ChiArts Creative Writing

The Creative Writing Conservatory integrates the ChiArts Core Values into a rigorous study of the foundations of creative writing and the development of individual voice and polished work. Students will also gain experience editing and publishing a literary magazine. Upon completing the four-year program, ChiArts Creative Writing students will have developed a solid foundation in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, including writing  alongside a deep and wide knowledge of texts. Students will also have a polished portfolio, including pieces from each genre. This foundation will make students competitive candidates for undergraduate creative writing programs.

Connections Week Schedule
October 21:
Poetry Foundation with Noa Fields

October 22:
Journalist Panel

October 23:
Rhino Poetry

October 24:
Steffan Williams Co-Owner of Literally Outside

October 25:
Jameka Williams, Poet and Assistant Book Editor of Haymarket Books
Scholar-Artists: Class of 2025
Visiting Teacher Bios
Noa Micaela Fields is a trans poet with hearing aids. She is the author of the chapbook With, and her work has been published in Tripwire, Anomaly, Zoeglossia, Elderly, Tyger Quarterly, and Sixty Inches From Center, among others. She is a public programs curator at the Poetry Foundation in Chicago and has received fellowships from Zoeglossia, 3Arts, and Disability Lead.

Steffan Williams is a former cybersecurity professional turned entrepreneur, who founded Literally Outside in 2021 and launched the brand in 2022. As the creative director and principal owner, Steffan combines his love for streetwear, the outdoors, and building inclusive communities.
Originally from Iowa, Steffan now resides in the Chicago area. In addition to running his brand, Steffan enjoys coaching his kids in baseball and soccer, cooking most of the family’s meals, and indulging in his latest interests in natural wines, golf, and softball. He's a passionate live music fan and former alto saxophone player. Steffan is also a diehard Chicago Bulls fan, Arsenal supporter, Kansas Jayhawks basketball enthusiast, and an Air Max One aficionado.

Jameka Williams is a Black poet and the author of American Sex Tape™ (University of Wisconsin Press, 2022), winner of the 2022 Brittingham Prize in Poetry from the Wisconsin Poetry Series. She is an assistant book editor at Haymarket Books.
Conservatory Leadership
Kenyatta Rogers is a founding ChiArts Creative Writing teacher. He has been instrumental to the growth and development of the conservatory since 2013 as the founding poetry teacher and Creative Writing Conservatory Administrative Assistant. In 2022, Mr. Rogers was promoted to Conservatory Head. He is an exceptional poet and a well-respected colleague and leader both within ChiArts and in the poetry community.
Mr. Rogers is a Cave Canem Fellow and has been awarded scholarships from the Breadloaf Writers’ Conference. He has also been nominated multiple times for both Pushcart and Best of the Net prizes. His work has been previously published in Poetry Magazine, Jubilat, Vinyl, Bat City Review, The Volta, PANK, MAKE Magazine among others. Kenyatta is a Lead Teacher for the Poetry Foundations Teacher Institute and Chautauqua Institution’s Young Writer Institute. He is a co-host of the Sunday Reading Series with Simone Muench.
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