved us
I hope you knew How we loved you Every iteration of you How we Will Always Love you Our brother Our childhood Our Shining Black Prince
#MalcolmJamalWarner #TheHeavensAreFilledWithPoets #LesléHonoréPoetry