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.
Gonna still fly Like Coleman Iike Tuskegee’s Red Tails Gonna still dream With Martin and Malcom in Our sails Gonna still soar Like Gabby and Simone off the scales Gonna dance like Debbie Gonna sing like Paul Gonna write like Toni Gonna love us like Saul Gonna teach like Kellee Gonna feed us like Bryant Gonna stitch us like Butler You can ban the books and lessons The dreams ain’t Deferred They are Defiant Gonna raise the babies like Faith Gonna dance in Cave Suits Gonna hold up mirrors with Kara Walker truths Gonna second line in Black parades And Bounce when Freedia says so Even if she don’t claim us Gonna battle cry like Erivo Gonna love our women Gonna love our men Gonna love beyond the binary Gonna educate our children You can’t ban the brilliance Or joy In our veins Our souls have always been And remain Unchained
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