Cherlnell Lane
Cherlnell Lane (she/her), AKA The Poetic-Storyteller, is a performer, playwright, author, and Linguistic Alchemist. She doesn’t just share words; she has a stage presence that is both commanding and profoundly intimate. Cherlnell pulls words off the page and breathes life into them so that the message may travel through the listener. She is a fearless voice who speaks with lived authority on a health, disability, and survival activism including a dedicated practice of advocating for Black Women and the broader Black community.
She is the Author of Confessions of the Other Woman and Tales of an Undiscovered Writer (published as Cookie Battles) and the playwright of Chicago Ain't No Home For The Disabled. In addition, she has been a contributor to numerous anthologies, magazines, and newspapers.
Cherlnell serves as an "Experience Curator" for many events in the city. She hosts The Cookie Jar Open Mic at the historic South Side Community Art Center and The Poetic-Storyteller’s Speakeasy — a celebrated and fully accessible traveling open mic on the South Side of Chicago. She is the facilitator for the Eye of the Storm workshop focused on mental health, Writing Through It Workshops and Healing Through It Summits (all-day retreats), facilitating others in using words as tools to reveal, deal with, and heal from trauma while celebrating positive experiences. Cherlnell Lane is a roaring fire, with a cool demeanor and kind soul, which she shares authentically in hopes of healing the world.
Featured Artworks
The Poetic-Storyteller's Speakeay, 2025
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Cherlnell Lane's Poetry Performance For Kwanzaa, 2018
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Little Fast Girl, 2020
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For Little Girls Who Considered Suicide When The Silence Wasn't Enough, 2018
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Purple Haze, 2025
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My Black, 2026
Written and performed by Cherlnell Lane, The Poetic-Storyteller
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Healing Through It Summit, 2019
Video by David Lane
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Storms of Sorrow, 2021