Dyana Williams, proudly known as the Mother of Black Music Month, has distinguished herself as the primary authority on the prominence and value of African American music in global culture. A pioneering force in radio, music, and American culture for more than five decades, Williams has built a respected legacy as one of the foremost women entrepreneurs in contemporary entertainment and media. A native of Harlem, New York, Williams began her radio career at the City College of New York before going on to become an indelible presence in three of the largest radio markets in the country, New York, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia. She was integral to establishing June as Black Music Month in the United States, co-writing House Concurrent Bill 509, which recognized African American music as an American cultural institution. As CEO of Influence Entertainment, Williams has provided media education and coaching to top-charting recording artists, actors, executives, and celebrities including Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Fantasia, and ASAP Rocky. She is a founding board member of the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville, a past president of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Recording Academy, and a longtime expert commentator on TV One’s award-winning documentary series Unsung. Named one of the Top 20 Black Radio Jockeys of All Time by News One and recognized twice as a Radio Hall of Fame nominee, Dyana Williams brings unmatched cultural authority, warmth, and passion to everything she touches, including the Soul Train Cruise stage.

Laiya St. Clair is an award-winning on-air personality, producer, cultural creative strategist, and talent booker with a career spanning more than 25 years across radio, podcasting, live events, and cultural storytelling.

A native of Washington, DC, Laiya began her journey in media at just 13 years old, volunteering for Cathy Hughes, founder of Urban One. After graduating from Clark Atlanta University, she moved to Philadelphia where she hosted and produced multiple radio time slots and morning shows, making history as co-host of Radio One’s first all-female morning show. Her impact on the airwaves earned her a Proclamation from the City of Philadelphia.

Building on her radio foundation, Laiya expanded into the podcast space as co-creator, host, and producer of award-winning shows including Questlove Supreme, Jill Scott Presents: J.ill the Podcast, and Visit Philly’s Love + Grit, earning multiple Webby Awards and NAACP Image Award nominations.

Her work extends far beyond podcasting. Laiya has appeared as featured talent on Music Choice and has led conversations for institutions including the National Museum of African American Music and the Recording Academy’s MusiCares. A dynamic live host, she annually serves as master of ceremonies for DJ Jazzy Jeff’s Playlist Retreat and other cultural gatherings. Her voiceover work can be heard in national campaigns and on the Emmy-nominated animated series The Jam Van.

A storyteller at heart, Laiya brings warmth, wit, and deep cultural knowledge to every stage she graces, and the Soul Train Cruise is no exception.

Soul Train All Up in the Movies and TV

Dyana Williams, Mother of Black Music Month, pioneering force in radio, music, and American culture, is teaming up with Laiya St. Clair, radio and podcast personality, producer, and cultural creative strategist, to present: Soul Train All Up in the Movies and TV. Join these two cultural tastemakers along with special guest Janine Coveney, entertainment blogger and host of the weekly film and interview podcast The Words on Flicks Show, for a fun, clip-driven, audience-interactive journey through Soul Train’s unforgettable fingerprints across decades of film and television. Part nostalgia, part discovery, come ready to remember, laugh, and join in!

Leslie “Big Lez” Segar

Entertainment icon & legend, Leslie “Big Lez” Segar has trademarked her presence in the music industry.

She is a multi-talented & highly respected dancer/choreographer, on-air radio & TV personality/producer, fitness specialist and stage & film actress. Leslie defines the term, “Jane of All Trades, Master of All” Her multi-media reputation has cemented her place in music history.

Lez has just been permanently honored by the Grammy Museum in their Sonic Playground Activation exhibit.

As an evolving artist, Leslie has put on her director’s hat and is preparing for her directing debut as a documentarian. She is now developing a dance documentary, Hip-Hop docuseries & working on her autobiography. Leslie is also in development for a talk/variety show with a major network.

Lez can be seen in the films “Trope” and “A Miracle Before Christmas” while presently shooting upcoming film & TV roles.

You can also be part of the culture by shopping at BIG LEZ DANCE DESIGNS tribute wear to iconic female dancers. (Link at the top).

Coined by a journalist in an interview as “The Legs of Urban America,” Lez back flipped onto the scene dominating the 90’s. She is the pioneer of female Hip Hop dancers and raised the bar for those to come.

In her world of choreography, Leslie completed scene-ography for Season 1 of VH1’s “The Breaks.”

