The American Writers Museum hosted CCH’s annual Horizons creative writing showcase on Tuesday, June 25. The event brought together family, community members, and CCH staff to listen and experience art.
Each poet received art made in response to their poetry, created by students at Adler University. CCH’s Horizons program is offered twice a month at shelters and supporting living centers and headed by Claudia Cabrera, Special Projects Organizer at CCH. At the showcase, Myron Byrd, a member of CCH’s Speakers Bureau and a Grassroots Leader, introduced each speaker and their poems.
Varied poems presented by participants bring energy and community to the American Writers Museum
April Harris is a Grassroots Leader and a member of both the Speakers Bureau and CPS Focus Group. She read her poem “Sunrise.” 
Carla Johnson is a Grassroots Leader and a member of the Speakers Bureau. Her poem is called “That’s Me.” 
Maxica Williams is a Grassroots Leader and the CCH Board President. She read her poem “Williams Family History,” which she said, “is dedicated to my children and my grandchildren and those I leave a legacy for.” 
DeSera Williams is Maxica Williams’ youngest daughter. She read her poem “Selflessness.” 
DeNaysa Williams is Maxica Williams’ eldest daughter. Her poem is titled “How You Love Me.” 
DeVon Williams is Maxica Williams’ youngest son, and his poem is untitled. He said if it was titled, however, it would be called “It’s Only 24 Hours in a Day.” 
It was Jaleece Hickman’s first time reading at the Horizons Showcase, and she read her poem called “Shadows of the Night.” 
Dr. Chezeray Moore advocates for policy change at City Hall and works for Street Samaritans. His poem is titled “The Plunder of Aries.” 
Margaret Bingham is a Grassroots Leader and works as a healthcare provider. She read her poem “My Low-Income Apartment.” 
Wanda Cooper read her poem titled “How Long.” The poem acted as a call and response. Each time she would say “how long,” the room would repeat it back to her. 
Brian Rodgers is a member of the Speakers Bureau and a Grassroots Leader with the Reentry Project. He read his poem “68,000 Need A Place to Stay.” 
Shay Jones is a prolific artist and writer. Her poem is titled “The Legacy of Letting Go.” 
Marketta Sims is a long-time advocate for people’s rights. She recited her poem “Newfound Love.” 
Brooklyn Silas is a Grassroots Leader. She closed out the showcase by reading her poem “SPIT.” 
The Horizons participants. Back row (left to right): Chezeray Moore, April Harris, Carla Johnson, DeVon Williams, DeNaysa Williams, Brooklyn Silas. Front row (left to right): Margaret Bingham, Shay Jones, Wanda Cooper, Maxica Williams, Marketta Sims.
“This means so much to me because I have come from so many feats. So I thought about a newfound love. When this newfound love came into my life, it was called a home. A true home. I’m an advocate that believes in standing for something or falling for everything. And I love my people. So this is dedicated for that home.”
Marketta Sims
“Before I start my poem, I just wanna say, I want everybody to just consider yourself, consider who you are right now. As I’m looking into the crowd, I see a bouquet. Every single one of you guys is a rose that grew from a crack in the concrete… And I just wanna say that I’m proud of y’all for standing tall. Every single one of you guys is standing before me and I have no idea of the traumas, the situations, the big life events that you guys have gone through, but nevertheless, here you are.”
Brooklyn Silas
CCH’s creative writing program Horizons offers creative writing workshops to parents experiencing homelessness who live at family shelters, as well as residents of adult shelters located in Chicago. Horizons was launched in 2007 by Director of Organizing Wayne Richard, a staff member since 2000. Wayne first became involved with CCH as a grassroots leader, when he lived in a West Side shelter that hosted an earlier version of the writing program. CCH organizer Claudia Cabrera, manages the program and annual creative event.
The Horizons Creative Writing Program has significantly expanded over the years, fostering creativity and empowerment among parents experiencing homelessness. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, the Horizons Showcase was held on Zoom, ensuring the continuation of this vital platform for expression. Initially a small initiative, it now boasts 15 participants, including grassroots leaders and residents from various shelters in Chicago. With consistent support from key partners like the American Writers Museum, dedicated CCH staff volunteers, and the involvement of Dr. Jennifer LaCivita and her students from Adler University, who create art interpretations of participants’ poems, the program has become a cornerstone of community engagement. Additionally, we have included more youth participants, encouraging them to share their creative voices with the world, thereby broadening the program’s impact and visibility.
