For this episode of Randomly Selected, we sit down with Leslé Honoré!

We talk about everything from her origins of growing up in Los Angeles and New Orleans and the impact those places had on her life all the way to her current endeavors as a poet, activist, author and CEO of Urban Gateways in Chicago and so much more!

Leslé Honoré is a Blaxican Poet, artivist, and author of Fist & Fire, a collection of powerful, unflinching poems that confront issues of social justice through the lens of real human lives and voices, and dive into the flames of love within the context of a relationship. In her poetry and life she works to empower youth to find their voices through the arts, and inspire people to stand in the gaps that social, economic, and racial inequities create. Leslé challenges readers, inviting them to think, feel, and consider how to create spaces where everyone can thrive. She hopes that through her work she can help give voices to people who are often silenced, unheard, and feel invisible. Her pieces about Serena Williams and Doria Ragland went viral on social media and expanded the reach of her work to an international audience.

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For this episode of Randomly Selected, we sit down with Eric Williams to talk about The Last Block Party!

We talk about everything from the origins of The Sound System Block Party and the original conception of the idea all the way to the present day of its last installment!  Eric goes down memory lane with host Mario Smith and talk about 18 years of amazing culture, community and love! 

The Silver Room Sound System Block Party, founded in Chicago in 2002, is a multicultural, all-ages music and arts festival and is known as a mainstay in Chicago summers. Its roots come from the historic sound system block parties in the Bronx that connected communities through music. Having grown from a modest event for friends + family, the Block Party now attracts over 35K+ guests. We take pride in how our vibrant event highlights arts and businesses across the greater Chicagoland area, and creates a platform for famed and up-and-coming music acts.

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For this episode of Randomly Selected, we sit down with Avery R. Young!

We talk about everything from his origin story of growing up on the West Side of Chicago and how that shaped his career all the way to his current role as the Chicago Poet Laureate in Illinois and everything in between!

An award-winning Poet, Educator, Musician, Artist, Composer and Producer, Avery R. Young's work spans the genres of music, performance, visual arts and literature. Young’s work in performance, visual text, and sound design has been featured in several exhibitions and theater festivals, including the Chicago Hip Hop Theater Fest, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, and the American Jazz Museum.

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For this episode of Randomly Selected, we sit down with Jansen Bridge!

We talk about everything from his origin story and what inspired his move to Chicago all the way to things like his portrait process, his dream capture and so much more!

"Born and raised in Gainesville, Florida. I’ve lived in Chicago the previous eight years. My life story has influenced my photography. I don’t have any childhood pictures or strong memories to fall back on. I use photography to transform childhood trauma into a positive by using creativity to build a community and family I never had. I want my commitment to adding value to Chicago shows in my work. Just as marketing and photography has the ability to impact businesses I believe it is also capable of changing communities. This is why I use my camera to push forward causes I believe in."

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For this episode of Randomly Selected, we sit down with Ann Lui and Craig Reschke of Future Firm! We talk about everything from their origin stories and their original intentions with starting The Future Firm all the way to the current days of helping reshape the design structure of Chicago and so much more! Future Firm is a Chicago-based architecture and design research office. Founded by Ann Lui and Craig Reschke in 2015, the architecture practice spans diverse scales: from exhibition spaces to residential and commercial buildings to urban and territorial speculations. We focus on using design to synthesize the aims and efforts of multiple stakeholders, catalyze transformation for individuals and groups, and create flexible space for diverse needs. We excel at working with clients who are changemakers in their own communities. Our work helps develop novel approaches towards community and belonging when multiple stakeholders come to the table. We use technical expertise and collaborative means to create spaces which bring together diverse agendas as more than the sum of their parts. Future Firm’s work has been exhibited at Exhibit Columbus, Storefront for Art & Architecture, Shenzhen Hong Kong Bi-City Biennale of Architecture/Urbanism, New Museum’s Ideas City, and the Chicago Architecture Center. The practice has been published in The Architect’s Newspaper, Architect Magazine, and Wallpaper*. Future Firm also currently operates The Night Gallery, a nocturnal exhibition space on Chicago's South side, which features video and film works by artists and architects from sunset to sunrise. You don't want to miss this one!

For this episode of Randomly Selected, we sit down with Priya Shah! We talk about everything from her origin story and her international travels while studying at the University of Illinois all the way to how that impacted her to create The Simple Good and so much more! Priya is an entrepreneurship professional that was selected as a Ariane de Rothschild Legacy Fellow focused in Cross-Cultural Leadership and Innovative Entrepreneurship from University of Cambridge, Obama Foundation Strategist, nominated for Forbes 30 Under 30, amongst other honors. In addition, Priya is an international Speaker and fashion and lifestyle model based in Chicago, Producer for an upcoming documentary, Project: Building Hope and a children's book author. You don't want to miss this one!

For this episode of Randomly Selected, we sit down with Norman Teague LIVE from the Bronzeville Winery! We talk about everything from his origins of growing coming up in the Chicago Public School system and how that brought him to his present endeavors as a mentor for Chicago youth. We also talk about his hand in redesigning The Silverroom, The Bronzeville Winery and so much more! Norman Teague is  social practice artist, designer, furniture maker, and educator. Teague co-founded the Chicago-based design studio, blkHaUs Studios, and in 2019 went on to form Norman Teague Design Studios. In addition to his studio practices Teague currently resides as a professor in the school of industrial design at University of Illinois Chicago. You don't want to miss this one!

For this episode of Randomly Selected, we sit down with Mark Aguirre LIVE from the Bronzeville Winery! We talk about everything from his origins at Westinghouse and his DePaul recruitment all the way to his love for Chicago and so much more! Mark Anthony Aguirre is an American former basketball player in the National Basketball Association. Aguirre was chosen as the first overall pick of the 1981 NBA draft by the Dallas Mavericks after playing three years at DePaul University. Aguirre played in the NBA from 1981 until 1994 and won two championships with the Detroit Pistons after being traded to Detroit from Dallas in exchange for Adrian Dantley. Aguirre was a three-time All-Star for Dallas. He was also the 1st Mexican-American basketball player to win an NBA title. You don't want to miss this one!