ROCO Chicago, the Romanian Community Center

06/09/2026

ROCO’ s Activation Table at the Chicago Cultural Alliance’s MOSAIC 2026 Gala

06/04/2026

This week's s event, "Immigrants Who Write and Writers Who Immigrate", was a success in every sense — not only as a literary gathering, but as a meaningful space for dialogue, reflection, and connection.

We were honored to welcome Tatiana Țîbuleac, award-winning author of The Summer My Mother Had Green Eyes and The Glass Garden, and Monica Cure, Romanian-American poet, writer, translator, and dialogue specialist. Together, they guided us through a profound conversation on migration, language, displacement, identity, and the ways in which personal and collective histories become literature.

The evening reminded us that stories do more than preserve memory. They help us understand who we are, where we come from, and how we continue to belong — even when our lives unfold across different countries, languages, and cultures.

From the depth of the conversation to the thoughtful questions from the audience, from the book signing to the warm exchanges that followed, the night reflected the very mission of ROCO: to create a welcoming space where culture, community, and shared experience come together with purpose.

We are thankful to Tatiana Țîbuleac and Monica Cure for their presence, generosity, and insight, and to everyone who joined us for an evening that will remain with us well beyond the final conversation.

We extend our sincere gratitude to our co-host- Community of Moldovans in Chicago -and to our partner, the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York, for their collaboration and support in bringing this meaningful event to our community.

06/04/2026

Last week, we launched Cercul ROCO -a Lean In Circle created exclusively for ROCO members — and we are deeply grateful to every woman who joined us for this first gathering.

What began as an invitation to connect became exactly what we hoped for: an evening of honest conversation, shared reflections, encouragement, laughter, and meaningful ideas for what this circle can become.

At ROCO, we believe community is not built only through events — it is built through presence, listening, trust, and the courage to show up for one another. This new circle is one more step in creating a stronger, more connected community, where women can feel seen, supported, and inspired.

A heartfelt thank you to all the participants who helped shape this first conversation, and to our group leads, Cristina Haidau and Oana Dobrean-Urzica, for creating and guiding this warm and meaningful space.

We look forward to growing this circle together.

Ne conectăm, inspirăm și susținem reciproc. Creștem împreună. 💜

06/04/2026

✨ An Evening of Literature, Translation, and Cultural Connection in Chicago

ROCO Chicago was honored to support the Chicago event of Tatiana Țîbuleac’s North American tour, hosted at Madison Street Books and presented by the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York / ICR New York.

The event celebrated the English-language release of "The Summer My Mother Had Green Eyes", published by Deep Vellum Publishing, in Monica Cure’s powerful and deeply nuanced translation.

Through a thoughtful conversation with Tatiana Țîbuleac and Monica Cure, moderated by Ali Kinsella, the evening invited readers into the emotional world of the novel — exploring memory, grief, family, identity, and the delicate art of carrying a literary voice across languages.

We are thankful to ICR New York, Madison Street Books, Deep Vellum Publishing, and Tatiana Țîbuleac for bringing this meaningful cultural moment to our city.

ROCO Chicago proudly supports initiatives that elevate Romanian voices, celebrate literature in translation, and create bridges between our community and the wider cultural landscape.

06/03/2026

06/02/2026

Tonight at ROCO Chicago ✨

Join us for Immigrants Who Write and Writers Who Immigrate, a special conversation with writers Tatiana Țîbuleac and Monica Cure about migration, writing, language, and the stories we tell when our personal journeys don’t follow a predictable pattern.

Moving to a new country means a new language, being uprooted, and learning to navigate unfamiliar systems. How does that influence the stories we carry — and the ones we choose to write?

Organized by ROCO Chicago, Community of Moldovans in Chicago, and the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York.

The conversation will continue with the audience during a meet-and-greet session, where all are welcome.

📍 ROCO Chicago
5406 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
🗓 Tonight, Tuesday, June 2
🕖 7:00 PM
🌐 In English and Romanian

Copies of The Summer My Mother Had Green Eyes, written by Tatiana Țîbuleac and translated by Monica Cure, will be available for purchase and signing.

Seats are limited — please RSVP today and join us for this meaningful literary evening.
RSVP here: https://www.rocochicago.org/tibuleac_roco_dialog