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...

February 20, 2026 | Community Recap On February 20, 2026, Stomping Grounds Literary Arts Initiative (SGLAI) hosted Story & Stage  at SZNL Gallery, an evening centered on storytelling, artistic development, and community-building through live performance. The night began with a workshop exploring the line between personal narrative and performance, followed by a dynamic Open Mic that created space for emerging and established artists to share original work in a supportive environment. The...