Chicago Soul Poem: Day One in the Books
- Elgin Smith
- Apr 21
- 2 min read
On April 19, 2025, we officially kicked off filming for Chicago Soul Poem—a groundbreaking three-day production in partnership with the incomparable Avery R. Young, centered on honoring the voices and stories that shape our city.
This project is more than a film shoot. Chicago Soul Poem is an evolving portrait of Chicago through the lens of poetry, capturing the rhythm, resilience, and brilliance of its people. Each poet participating in the project brings a unique lens on Black life, memory, movement, and sound—creating a collective meditation on what it means to be rooted in Chicago’s soul.
Day One brought together ten of the city’s most dynamic poets. Their performances were intimate, electrifying, and deeply intentional. Every word delivered on set spoke directly to the heart of our mission at Stomping Grounds Literary Arts Initiative: to use the literary arts as a tool for connection, self-expression, and generational healing.
We also want to celebrate the remarkable behind-the-scenes team who helped bring this vision to life:Elgin Bokari, Mewael Michael, Hector Pacheco, Walter McDavid, Uran Kabashi, and Cassius M.
A special moment from the day—our newest AVP tech, Cassius M., let us know this was his very first job. Watching our longtime technician, Walter McDavid, walk him through the process (including how to fill out his first invoice!) reminded us how powerful mentorship can be when we create space for learning and legacy.
This is just the beginning. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue this journey and prepare to share the final works with the world.
With gratitude,The Stomping Grounds Literary Arts Initiative Team