It All Began In The House Of Slaves On Goree Island
Goree Island; Dakar Senegal
Goree Island; Dakar Senegal
Goree Island; Dakar Senegal
In 2007, I made a promise to my ancestors while standing in Les Maison des Esclaves (the House of Slaves) on Goree Island; off the coast of Dakar, Senegal; West Africa. I promised to create a way to share our stories to document our history.
Les Maison des Esclaves
Goree Island; Dakar Senegal
Goree Island; Dakar Senegal
I could feel the spirits of my ancestors hovering over me -- as I stood in the same place where they were kept against their will -- after being stolen from their native land. I cried. I listened. I felt a soft breeze blowing in peace.
The Door of No Return
Goree Island; Dakar Senegal
The Sankofa Vow; my Promise
As my eyes welled with tears, I whispered a promise. I promised them that I would discover a way to tell their stories to their great, great, great, great, great-grandchildren -- to educate them about their triumphs and their struggles.
The Sankofa Vow; my Promise
Got a Story to tell with SOUL?
The Sankofa Vow; my Promise
The Soultown Digital & Print Magazine is the manifestations of the promise.
The Sankofa Vow is a message in each issue of The Soultown Magazine.
Got a Story to tell with SOUL?
Got a Story to tell with SOUL?
Got a Story to tell with SOUL?
Without fear or favor, I share the most intimate thoughts from the perspective of an African-American female, who is also a descendant of a slave.
Immortalizing Our Stories
Got a Story to tell with SOUL?
Got a Story to tell with SOUL?
It is comprised of contributing artists, writers, businesses, and amazing people who help to immortalize the stories of their communities to implore positive progress.
Off the coast of Dakar, Senegal in West Africa
Welcome Home to A Place I'd Never Been
The Soultown Magazine is More Than A Magazine, It's a Monumental Movement!
Mountain View, CA • 319.505.4020 • thesoultownmagazine.com •
chillin@thesoultownmagazine.com
The Story of The Soultown Magazine
The story of The Soultown Magazine begins long before its first issue ever went to print, rooted in a mission to honor and share Black stories that matter, inspiring pride and a sense of cultural validation in our community.
It began in Dakar, Senegal
While visiting Les Maison des Esclaves (The House of Slaves) on Goree Island, off the coast of Dakar, Senegal; West Africa, Chillin’, the future Publisher of The Soultown Magazine, stood quietly as a French-speaking tour guide explained the artifacts, the rooms, and the brutal purpose each space once served. As she listened, something extraordinary happened. She heard whispers behind her—soft, persistent, unmistakable.
“We’ve got to find a way to tell these stories.”
She nodded in agreement without turning around, assuming the voices belonged to fellow English-speaking tourists. The message came again. And again. The third time, compelled to respond, she turned to introduce herself. No one was there.
Instead, a warm, steady breeze brushed across her shoulder—comforting, affirming, and undeniable.
In that moment, she understood. The voices were not tourists. They were the whispers of her ancestors.
And they had entrusted her with a responsibility, inspiring a sense of duty and respect in our readers.
She answered them with a promise. That promise became known as The Sankofa Vow.
The Sankofa Vow
The Sankofa Vow is a commitment to look back, retrieve what was nearly lost, and carry it forward with care.
To tell our stories fully. Truthfully. Intentionally. In every issue of Soultown, Chillin’ shares an intimate narrative that serves as the spiritual glue of the magazine, anchoring past to present, lineage to legacy.
Upon returning to the United States, she began building what the ancestors had asked for:
• A place where the Sankofa Vow would live, be recognized, and honored.
• A home for our stories to be shared; present and past.
• A place where Black lives would be documented, honored, and immortalized in ink; in great detail.
The Soultown Magazine's Inception Date
Founded in January 2017, The Soultown Magazine was born from a simple but powerful belief: the polished, unfiltered versions could exist and be told. The stories are rooted in lived experience, cultural memory, resilience, and soul. The Soultown emerged as a response to what mainstream media too often failed to do. Black stories are reduced to soundbites without context, headlines without heart, narratives spoken about us instead of with us. Soultown is created to disrupt that—to document Black life with dignity, depth, and joy.
The Soultown's Purpose
From the very beginning, the magazine set out to celebrate:
• Everyday history makers
• Unsung heroes
• Elders who paved the way
• Youth discovering their power
• Artists shaping culture
• Entrepreneurs building legacy
and community leaders doing the quiet, necessary work that keeps neighborhoods whole.
These were never stories waiting for permission. They were already shaping the world—and deserving of intention and respect.
What is The Soultown Magazine?
At its core, The Soultown Magazine is community journalism with soul. Each page is grounded in cultural pride, accountability, and love for Black communities—past, present, and future. It honors Black excellence without erasing struggle, and it names struggle without stripping away humanity.
