🌱 Spring into the Summer: Fuel Creativity & Healing Inside JTDC

At Stomping Grounds Literary Arts Initiative (SGLAI), we believe in the power of storytelling—and in the young people who are shaping their own stories, even behind locked doors.

This spring, we’re launching our Spring into the Summer Campaign to raise $50,000 to support one of our most urgent and transformative programs: creative arts workshops and performance events inside the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC).

🎯 This program currently runs without a dedicated funding stream—but with your support, we can ensure these young voices are heard, nurtured, and celebrated.

🔗 Make a Donation Today

Why It Matters

Youth in detention often carry the weight of trauma, isolation, and systemic neglect. Our workshops offer a counter-narrative: one rooted in creativity, mentorship, and healing. Through comics, music, poetry, visual art, and open mics, young people discover their power—and share it.

What Your Gift Supports

🎨 Expanded Creative Workshops in JTDC

Currently, we can only offer one comic book workshop per 10-week cycle. With additional funding, we’ll bring in more artists—poets, musicians, illustrators, and more—to offer year-round programming that meets youth where they are.

🎤 Open Stage Events (3x Annually)

These seasonal events transform a room in JTDC into a stage. Youth step up to share original work—raps, poetry, songs, stories—backed by professional sound, DJ support, and artist mentors. It’s not just performance—it’s practice in confidence, clarity, and courage.

🎧 Music Production with Sye Music LLC

For just $50–$70 per track, youth can work with our professional producer to record clean, audience-ready versions of their music—building technical skills and telling their stories with purpose.

📘 Locked Achievements Catalog

This youth-led publication captures the poems, drawings, and reflections created inside JTDC. Your support helps us print and distribute new editions—so these voices reach far beyond the walls where they were written.

Impact Levels

• 💡 $10,000 = Funds a full 10-session workshop cycle inside JTDC

• 🎤 $2,500 = Covers a full Open Stage event with DJ, artist support, and equipment

• 🎨 $1,000 = Supports multi-disciplinary residencies with professional teaching artists

• 📚 $250 = Prints 50 new copies of our Locked Achievements catalog

• 🎶 $50 = Produces one radio-ready youth music track

💬 “This gave me a way to say something I couldn’t say out loud.” — Youth participant, JTDC workshop

🔗 Make a Donation Today

Your gift brings life, light, and possibility to some of Chicago’s most overlooked young people.

Every contribution helps us show up with consistency, compassion, and creativity—inside JTDC and beyond.

📸 Want to see the work in action? Check back soon—this page will feature photos, art, and music from our youth participants.

If you’d prefer to give by check, ACH, or wire transfer, contact Elgin Bokari T. Smith at Elgin@sglai.org.