June Reigns as the Month of Black Month
By Angela Greene
It is June in the U.S.A., which is especially significant for those in radio, particularly Black radio because it is Black Music Month. Exactly 43 years ago, President Jimmy Carter issued a decree on June 7, 1979, to honor the contributions of Black musicians. The now defunct Black Music Association, which was led by Kenny Gamble, Ed Wright, and Dyana Williams worked to get the first Black music event at the White House in 1979.
Read MoreBWIR SUMMER YOUTH WORKSHOP BRINGS MEDIA TO YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS
- LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MEDIA INDUSTRY
- LEARN HOW TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS
- FIND OUT WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE IT IN THE BUSINESS
- SEE HOW MEDIA PROFESSIONALS NAVIGATE THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF BUSINESS AND CAREER
- LEARN HOW TO CREATE PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS TO IMPROVE SUCCESS
Meet some of the BWIR workshop instructors
Bioncé Foxx
- The vivacious radio and TV personality has become a household name in Chicago after rocking the airwaves for nearly 20 years.
- Bioncé Foxx hosted the “Foxx on the Box Show” at iHeartMedia’s 107.5 WGCI, and gained international fame after the show aired on the island of Bermuda and throughout the Cayman Islands.
- “The Bioncé FoxXperience” is home to Chicago’s V103 and can also be heard in more than 20 markets across the country. She also hosts weekend shows on V100.7 in Milwaukee.
- Foxx is a Lead instructor for radio broadcasting programs throughout Chicagoland including one at Chicago State University where she also produced a radio show on the school’s radio station.
Donna Schiele
- Indianapolis radio talent of 13 years Donna Schiele works at Atlanta’s Classix 102.9 and hosts the “H.E.Y. Girl!” podcast.
- National voice over talent also produces commemorative graduation videos.
- Donna is a K-8 educator who became an assistant principal and received “Teacher of the Year,” twice during her 20 year career in education.
Fel’esha Love
- Fel’esha Love was co-host for five Atlanta Morning Shows and received several community awards from both the Atlanta Mayor’s office and Georgia Governor’s office during her 30 year career.
- A former Spelman College professor and Rockdale Public School teacher, Love facilitates Leadership and Best Business Practices workshops for business, organizations and institutions.
- As founder of BWIR, Love connects thousands of minority women from multi-generations to celebrate their professional contributions to radio culture on a global platform.
- She developed MySpiritFitness Management Group, LLC to produce positive creative content for multimedia platforms. (The BWIR Podcast, “Her Digital Universe” TV Show, The Two-Minute Manager Shows, and the MySpiritFitness Wellness Moment Shows.)
First Lady
- First Lady is perhaps one of the most versatile women in radio. Working in multiple areas of the radio industry from New York, Chicago, Indianapolis and The UK.
- First Female mixers on urban radio – WGCI-FM Chicago 1986
- Program Director/ Midday Talent/ DJ(mixer) – The FM Omni Channel 95.1 Chicago Digital Station
- International Programming Consultant & Mixer – London based stations SG-1Radio, SG-1 Soul and SG-1House
- Ranked #17 Top Black Women In Media (Radio Facts 2006)
- 2006 Billboard Radio Large Market APD/MD Programmer of the Year
- 2010 Stellar Large Market Gospel Station of the Year
- 2010 GMA Station of the Year
- National Black Radio Hall of Fame – Chicago Chapter President
- Black Women In Radio – Executive Liaison & Executive Board Member
- Inducted into the Frankie Knuckles DJ Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award 2015
Kesha Monk
- Kesha Monk has been wowing people with her voice for over 25 years.
- She has recorded projects for global brands such as Mcdonalds, Dreamworks, Busch Gardens, SeaWorld, Coca Cola, Chick Fil A, Dunkin Donuts and more.
- She is the promo voice for Queen Sugar on the Oprah Winfrey Network and the live announcer for the Soul Train Award which airs on BET.
Angela Greene
- Angela Greene is one of the most powerful writers in modern history.
- A former Gwinnett County Public School high school teacher, Greene represented herself through four jurisdictions in a civil rights case with no legal education or training.
- Her book, Unnecessary Roughness is archived in the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
- Greene recently wrote the original brief in a school-to-prison pipeline case that was won on appeal in Gwinnett County.
- The 30-year broadcast veteran is Black Women In Radio Board Member and Director of Public Affairs and Media Relations.
- Greene is the creator, writer, and host of Jazz Flavors on WPGN Radio Atlanta
Black Women In Radio Talk Reality TV & “Sista Luv” During Women’s History Month
In observance of Women’s History Month, Black Women In Radio (BWIR) will stream the powerful 10-minute movie short “Sista Luv” LIVE, on Facebook, YouTube, and Good Life TV this Saturday, March 13th at 6:00 PM EST.