What began as a local publication grew with purpose, driven by community values. Today, The Soultown Magazine is a 40-page, full-color print and digital publication distributed in 20 states, trusted by readers who value authenticity over algorithms and connection over clicks. Growth never diluted the mission. It sharpened it.
Soultown does not chase trends. It documents legacy. It amplifies voices that have been overlooked.
It preserves history while shaping the future.
The Evolution of The Soultown
Beyond its pages, Soultown has become a platform supporting community events, youth development, and cultural initiatives that uplift Black and Brown narratives, fostering connection and support.
When Chillin returned to the Bay in 2018, she strategized on a plan to add the Brown communities - the Latino culture, including, but not limited to, the Mexicans and all other countries that are considered Brown to help build culture, bridge generations and geographies, connecting the Bay Area, the Midwest, and beyond, all rooted in a shared cultural purpose.
The Heartbeat of The Soultown
The heartbeat of Soultown is SOUL—not as a buzzword, but as a responsibility.
Soul means leading with truth, honoring lineage, protecting culture, and telling stories with care.
It means understanding that representation isn’t just about being seen—it’s about being understood.
The Soultown Magazine exists so that when future generations look back,
they won’t have to wonder who we were or how we lived.
They’ll know.
It’s written.
From our soul to yours—
Thank you for having SOUL.
The Soultown Opportunities
Connect With Us
The Incredible Opportunities of The Soultown Magazine
1. Service with Heart!
We are so proud of our collaboration with Back2Basics Youth Iowa! Led by the visionary CEO Mike Robinson, this incredible youth team hand-delivers complimentary copies of The Soultown to the residents of Mt. Carmel Village in Waterloo, Iowa every single month. We are looking for high-energy volunteers to help make this service mission both fun and educational. Let’s hit the pavement and spread some joy!
The Soultown & Back2Basics Collaboration
2. SomeThing On Thursdays!
Every 3rd Thursday, the energy is electric at Comfort Zone (213 E 5th St, Waterloo, IA ) for Something On Thursdays! Hosted by the amazing TierraRenee, this is the ultimate platform for Open Mics, Lip Sync Battles, soulful singing, comedy, and dance. It’s all about uplifting Black voices right here in Waterloo! We invite your organization to come feel the vibe, help us get the word out, and inspire students to immerse themselves in Black culture and the spirit of The Soultown.
https://www.instagram.com/thesoultown/
TS52 - The Soultown's 52!
Calling All Queens! We are on a mission to find 52 powerful Black women to share 52 raw, authentic stories. We want to know about that pivotal moment you realized you were no longer a girl, but a Black Woman. Was it joyful? Painful? Awkward? Divine? Whatever it was—it belongs to you, and it deserves to be heard! If you’ve got the story, we’ve got the platform.
Claim your space here: Submit your story! Submit your story here.
Learn more: thesoultownmagazine.com/ts52
Share Your Truth—Join the Movement!
At The Soultown, we don’t just publish articles; we build bridges! We believe a story told with courage can shift the narrative of an entire generation. Are you a storyteller, a dreamer, or a visionary? Your voice is the missing piece of our vibrant tapestry! Whether you’re honoring our ancestors or sparking a fire for the future, let’s tell this story together.
Contact chillin@thesoultownmagazine.com
Incredible Creator Perks!
We value our contributors, and we show it! Our guest writers enjoy exclusive non-cash benefits, including:
• VIP Access: A free annual digital subscription for all of 2026—past, present, and future!
• Digital Keepsake: A high-quality PDF of the issue featuring your work to frame, share, and cherish forever.
• The Swag Pack: Official "Soultown" T-shirt, pen, and notebook!
Let’s Connect on Zoom!
I am beyond excited to jump on a Zoom call to share the journey of The Soultown Magazine!
I want to help fill in the gaps and talk about why documenting our present stories is the greatest gift we can give to the future. Let’s remind the world to never forget the past.
I’m ready when you are—let’s get these writers inspired!
Thank you for having SOUL! Let’s make history together.
~ Chillin
CELEBRATING 100 ISSUES!
The Soultown April 2025 - 100th Issue
Inside the April 2025 issue, I made a promise to you — much like the promise I made to my ancestors as I stood inside the House of Slaves. I accepted their charge: Keep telling our stories. For us. For them. For the future. And this issue delivers just like the prior 99.
Right in the center of this collector’s edition is your gift — a commemorative calendar featuring all 100 covers of The Soultown Magazine. Beginning with April 2025 and closing out with our latest covers through December, this calendar is more than a keepsake. It’s proof of the legacy we’ve built, and the road still ahead.
Soul Directory
The Soul Directory is a curated listing of Black professionals across industries, designed to spotlight expertise, leadership, and excellence. It serves as a trusted space to discover, support, and connect with Black-owned businesses, creatives, and professionals making an impact in their communities.