SOUTH SUBURBAN RESIDENT LEADING REVITALIZATION OF ORGANIZATION FOR BLACK WOMEN IN MUSIC

Kenya McGuire-Johnson (pictured) is a south suburban resident and has recently taken on the role of relaunching the Chicago chapter of the National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment, Inc. Photo Credit: Provided by Kenya McGuire-Johnson
Kenya McGuire-Johnson (pictured) is a south suburban resident and has recently taken on the role of relaunching the Chicago chapter of the National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment, Inc. Photo Credit: Provided by Kenya McGuire-Johnson

South Suburban Resident Leading Revitalization Of Organization For Black Women In Music

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

The National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment, Inc. (NABFEME) laid dormant for several years before its recent resurgence. With active networks in over 15 cities across the country, south suburban resident Kenya McGuire-Johnson is leading the relaunch of Chicago’s NABFEME chapter.

McGuire-Johnson first learned about NABFEME in 2010 from her vocal coach who was a member. Despite the Chicago network being very active and having one of the largest networks of members in the country at the time, McGuire-Johnson didn’t join and shortly after that, the organization went quiet. McGuire-Johnson said that she thought she had missed her opportunity but she was wrong.

“I saw that NABFEME was relaunching and having a big conference last September so I decided I would go to the conference to learn a bit more about the organization. At that time, I wanted to just see how involved I could get because I was more developed as an artist and I had my own coaching business so I wanted to go ahead and start to network,” said McGuire-Johnson.

During the conference, McGuire-Johnson was able to meet other black women who work in music and entertainment and said that she thought the whole event was fantastic.

“You could really feel the sisterhood and I felt like it was a very safe space for women of color in entertainment, from artists all the way up to executives,” said McGuire-Johnson.

She returned to Chicago after the conference and began to think about what she could do to support the Chicago chapter of NABFEME. McGuire-Johnson reached out to Johnnie Walker, the chief executive officer and founder of NABFEME, to see how she could help and was asked to lead the Chicago relaunch herself.

“Johnnie and I spent a lot of time having conversations about her vision for the organization and the relaunch which was in alignment with what I do, in terms of supporting other artists and coaching artists and helping them through empowerment, educating, networking, and mentoring,” said McGuire-Johnson.

Right now, her group is small, McGuire-Johnson said that there are about four members in Chicago so far and they will be meeting throughout the summer to talk about what the network needs to be successful and how it can best serve the community of black women working in music and entertainment in the Chicago area.

“In today’s culture, and with black women especially, I do think we’re in a very lively space in terms of our development and feeling empowered but I also think there’s a gap between generations. You have some black women who are not millennial age, they are maybe over 45 years old and have succeeded in the craziness that this industry used to be, that have learned a lot of life lessons that could help the younger millennial generation and really bridge that gap,” said McGuire-Johnson.

Being able to rebuild the membership, offer valuable learning experiences, and bring together a multigenerational group of industry professionals will allow McGuire-Johnson to fulfill the NABFEME vision of building a strong support system for black women who work in music and entertainment.

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