After the Watch Party, meet Director Les Shepherd and the cast members Shavonna Monáe, LaToya Bass, Rashida Bass, plus Spoken Word Poet Arnell Darden. The BWIR All-Star Panel will provide thought provoking dialogue on media culture, love, women, and sisterhood.
Read MoreBWIR TO HOST BOOK WRITING MASTERCLASS
Black Women In Radio (BWIR) is hosting an exclusive two-hour class for people who want to write and publish a book or identify the book that lies dormant within. Our goal is to promote radio personalities who want to double as authors and to encourage more women to enter the literary arts. The class is open to the public.
Sign up for the virtual class to be held on December 5, 2020 from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM (CST). Sign up below.
BWIR AUTHOR SUMMIT
On September 28th Black Women In Radio (BWIR) will host its first Author Summit featuring published authors who are also media professionals from all over the country. They will participate in a two-hour discussion about the challenges of becoming an author, why it is important for their stories to be heard, and how their voices can affect Black culture.
BWIR recognizes the urgency to support and amplify Black Voices. Learn more about each author from their book summaries and links below.
Black Women In Radio (BWIR) is the first and only network of its kind to change the narrative of how women are perceived in media. They are successfully promoting thousands of minority women globally from multi-generations to celebrate their contributions to media arts.
BWIR AUTHOR SUMMIT features Frankie Darcell, Tracy Williamson, Tambra Cherie, Sasha The Diva, Monique Caradine, Angela Greene, Nikki Davis, and Felesha Love.
Frankie Darcell “A Story To Tell” by Frankie Darcell and Julius Justice @frankiedarcell
Frankie Darcell was one of the top radio personalities in Detroit, Michigan. Many remember her from W.J.L.B. This book is her life story.
Conversations For Sista Only by Frankie Darcell
Conversations For Sistas Only is a stage play inspired by the 2004 book of the same name written by Radio Personality Frankie Darcell. A serious yet comical look at the stuff women gossip about. A compilation of the hottest topics and conversations as viewed through the eyes and lives of Sistas. Be they “Sistas” or “ Sisters” This very diverse group of women get together for a pajama party to empower and encourage. But along the way they engage in very taboo topics with humor and sometimes blunt honesty that will make you laugh, maybe cry, and differently will make you think about your own opinions and biases. As women, we talk and without a doubt, Conversations For Sistas Only will spark a whole new round of Sista-talk with you and your circle of friends. By the way, gentlemen if you really want to know what your woman thinks? This stage play is where you’ll get the answers.
Own Your Moment and Take the Stage: Laying the Foundation for a Successful Music Career by Tracy Williamson @tracywilliamson7
If you are in pursuit of a career in the music or entertainment industry, this book will step-by-step help lay the groundwork for you to successfully own your moment and take the stage. Gain insight, motivation, and information to properly develop your vision before writing a song, recording music, releasing a project, performing on stage, or signing with a record label. Learn how to establish and maintain your vision, finances, music, creative goals, team, and brand, while pursuing national platforms, record contracts, and distribution deals. This book also includes an Artist Journal to notate your moments of creativity and information gathered throughout your journey.
Surrounded By Sin Grounded By Love: 8 Simple Keys to Becoming a Better You by Tambra Cherie @tambracherie
Radio personality and host Tambra Cherie hopes to inspire and encourage others to become who they were predestined and preordained to be. Her goal is to help you find purpose in your pain, discernment in your disappointments, and peace within your chaos. She encourages you to grow through life’s disappointments and challenges while embracing new outlooks and perspectives. Tambra Cherie shares various experiences and lessons she’s learned throughout her journey of becoming a better version of herself, and hopes this book will help you take a deeper look within yourself while embracing your own truths.
Blended But Not Broken: How My Blended Family Prevailed and Yours Can Too by Sasha The Diva @sashathediva
Blended families can thrive, and Sasha The Diva explains how you can better navigate through the process of merging households in this practical guide. She shares her deeply personal struggles, tough lessons, and experiential advice with those who will encounter or who are already part of a blended family. She even includes more significant details about her family’s intervention from renowned life coach Iyanla Vanzant, which aired on television (“Iyanla Fix My Life“).
Embrace Your Inner Millionaire by Monique Caradine @sisternomics
Now is the time for women leaders and entrepreneurs to stop stressing and worrying about money! Take the eight steps outlined in this book right now and change your money situation for the better–forever. In this book, Monique Caradine reveals:
-How to uncover your hidden profit potential
-The four types of people to whom money is flowing abundantly right now
-The real reason you should aim to embrace your inner millionaire.
-Why your friends might be keeping you broke.
-Why gratitude should be a part of your wealth-building strategy.
