March has been a transformative, challenging, and reawakening month for SGLAI. From welcoming new leadership and teaching artists to expanding our creative programming and community events, this month has been full of growth, reflection, and momentum. Welcoming Our New Board We are proud to officially welcome five new board members to SGLAI: Mariah Balaban , Jean Davidson Meister, Ian McGill, Kendra Mealy Wilk , and Sam Thousand . We gathered for our first meeting at the Chicago Art...

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,...

2025 marked one of the most successful and transformative years in the history of Stomping Grounds Literary Arts Initiative (SGLAI).  This year represented a shift from vision to scale, expanding our reach, deepening our partnerships, and amplifying youth voices across Chicago through literary arts, comics, music, and audiovisual storytelling. Building Our Public Presence One of the year’s earliest milestones was the official launch of our website, sglai.org . Having a centralized digital...