Chicago native Niena Drake is not your average DJ. From wardrobe stylist, to special events coordinator to producer to TV and radio show host, her mark has been left in the entertainment industry.
Drake always had a love for music and spent time during her college days as a marketing director for a record label, but also had a love for fashion. It wasn’t long before she added wardrobe stylist to her portfolio.
“My grandmother was like the most flyest woman ever like, she so fly. I was always taught to take pride in my appearance and how I look,” Drake told the Defender.
The Power 92/92.3 FM disk jockey and official DJ for the Chicago Bears attributes her days at Columbia College for much of her creativity.
“It is an amazing growing plant of creative geniuses, just an amazing environment to encourage minds and inspire those who didn’t even know they had creativity,” she said.
Every Thursday at 7 p.m. Drake hosts “How to make your passion profitable” on U-stream.
“There’s a lot of people out here [trying to] figure out how to make money from their creative passion and either they don’t know how or they don't have access to people that will give them honest feedback,” she said referring to how the program on U-stream was born.
Drake is a rising philanthropist and isn’t shy about giving back to the community. She speaks at various motivational events, including the recent foundation launches of Swish Dreams Girls and the M.E.D.I.A. Girls.
“My goal is definitely to be a philanthropist for the arts. I want to leave a legacy for young creative minds that want to follow their dreams,” she said.
Copyright 2011 Chicago Defender