Unnecessary Roughness: The Story of a Mother’s Fight for Justice by Angela Greene @justiceandjazz
When Angela Greene’s twin daughters were expelled from their Girl Scout Troop, she took immediate action. She stood up against the injustice. She stood up for Malia and Sharena, who had done nothing but give a Family Heritage Presentation highlighting their family’s involvement with the Civil Rights Movement. The troop leaders from the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta had unwittingly picked the wrong mother to email (twice!) with an offer to find another troop that was a “better fit.” Shocked, outraged, and disappointed by the inexcusable discriminatory conduct, Angela vehemently rejected their offers and weak solutions. She adamantly refused to find another troop, and she had no desire to start her own troop. Angela pursued a legal course of action instead and ventured on a journey through four levels of state and federal courts that taught her some tough lessons about ineffective assistance of counsel. In fact, she was motivated to do her own research and to litigate for herself. Unnecessary Roughness is a remarkable story of resilience, determination, fearlessness, and advocacy. More importantly, it is a fascinating story of a mother’s love and her faith in God, who served as her attorney when no one else would. For more about the book or author Angela Greene, visit: www.unnecessaryroughnesspublishing.com.
It’s In The Juice: Taking Life Back One Juice At A Time by Nikki Davis @yagirlnikki
After having my daughter I learned very quickly that postpartum depression was a real thing. My emotions, my mind and my weight were all over the place. It took me nine months to birth a baby and another nine months to birth the woman that was hiding behind the depression. Instead of choosing prescription drugs that often have harmful side effects, I decided to take my life back with something as simple as juicing. In this book, you will experience my real-life journey, meet the people, and get the recipes that helped me to go from my lowest point to my greatest victory.
Brave Leap to Freedom: Integrating Mind, Body, and Spirit to Cultivate Healthy Relationships by Felesha Love @twominutemanager @feleshalove
Toxicity can be experienced anywhere and with anyone. If not addressed, the experiences can be destructive to the mind, body, and spirit. This book is filled with relatable stories and self-help exercises to help you identify toxic relationships and break self-defeating cycles.
While raising two daughters, navigating divorce and a new blended family, earning a graduate degree, and teaching at a local college, I army crawled my way through the dark night of the soul.
I didn’t know it at the time but my passion for helping others led me to establish my company MySpiritFitness© Management Group, LLC (MSF), and create a wellness pedagogy that is introduced in this book. The tools and techniques in this book are tested and approved by clients and students I have had the pleasure of sharing knowledge with over decades of teaching in classrooms and workshops.
I am obsessed with waking up to the true self and helping others do the same.
BWIR Features Helen Little
Join in the conversation with radio veteran Helen Little
Women On The One’s and Two’s Accentuate Black Music Month in 2020
by Felesha Love
JUNE IS BLACK MUSIC MONTH, as such, Black Women In Radio #BWIR seeks to change the way Black women are perceived. Black music culture is rich in history and influence. However, the creative sisters behind the turntables deserve their props.
For decades, people have and continue to be positively affected by a DJ’s passion, creativity, style, and musical ear. They intuitively know how to light up the party atmosphere.
At present, the world is in a face-off between COVID and racism pandemics. Music is needed, now more than ever. Look to the inspirational influences of musicians, singers, rappers, producers, and our sisters spinning on the one’s and two’s keeping the music playing while the world heals. Music is the key to reminding humanity that all really is one.
Thank goodness with have Black Music Month to celebrate music culture and its contributors. The highest respect belongs to founders Dyana Williams, Kenny Gamble, and Ed Wright who under the Carter presidency in 1979 acquired acknowledgment from the White House.
Williams labored through many obstacles to make it official. She created the International Association of African American Music Foundation (IAAAMF) and lobbied on Capitol Hill until the passing of legislation in 2000.
Learn more at https://nmaam.org/2019/06/13/a-look-at-how-black-music-month-started/
Godmother of Black Music Month Dyana Williams
Women On The One’s and Two’s Accentuating Black Music Month in 2020
Here are a few women we think you should know. Be sure to follow their social media pages and support their work. You can also follow Black Women In Radio on Instagram and Facebook to meet dynamic women from all over the country and abroad.
BWIR Conversation Series Builds Confidence in Creative Enthusiast Coast to Coast
Love is at the core of the Black Women In Radio (BWIR) movement, says Founder and CEO Felesha Love. What started out as a #BlackWomenInRadio social media campaign to preserve Black radio culture has become a growing phenomenon for women.
Since its conception in May 2017, women throughout the country have echoed appreciation for the platform serving as a catalyst for America’s Black female radio personalities and the communities they serve as an opportunity to see themselves in the eyes of one another. Now is a critical time for the Black community as radio personalities are sweepingly losing jobs in large numbers. As Black voices are silenced, so goes opportunities to serve authentically for local and regional interests.