Tulisoma South Dallas Book Fair

Tony Simmons (10 a.m.)
After years of working as a children's librarian and drama teacher, Toni combined her talents and began traveling the nation sharing stories. Toni's diversified background gives her the poise, confidence and adaptability to entertain audiences of all walks of life with multicultural oral traditions. She takes you on an odyssey to other countries where you explore different cultures with her unique and spirited versions of familiar tales. These tales "come to life" as listeners become part of her stories with carefully orchestrated rhythms, chants and movements. This seasoned professional captivates an audience leaving them wanting more storytelling from Toni Simmons.

Clif Caldwell (10:30 a.m.)
An Anchor/Reporter for KTVT-TV (CBS 11), he began working at the station in September 2001, but has been in the Dallas/Fort Worth market since 1992. A native of Syracuse, New York, Clif attended the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut and earned a bachelor’s of science degree in Communications. His first job was with WTNH-TV in New Haven, Conn. Clif has received several awards in his career, including an Emmy Award for a continuing coverage piece when he was in Grand Rapids, Mich. He’s received several Emmy nominations while reporting in Miami and Cleveland. Clif is married and has two children, a boy and a girl. The family is a member of St. Luke Community United Methodist Church. When not working, Clif enjoys spending time with his family, and time permitting, riding his bike and scuba diving.

Kristi Nelson (10:45)
Kristi Nelson joined NBC 5 in 2001. She is a general assignment reporter and can be see throughout the week reporting for NBC 5. Kristi graduated from the University of North Texas in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She later earned a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University in New York City. Before joining NBC 5, Krist worked at WVIT-TV in Hartford, CT as a reporter. She was also a staff writer for the National Basketball Association, where she wrote for Hoop and Inside Stuff magazines, and for the NBA’s web sites, NBA.com and WNBA.com. Prior to that, Kristi was a reporter for the Cincinnati Enquirer, and a correspondent for the Philadelphia Inquirer. In addition to her work as a reporter, Kristi is the author of "The Chamique Holdsclaw Story," a biography about one of the stars of the WNBA. Kristi has been a volunteer worker for Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics, and the Association to Benefit Children, a mentor program for homeless and disadvantaged children in New York City. She is an avid in-line skater and enjoys traveling, cooking, yoga and cycling. For two years, she has helped raise money for Multiple Sclerosis research by riding in the MS150 Red River Challenge, a 150-mile bike tour from Dallas to Ardmore, Okla.

Melody Bell (11:00 a.m.)
Melody Bell grew up in West Dallas listening to her mom, a precinct chairwoman, tell stories at the dinner table about family members and politicians. Ms. Bell became a teacher, and as the cultural chairwoman for the school where she worked, she invited a storyteller to perform. As she watched, she remembered how captivated she had been by the stories she heard as a child "I decided, 'Well, I think I could do this, but I could probably add a little more to it,' " she says. "I started storytelling while I was still teaching, and word of mouth got around, and I became busy." Since then, she's performed for Junior Players, Big Thought and a wide array of cultural events in Dallas. She's been a griot (it's pronounced gree-oh) – a storyteller, poet, singer and musician – since 1990, full time since 1996. Her specialty is African and African-American stories, although she has branched out to include tales from places such as Mexico and Bulgaria. She often lets the kids try out some of her traditional African instruments. Her performances for children are all about audience involvement. "I'll start off the story and have them fill in different phrases," she says. "I may have them make sounds for different instruments. I may make them repeat some of the passages that I say." Ms. Bell, has two sons, Ishmael and Isaac Mozeke.

Ronald McDonald (12:00 noon)
Ronald will share with the audience his love for books and reading. During the show he will give tips to kids on how to care for books

Keith Price (12:30 p.m.)
Mr. Price will present a rap session do not miss it!

Monique Ridge Williams (1:00 p.m.)
Monique Ridge-Williams, a Dallas native, earned her Bachelor of Arts from Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas. She later moved to California, where she met her husband of ten years and earned her Master of Fine Arts degree from the California Institute of the Arts. Monique has been featured in various screen projects including "Under One Roof" starring James Earl Jones, "Touched by an Angel" with Della Reese, "NYPD Blue," "Chicago Hope," "The Steve Harvey Show," "Primary Colors" starring John Travolta and several HBO films. Additional stage credits include "Medea," "The Heiress," "The Seagull," "Colored Museum," "Colored Girls," "Trojan Women," "Purlie, "Victorious" with Soul Rep Theatre and a host of other productions.

Cheryl Smith (1:30 p.m.)
Cheryl Smith is a talk-show host, columnist for the Dallas Weekly, teacher at the historically black Paul Quinn College in Dallas and regional director of the National Association of Black Journalists.

