Who We Serve
Carceral Programs
Stomping Grounds Literary Arts Initiative (SGLAI) provides creative programming to incarcerated youth at the following facilities:
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Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (CCJTDC)
CCJTDC houses youth awaiting decisions from the Cook County Juvenile Court, with an average of 240 young people, ages 10 to 16. SGLAI partners with Nancy B. Jefferson School, a Chicago Public School within the detention center, to offer creative arts programming that empowers and inspires. -
Illinois Youth Center (IYC) – Chicago
IYC-Chicago is a medium-security juvenile facility on Chicago’s west side, housing around 70 young men with an average age of 16. Our programs provide a space for them to explore the arts, develop new skills, and express their unique stories. -
Illinois Youth Center (IYC) – Warrenville
IYC-Warrenville serves young women with multiple needs, including educational services (GED and high school diplomas), vocational training, mental health and substance abuse treatment, parenting education, and family reunification programs. The average age of the youth here is 17.1 years. SGLAI offers creative opportunities to help these young women grow, heal, and express themselves through the arts.
Community Programs
In addition to our work in detention centers, Stomping Grounds engages with at-risk youth across Chicago through community-based events. These events bring together formerly incarcerated youth and young people from marginalized communities to collaborate and co-create positive, creative pathways for their futures.
Describe your image
Describe your image
Describe your image
Describe your image
Our Reach
Many of the youth we serve come from Chicago’s South and West Sides, where juvenile arrest rates are among the highest in the city. These neighborhoods include:
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West Garfield Park, Austin, North and South Lawndale
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Little Village, West Lawn, Marquette Park
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Woodlawn, Chatham, South Shore
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Calumet Heights, Greater Grand Crossing
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Avalon Park, Auburn Gresham, Roseland, and Pullman
Youth from these communities often end up at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (CCJTDC). (Kaba, M., 2014, Juvenile Justice in Illinois: A Data Snapshot, Project NIA).
