Open Stage Featuring Paige Ellis
- Elgin Smith
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
On March 18, 2026, Stomping Grounds Literary Arts Initiative hosted Open Stage at the beautiful Garfield Park Conservatory, featuring the talented R&B artist Paige Ellis. It was a truly special evening, with members of the Garfield Park Conservatory community coming together for an intimate night of storytelling, music, and connection.
This was our first time hosting Open Stage in such a stunning garden space, and it made the night unforgettable. The energy in the room was warm, supportive, and full of creativity from beginning to end.
Featured Artist: Paige Ellis
Paige Ellis delivered a heartfelt workshop and performance centered on vulnerability, storytelling, and authenticity. She shared that this was her first time leading a workshop based on her own music and that public speaking can sometimes feel challenging for her. But once she stepped in front of the audience, she transformed into a confident and inspiring presence.
Her workshop explored themes of opening up in relationships, self-reflection, and pushing through difficult moments. If you would like to experience the workshop for yourself, you can view the full writing prompt and workshop document here:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rfANEYGmkjyscjSy-HZ92ORTKOVV2VsdYWMqoZJhWlQ/edit?usp=sharing
Open Mic Artists
We want to give a special shout-out to everyone who signed up and shared their voice during the Open Mic. These artists helped make the night meaningful, emotional, and unforgettable:
Ukulady LisaDevon SagoSurdeep ChauhanJenniferTANKOO THE GOATDaizureGHos HeruLorelei PementMz. EYG Queen EraModdyOther MikeBinkeyJanet Ivette ReyesJeromeKhari101
Thank you for your courage, creativity, and willingness to share your stories with the community.
Thank You to Our Team & Partners
Special thanks to our audiovisual team for helping bring this event to life:Walter (Deejay 1Solo Mo)Michael (Mo Beats)Clayton Harris (C Baby) – HostJoseph – Intern
We also want to thank Jefferson Mok for capturing photos from the evening and a huge thank you to the Garfield Park Conservatory team for welcoming us into the space and supporting this event.
Watch the Full Performance
You can watch Paige Ellis’ full Open Stage performance and highlights from the night below. Be sure to share it with someone who loves live music and storytelling.
You can also support Paige by listening to her project Thinking Out Loud:https://paigeellis.bandcamp.com/album/thinking-out-loud
What’s Next
We will be back with Open Stage on April 16th from 5:00–9:00 PM at Haibayo Café, and we hope to see you there.
If you believe in our mission to create safe and supportive spaces for young people and community artists to share their voices, please consider supporting Stomping Grounds Literary Arts Initiative by following us and signing up for our newsletter.
Because what is support without community? Let’s keep creating spaces where everyone can thrive and be heard. 🌿
Comments