Baron James (1:45 p.m.)
Veteran broadcast journalist Clarice Tinsley and I co-anchor FOX 4 News at 5 and 10 weeknights. We were named Best Anchor Team by the Associated Press in 2003. It's also our goal to connect with you beyond the news and out in the community. I am fortunate to be able to work with many of you through various charitable and community service groups; and the list keeps growing. I encourage you to make it a point also to "give back" to society. The rewards are immeasurable! Since joining FOX 4, I have reported, field anchored, and anchored extended live coverage of the Shuttle Columbia disaster, September 11th attacks, the President Ronald Reagan national funeral, and North Texas' infamous severe weather. Maybe our paths have crossed before. I spent 4 years in Pittsburgh as weekend anchor at ABC affiliate WTAE-TV 4. Prior to "the 'burgh" I co-anchored the 5pm newscast at NBC affiliate WSFA-TV 12 in Montgomery, Alabama. I began my television broadcast career in 1988 as a morning talk show host/anchor/reporter at NBC affliate KTVE-TV in Monroe, LA, after studying premed at Xavier University of New Orleans, then wrapping up journalism school at Louisiana Tech University. I look forward to years of public service here in the Lone Star State and at FOX 4 bringing you the news stories that matter most to you -- especially good news! Thanks for tuning in. Drop me an email sometime to say hello or tip us to a news story!

Debbie Denmon (2:00 p.m.)
Debbie Denmon is the co-anchor of News 8 at Daybreak and Midday for WFAA-TV. efore joining Channel 8 in October 2000, Debbie began her broadcasting career in 1993 as a reporter in Colorado Springs. In 1995, Debbie was promoted to weekend anchor and reporter for KJRH-TV in Tulsa, Okla. While in Tulsa, Debbie covered the Oklahoma City bombing. Three years later, Debbie became weekend morning anchor and reporter for WTHR-TV in Indianapolis. Some of Debbie's memorable stories include covering the lndiana Pacers at the NBA finals in Los Angeles, and the firing of Indiana University's legendary basketball coach, Bob Knight. Debbie is an avid Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Mavericks fan, and she also enjoys musicals and fine restaurants. Debbie is a native Texan and a graduate of the University of North Texas at Denton, where she earned a bachelor's degree in journalism.

Shirley Washington (2:15 p.m.)
Shirley Washington is an Emmy award-winning television news anchor and reporter with KDFW-TV in Dallas, Texas. She is married and the mother of a beautiful boy. She and her family live in a Dallas suburb.

Ramona Logan (2:30 p.m.)
Ramona Logan is a reporter for NBC 5. She joined the station in 1985 after working as a Weekend Anchor/Reporter/Producer at KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City, and a Consumer Reporter and Producer/Host at KAKE-TV in Wichita, Kansas. An honor graduate from Wichita State University, Ramona earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Marketing. Since her career in broadcast journalism began, Ramona has received a multitude of awards and honors for her work. Among those awards are the Texas Associated Press-Best Documentary, Texas United Press International Best Documentary, the Oklahoma Associate Press, the United Press International, a National Headliners Award for her work on documentaries, and the Edward R. Morrow Regional Award for documentary. Aside from her duties as a reporter, Ramona is a professional member of the DFW Association of Black Communicators where she volunteers on the scholarship committee. She is also actively involved in many charitable and community events including being on the board of the Jeffries Street Learning Center. In her spare time, she enjoys skiing, playing tennis, and motivational speaking.

Audrey McClure (2:45 p.m.)
Audrey McClure has always had a passion for her cultural heritage. In exploring her own heritage, she found her artistic expression through storytelling, to convey the richness of her African-American roots. Ms. McClure has for the last dozen years extended her talen for acting and storytelling to children and adults in the DFW area, working with such organizations as the Dallas Children's Theater, Soul Rep Theater Company, the Bath House Cultural Center, SGI-USA, The McKinney Avenue Contemporary Theater (The MAC), Dallas County Juvenile Department, and the Dallas Childrens Museum. Her acting credits include roles in SLIM, Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry, Freedmans, Difficulty of Crossing a Field, Victory Over Violence, Trojan Women, The Pain Game, and Mufara's Beautiful Daughters. she appeared in Chuck Norris' "Walker, Texas Ranger" in 1998. Audrey has enthralled audiences of all ages with her storytelling, in schools, libraries, museums and community centers. She has been a featured artist at Young Audiences for almost a decade. She has worked at SMU with Dr. Njoki McElroy on a variety of projects, such as co-directing the festival "Back Home with the Folks", presented at the African American Museum at Fair Park. Storytelling has allowed Audre McClure the means to keep her heritage alive and contribute positive messages to society particularly to the youth..She finds it very satisfying to pass on her stories, "as a gift from the past to the future.."

Midnight Cry (3:15 p.m.)
A MIDNIGHT CRY The Underground Railroad to Freedom , by the Dallas Children’s Theater Leaving the cruelties of oppression and the brutality of plantation life behind, Lida, a young slave, begins a dangerous trek on the Underground Railroad. Based on the true narrative of one slave's journey to freedom.

L’Angela Lee (3:30 p.m.)
Poetic Reflection of Pride through an African American woman’s perspective of ancestry, love and self perception.