Stomping Grounds in 2024

2024 has been such an amazing year in SGLAI history. Here are some of the biggest growth points of the year:

Highlights

Branding by DANBEE

Successful Rebranding

• Partnered with Danbee Studios to rebrand Stomping Grounds LAI, enhancing our visibility and organizational identity.

Open Stages

• Hosted 7 open stages, fostering creative expression and community.

• 7 performing artists were trained to become teaching artists, enhancing their professional growth by developing workshops based on their creative processes to share with the wider community.

• Artist Include: Ryan Alexander, J Bambii, Zion Ali, Suri Wong, D' Funk & The Grease Monkeys, GreenTTea & the Tempos, and Boukhepra.

• Organized a special Open Stage at the JTDC, creating a unique space for youth expression Featuring two time Grammy Award winning artist Rhymefest.

  
  
  
  

  Video Edited by Open Stage Host Cee Baby

  
  

Youth Achievements

• Azreya won an honorable mention for the Gwendolyn Brooks Award:, becoming a published artist. Her family was able to celebrate this milestone with her.

  
  

  Recap from Award Ceremony

  
  

• Open stage participants’ milestones:

  • Lily Sato launched her own space, SZNL Gallery, and released her first single Blinding Light and music video with support from the SGLAI network.

    
    

Blinding Light by Lilly Sato, Produced by Lilly, Mo Beats & SGLAI ED Elgin Bokari

• Kahari Humphries was granted a residency at Porkchop Eatery, featuring Open Stage DJ 1 Solo and host Clayton Harris, also known as Cee Baby.

Collaborations

• Maintained partnerships with organizations like the Poetry Foundation, assisting with Audio Visual Production for at least five events.

• Supported Stomping Grounds alumni Denzel and Destany in launching their program, Real Youth Initiative, REAL develops revolutionary consciousness and builds community amongst currently incarcerated and formerly incarcerated youth in order to work towards the abolition of prisons and the conditions that (re)produce them.

Elgin, Walter & Cortez at Poetry Foundation event.

Community Engagement

• Hosted Two open mics in local parks, including:

  • Buttercup Park featuring D Funk and the Grease Monkeys.

  • The Anchor in Marquette Park, marking their first outdoor music event.

  
  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  
  

• Pocket Con and Fundraising

  • Successfully ran Pocket Con at the Harold Washington Library.

  • Organized the first Nostalgia Show fundraiser, featuring three musical performances, a game room, and 40 artists at the Chicago Art Department.

    
    

Nostalgia Show 2024 Recap

Pocket Con 2024 at Harold Washington Libarary

Creative Programming

• Partnered with Nate Olson of Optimus Comics to deliver comic workshops in the JTDC, allowing for expanded programming capacity.

• Collected over 70 poems:

  • 40+ from male youth at JTDC.

  • 30+ from female youth at IYC Warrenville.

• Produced 40 radio-ready songs from incarcerated youth.

  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  

  
  
  

Infrastructure and Training

• Completed the SGLAI website, improving outreach and visibility.

• Updated assessment and reporting processes for Illinois Youth Center facilities.

• Attended AMPT Training, gaining valuable skills for program assessment and reporting.

Classroom Innovations

• Introduced a classroom creed and values, fostering focus and growth.

• Created an orientation process for new youth participants, enhancing understanding of program goals.

• Implemented the use of syllabi to provide clear learning objectives and a sense of accomplishment.

Honoring Rashawn: 

After the tragic loss of Rashawn, we honored his memory by releasing his song, "Sorry Mom," which was played at his funeral. Proceeds from the song, released on Bandcamp, helped cover funeral costs, reflecting the love and respect of our community.

Rashawn's full song is on Band Camp Please support

Insights

1. Technology Integration

   • Leveraging artificial intelligence tools has significantly streamlined assessments, notes, and program documentation.

2. Enhanced Teaching Practices

   • Developed more efficient methods for producing radio-ready songs by building on proven techniques.

   • Providing youth with syllabi and clear learning objectives improved their focus and sense of purpose.

3. Values-Driven Programming

   • The challenges of introducing new teaching artists underscored the importance of instilling core values in youth.

   • The development and consistent use of the classroom creed have positively impacted focus, collaboration, and professionalism among participants.

4. Resilience in Leadership

   • Overcoming logistical challenges and limited resources reinforced the need for adaptability and intentional planning.

   
   

   
   

More to Come in 2025

As we close out a transformative 2024, we’re excited for the opportunities ahead in 2025! Through the Uptown Cares initiative, we’ve been awarded a grant to collaborate with HaiBaiYo, bringing workshops in visual arts, creative writing, and audio production to their new space on Argyle. We’ll also welcome innovative teaching artists to enhance our juvenile center programs, expand Open Stage into new communities, and continue working toward securing a venue for Pocket Con 2025.

Here’s to another year of creativity, growth, and impact!