SGLAI NewsletterJune 2026
- Elgin Smith
- 12 hours ago
- 5 min read
Community. Creativity. Resilience.
As summer officially began, June became one of the busiest and most rewarding months in Stomping Grounds Literary Arts Initiative's history. From community festivals and youth workshops to professional production work and continued programming inside Illinois juvenile facilities, our artists, educators, and partners continued proving that creative expression has the power to transform lives.
While we celebrated incredible accomplishments throughout the month, we also took time to honor one of our beloved Open Stage family members whose kindness and creativity touched so many people.
Open Stage and Make Music Chicago
For the past five years, Stomping Grounds Literary Arts Initiative has proudly partnered with the Buttercup Park Advisory Council to activate public spaces through music, poetry, and community engagement. Executive Director Elgin Bokari Smith continues to serve on the Advisory Board, helping shape programming that brings neighbors together through the arts.
On June 21, SGLAI partnered once again with Make Music Chicago to celebrate the Summer Solstice with a full day of live performances at Buttercup Park.
Throughout the afternoon audiences enjoyed performances by local musicians before the evening was set to conclude with our monthly Open Stage featuring Chicago poet and performer Jovan Landry.
Unfortunately, heavy rain forced us to relocate indoors.
Thankfully, our longtime partners at Haibayo Café immediately opened their doors, allowing the event to continue without missing a beat.
What could have been a disappointing ending instead became one of the most intimate and memorable Open Stages we've hosted this year. The packed café created an atmosphere full of music, poetry, laughter, and community.
A huge thank you to Haibayo Café for once again providing a welcoming home for our artists and audience, and to P.C. Gooden Smiley and the entire Buttercup Park Advisory Council for their continued partnership in making Uptown a vibrant place for creativity.
Spotlight: Jeanetta Anderson Completes Paint the Light
Throughout June, teaching artist Jeanetta Anderson (Awthentik) completed another inspiring session of Paint the Light with young women at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center.
Using poetry, discussion, and creative reflection, participants explored themes of identity, healing, sisterhood, purpose, and hope. Week after week, the young women encouraged one another while discovering the power of their own voices.
The workshop culminated in a beautiful collection of original poetry reflecting tremendous artistic growth and emotional honesty.
Jeanetta reflected:
"Watching these young women begin believing in their own voices has been one of the greatest gifts of this experience. Every week they reminded me that creativity is an act of hope."
Below you'll find several of our favorite poems, recordings from the workshop, and a link to the full feature highlighting Jeanetta's work.
Student Spotlight: Curtis B.
One of the greatest joys of our work is watching young people discover confidence through creativity.
This month we'd like to recognize Curtis B. from our Audio Production program at Illinois Youth Center Chicago. When Curtis first entered the program, learning the recording software and editing process was challenging. Rather than becoming discouraged, he continued showing up every week determined to improve.
With additional one-on-one support, Curtis has now completed three original songs and continues building what could become his first full music project. His perseverance reminds us that growth looks different for everyone. At SGLAI, we believe every young person deserves the opportunity to learn at their own pace, receive individualized support, and celebrate every milestone along the way. We're incredibly proud of Curtis and can't wait to hear what he creates next.
Continuing Partnerships
Production Spotlight: Honoring Ed Roberson
One of the highlights of June was having the opportunity to once again work alongside one of Chicago's most celebrated poets, Ed Roberson.
This wasn't our first collaboration with Ed. In 2025, Stomping Grounds Literary Arts Initiative had the privilege of filming him as part of our Chicago Soul Poem series, documenting his work and helping preserve the voices of some of Chicago's most influential poets. Returning this year to support an event celebrating his lifetime of achievements felt like a true full-circle moment.
This month, the SGLAI Audiovisual Production Team partnered with the Poetry Foundation and the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame to provide professional audio, visual, livestream, and production support for the presentation of the Fuller Award, honoring Ed Roberson's extraordinary contributions to American poetry.
Hosted by former Chicago Poet Laureate avery r. young, the evening featured moving tributes from family, friends, fellow poets, and literary scholars, celebrating a lifetime dedicated to language, imagination, and community. It was an honor for our team to help ensure that such an important evening was accessible both in person and online.
Our production team provided:
Professional audio engineering
Multi-camera video production
Livestream coordination
Projection and presentation support
Accessibility and captioning coordination
Overall event production
This partnership represents another exciting milestone for SGLAI as our audiovisual production work continues to grow alongside our educational programming. Whether we're documenting young poets inside juvenile facilities, producing community Open Stages, or supporting nationally recognized literary institutions, our goal remains the same: helping powerful stories reach wider audiences.
A huge thank you to our outstanding production team:
Elgin Bokari Smith (ED)
Joseph Thomas (Intern)
Cassius (AVP Tech + Alumni)
Your professionalism and dedication helped make this celebration possible.
Be sure to watch Ed Roberson's featured poem from our Chicago Soul Poem series below, and check out highlights from this unforgettable evening honoring one of Chicago's literary legends.
Remembering Eric Castillo
June also brought heartbreaking news.
Our Open Stage community lost one of its brightest and kindest members.
Eric Costello was an MC, poet, performer, and beloved member of the Stomping Grounds family for the past three years. He wasn't simply someone who attended Open Stage.
He helped define it. Eric consistently encouraged first-time performers, celebrated everyone's successes, and reminded us that showing up with kindness matters just as much as stepping up to the microphone.
Despite the health challenges he faced, Eric always arrived with positivity, generosity, and genuine excitement to support everyone around him. His poetry, humor, and compassion helped shape the welcoming atmosphere that has become the heart of our Open Stage community. Although he is no longer with us, his legacy will continue through every poem shared, every new artist encouraged, and every room made brighter because someone felt safe enough to tell their story.
Eric,
Thank you for your laughter.
Thank you for your friendship.
Thank you for your poetry.
You will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.
Rest peacefully.
Looking Ahead
JTDC Open Stage
Featuring Jamila Woods
July 15, 2026 3:00–5:00 PM
(invite only)
Featuring Binkey & Neko
July 23, 2026
(open to public)
Thank you for continuing to support the work of Stomping Grounds Literary Arts Initiative.
Every workshop, every performance, every partnership, and every young person who discovers their voice is possible because of this incredible community.
Please consider donating on our support page.
Everyone's Voice Matters.
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