For the first time ever, the Levitate literary team at The Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts) hosted a public open mic on October 18, 2017 at the Read/Write Library in Chicago.
Levitate is ChiArts’ literary magazine; it allows submissions from writers outside of the Creative Writing conservatory, aiming to create a collection of work that derives its inspiration from various backgrounds, experiences and voices. The magazine encourages new writers who would like to take a chance with their work to submit and get themselves out in the literary community.
From 6:30 to 8 p.m., the Levitate staff opened the floor to anyone who would like to share from a multitude of genres including fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, rap, and spoken word. After food, drinks, and song selections courtesy of Cedric Charles Lewis III and Calvin Holmes, guests were invited to perform. Those who took up the offer included Creative Writing teacher Kenyatta Rogers, students Vincent Byas, Kathryn Malate, Damayanti Wallace, Chester Wilson III, Stephanie Galicia, Holmes, Lewis III and ChiArts alumnus Marques Kilgore.
Several performances were live-streamed to Levitate’s Twitter account.
— Levitate Literary (@LevitateMag) October 19, 2017
— Levitate Literary (@LevitateMag) October 19, 2017