Teaching Artist Spotlight: Johnetta “Awthentik” Anderson's Paint the Light Program at JTDC
- Elgin Smith
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Finding the Light Through Poetry
"What would happen if young people had the opportunity to explore the light around
them, the light from where they come from, and the light within themselves?"
That question became the foundation of Paint the Light, a six-week poetry residency led by teaching artist and poet Johnetta “Awthentik” Anderson at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC) through Stomping Grounds Literary Arts Initiative (SGLAI).
Through poetry, conversation, and creative reflection, young women explored themes of friendship, toxic relationships, accountability, sisterhood, heartbreak, self-worth, and resilience. More than a poetry workshop, Paint the Light became a space where participants could process their experiences, share their stories, and discover the power of their own voices.
Building a Program Around Youth Voice
Johnetta came to JTDC after years of working with young women throughout Chicago. While previous programs focused on community-building across neighborhoods and schools, she felt called to go deeper.
"I was curious about their stories and what those stories looked like through poetry," she reflected.
What she quickly discovered was that every group required a different approach.
"I find myself throwing away more lesson plans than I write," Johnetta explained. "I build the plan, then I meet the young people, and I realize the plan isn't going to work for this group."
Instead of forcing a curriculum, she built the program around the interests, experiences, and personalities of the participants.
The result was a student-centered environment where youth selected the topics that mattered most to them. Poems emerged from conversations about relationships, friendship, trust, heartbreak, family, and personal growth.
"We would have conversations, and then we would find the poem inside the conversation," she said.
Meeting Youth Where They Are
Many participants entered the program believing they did not like poetry.
Rather than fighting that perception, Johnetta met them where they were. When students shared that they listened to Rod Wave, she introduced poetry through his music, helping participants recognize that storytelling, rhythm, and emotional honesty already existed in the art forms they loved.
From there, she expanded their understanding of poetry through the work of Sonny Patterson, Tank and the Bangas, Red Storm, and K Love, exposing participants to spoken word, performance poetry, and pieces centered on sisterhood and empowerment.
By connecting poetry to familiar cultural experiences, resistance began to turn into
curiosity.
Some of the strongest evidence of success came when students began writing outside of class.
"Some of the girls who said poetry wasn't their thing started writing on their own," Johnetta said. "That meant everything."
Creating a Creative Studio Inside JTDC
At SGLAI, we strive to create spaces that feel different from traditional classrooms.
Johnetta embraced this approach by writing alongside participants rather than simply instructing them.
"I wasn't just facilitating. I was writing with them."
This decision transformed the atmosphere of the room. Youth saw a professional artist engaging in the same exercises, taking the same risks, and sharing her own creative process.
Together they explored difficult topics while building trust and community.
"The things we deal with as women, heartbreak, fake friends, being hurt, even being the person who hurts others, are almost universal," Johnetta reflected.
As participants listened to one another's stories, they began to realize they were not alone in their experiences.
Student Growth and Creative Achievement
The poetry created during the residency demonstrated remarkable honesty, self-awareness, and emotional depth.
Students wrote about:
Healthy and unhealthy relationships
Self-respect and personal boundaries
Friendship and accountability
Ambition and perseverance
Healing from emotional pain
One student explored the complexity of trust and vulnerability in relationships. Another wrote about recognizing toxic patterns and refusing to return to harmful situations. Others celebrated resilience, family, and their determination to overcome adversity.
A standout participant, Lawson, attended consistently throughout the residency, filled her notebook with writing, brought in poems created outside of class, and became a mentor for newer participants by helping them begin their own pieces.
The group also collaboratively wrote a poem defining what it means to be a real friend—someone who respects boundaries, offers support, speaks honestly, and stays present during difficult moments.
The Power of Vulnerability
Teaching poetry inside a detention facility presents unique challenges.
"Poetry asks people to be honest and vulnerable," Johnetta explained. "And that's not
always easy in a place where vulnerability can feel unsafe."
Rather than viewing resistance as a disciplinary issue, she approached it as a teaching challenge.
Youth were given space to observe, participate when ready, and gradually engage with the work on their own terms.
This patience paid off.
Throughout the residency, emotional check-out scores consistently exceeded check-in scores. Young people often entered the room carrying stress, frustration, or exhaustion and left feeling more connected, hopeful, and confident.
Challenges and Resilience
Like many arts programs operating inside carceral settings, Paint the Light faced logistical barriers.
Administrative scheduling issues occasionally prevented classes from taking place. Security protocols sometimes disrupted planned activities. Staff presence required careful navigation to ensure participants felt comfortable sharing personal experiences.
Despite these challenges, the program remained grounded in creativity, trust, and youth voice.
Johnetta viewed each obstacle not as a reason to lower expectations but as an opportunity to adapt and deepen her practice.
Why This Work Matters
Reflecting on the experience, Johnetta described the residency as a full-circle moment.
As a child, visits to incarcerated family members were a regular part of her life. Returning to similar spaces as an artist and mentor allowed her to reimagine what those environments could represent.
"I get to come back and do good work now," she said.
The experience reinforced her belief that creative expression can be transformative for young people navigating difficult circumstances.
Looking Ahead
By the end of the residency, participants were asking for Johnetta by name, sharing poems voluntarily, and encouraging one another's growth.
The relationships built through Paint the Light demonstrate the power of arts programming to foster connection, self-expression, and healing.
Johnetta hopes to continue this work with young people inside JTDC and beyond.
"I definitely want to come back."
Her final reflection captures why programs like Paint the Light matter:
"This work is groundbreaking. It shows young people that they can build lives and careers through the arts."
At Stomping Grounds Literary Arts Initiative, we believe every young person deserves the opportunity to tell their story, discover their voice, and find their light.
Support This Work
Programs like Paint the Light are possible because of supporters who believe in the transformative power of the arts.
You can help by:
Supporting SGLAI's youth arts programming
Sponsoring a teaching artist residency
Donating art and creative writing supplies
Partnering with SGLAI to expand opportunities for incarcerated youth
Sharing this story with your network
Together, we can continue creating spaces where young people are heard, valued, and celebrated.
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