“Big Lez”….a name given to Leslie by directors to describe her muscular, athletic physique & grand gymnastics ability and moves typically performed by small-framed persons, yet conquered by a dynamic sized woman.

Leslie choreographed & danced in videos such as Michael Jackson’s “Remember the Time,” Whitney Houston’s, “I’m every Woman,” Mary J. Blige’s “Real Love” & “You Remind Me,” LL Cool J’s, “Around the Way Girl,” Salt-n-Pepa, Bobby Brown and many more.

Her choreography for “Real Love” garnered her a MTV Music Award nomination for best choreography.

Leslie’s recognizable silhouette is undeniable at the intro of Queen Latifah’s hit TV show on Fox, “Living Single.”

Her incredible dance ability & sultry choreography for TV, music videos, films & tours, keeps her in demand and locked into music history.

A woman in demand, Leslie dominated the radio airwaves. Always ahead of the curve, she has been the host & producer of a multitude of her own #1 shows across the country, namely: “Hot Jamz” on Sirius Satellite Radio, midday’s at Los Angeles 92.3 The Beat/KKBT, (iHeart) to New York’s WQHT/Hot 97, Atlanta’s WAOK/V103 along with being a co-host alongside Big Boy’s Morning Show at KPWR/Power 106 Los Angeles (Emmis) and notable entertainment reporting for iHeart affiliates at Premiere Radio Networks.

Her internationally syndicated Sprite Street Mix radio show via Radio Express, featured the NBA, new film junkets, cutting edge music, fashion and all things entertainment. You can also find great interviews from her previous podcast “ThaSpinRoom,” available on all platforms.

This former host & producer of Viacom/BET’s Rap City (7 years) is credited for conducting many first interviews for international artists like, Tupac Shakur, Notorious B.I.G., Outkast, Wyclef Jean, The Fugees and more.

Leslie is responsible for bridging the gap between sports, fashion, film, TV & Hip Hop with her produced features from behind-the-scenes and special coverage of NBA All-star & NFL Super Bowl games.

Her exclusive red carpet film premiere & radio round table interviews with a multitude of notable actors, directors, producers and studio executives solidifies her respectful & trustworthy journalistic persona. Matt Damon, Denzel Washington, Scarlet Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Oprah, and Director Paul Greengrass to name a few.

Upon receiving a full gymnastics scholarship & obtaining a Bachelors degree in physiology & minor in theater arts from the highly accredited Springfield College, in Massachusetts, Lez has used her expertise to set up fitness & healthy lifestyle programs for executives such as Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, Mary J. Blige, Andre Harrell (Revolt TV Vice Chairman), and Faith Evans, just to name a few. Her company is appropriately named “BODIOGRAPHY” Inc.

Leslie Segar, a woman who truly represents spirit, mind & body.

Art of Dance – Dance is the universal language that brings people together, no matter their age, background, or experience. In this class, we’ll focus on having fun, building confidence, and discovering the joy of movement one step at a time.

We will let our bodies & soul tell the stories; primarily of the Soul Train Funk era while elevating our spirits, mind and bodies with added exercises.

There are no mistakes here—only opportunities to learn, laugh, and express yourself. Whether you’ve never danced before or are simply looking to try something new, my goal is for you to leave smiling, feeling accomplished, and inspired to keep dancing.

Dr. Evisha Ford, LCSW

is a mother, wife, TEDx Speaker and the Founding Executive Director of iCan Dream Center, a therapeutic school in Illinois that serves neurodiverse learners and their families. Dr. Evisha is the author of the book Benches in the Bathroom: Leading a Physically, Emotionally, and Socially Safe School Culture.

She began her career serving inner-city homeless youth in Chicago. Dr. Evisha was recruited by Chicago Public Schools, launching her path in education. She is a former Assistant Superintendent, Director of Special Education, and Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership. With a Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Aurora University, Dr. Evisha’s research focuses on students with disabilities, youth resiliency, and systemic injustice.

Dr. Evisha is a sought after thought leader and consultant in schools nationally and internationally. She specializes in trauma-compassionate leadership, program design, cultural and racial equity, developing continuums of service for diverse learners, and a variety of other topics relevant to effective school and nonprofit leadership.

Self-Care: Rest, Rhythm, and Reclaiming Yourself is an engaging, culturally responsive workshop created for individual who are ready to move beyond surface-level conversations about wellness. Rather than reducing self-care to vacations, spa days, or temporary escapes, Dr. Evisha Ford will help participants examine the rhythms governing their lives and identify sustainable ways to protect their mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being.