News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Monday December 15th 2025
Dee Henry Williams: Amen Corner Planning Team and Stage Manager
Left: Dee Henry Williams; Right: Barbara LeShoure
Alley Communications is delighted in having Dee Henry Williams”' amazing energy and talents to help coordinate and stage-manage the incredible talent at A Media Social on November 16th. Dee has been a volunteer for 25 years at KFAI Fresh Air Radio. She produces a weekly radio program, A Great Blend of Watercolors, Saturdays, 6:00-9:00 A.M. She also supports indie labels specifically from the Blues, R&B, and Gospel genres.
Dee has programmed at KMOJ Community Radio and WRNB and worked on numerous cable TV productions in the Twin Cities. Her multiple talents have also been contributed to the annual May Day Parade led by Heart of the Beast Theatre. Dee is a member of the Backyard Initiative”'s Rebirthing Community CHAT team.
As a textile artist, Dee uses blue-jeans to produce mask-making workshops. Her Art for Healing & Celebration workshops help participants think outside the box, be introspective, de-mask and experience the exhilaration of living in the moment. Some of her exhibited art can be seen on her website, www.shangospiritmarket.com.
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Barbara LeShoure: Blues, Chicago style
Born on Chicago”'s south side, weaned on the blues, a daughter of a singer, guitarist, and harmonica player, Jack Stepter, Barbara spent her youth sucking up the souls of legends that included Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and Howlin”' Wolf. Her Blues upbringing provided the foundation for which she was to later be acclaimed as Chicago”'s “Leading Lady of the Blues.”
Diversely gifted in both Gospel and Jazz, her father insisted early on that singing the Blues was Barbara”'s destiny for life in order to carry on the tradition and to educate others of the tragic struggles resulting in this country”'s musical roots.
Since residing in Minnesota, Ms. LeShoure performs locally and has contributed regularly to the community through an inner city program entitled “Music Mentoring”. She has provided educational instruction about the Blues in several Minneapolis and St. Paul schools to promote awareness and appreciation of the African American cultural experience.
Ms. LeShoure has recently been inducted into the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame. Many lay claim to singing the Blues, but few, if any can lay claim to “living the Blues-side of the tracks” like Barbara LeShoure.
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Leola Althea Johnson: “Honey Boo Boo As a Political Figure: A Convergence of News and Entertainment
“I am a single parent of two adult boys, which is my favorite identity. My sons, who are both in their twenties, are wonderful, ethical young men. I”'m also an academic and a writer. Most recently, I have been writing about photographic representations of black bodies in popular culture.
Her scholarship focuses on the media representations of African Americans in news and entertainment, especially sports and music, as well as on women and African Americans who work in media industries. Â She is an associate professor of Media and Popular Culture at Macalester College.
Alley Communications is delighted that she will join us in what promises to be a provocative and dynamic evening including her presentation and many talented local performers.
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Keep citizen journalism alive!
