Chicago Poetry Center

Chicago Poetry Center CPC connects people and poetry, equitably engages poets with communities, and fosters creative literacy in the city and beyond.

06/06/2026

Chicago Poetry Center Poet in Residence Mayda del Valle and Executive Director B Sampson to discuss what Mayda's excited to create with Chicago during her term as poet laureate.

The interview covers ways to be a creative leader in this current moment, including how to use our creativity, political values, and spiritual practices to carry us forward.

Please join us on Tuesday, June 9 as we celebrate Mayda at Blatant Gold, our yearly summer celebration of Chicago poetry.

Read the full interview with the link below. 🔗
https://www.poetrycenter.org/we-are-a-city-of-water-an-interview-with-chicago-poet-laureate-mayda-del-valle/

📸 & 🎥 by

Blatant Gold is next Tuesday, June 9! Have you RSVP’d yet? 🤔Don’t miss out on an evening of celebration for all things C...
06/04/2026

Blatant Gold is next Tuesday, June 9! Have you RSVP’d yet? 🤔

Don’t miss out on an evening of celebration for all things Chicago poetry.

Use the link below to reserve your spot!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blatant-gold-2026-tickets-1989120311397

🗓️ Tuesday, June 9
⏰ 6–9pm
📍 Haymarket House
800 W. Buena Ave.

Chicago Poetry Center is proud to be a 2026 general operating grant awardee of the Literary Arts Fund! We're so grateful...
06/04/2026

Chicago Poetry Center is proud to be a 2026 general operating grant awardee of the Literary Arts Fund! We're so grateful to be a recipient of this generous award.

Check out the link below to learn more about the Literary Arts Fund and its mission of supporting and increasing visibility of the nonprofit literary arts. And join us for Blatant Gold next Tuesday, June 9 to celebrate the award and the power of the literary community!

https://literaryartsfund.org/announcing-the-inaugural-grant-recipients-of-the-literary-arts-fund

Next week's Poetry at the Green features Nat Martinez-White!Nat Martinez-White's writing can be found in Polygon, Curren...
06/03/2026

Next week's Poetry at the Green features Nat Martinez-White!

Nat Martinez-White's writing can be found in Polygon, Current Affairs, and on random bits of paper in their many bags.

Poetry at the Green is curated by Timothy David Rey and Joy Young. After every reading, stick around for the open mic to share your own poems, stories, songs, and more!

🗓️ Monday, June 8
⏰ 6–7pm
📍 The Green at 320
320 S. Canal St.

RSVP today for Blatant Gold on June 9! 💛✨Join Chicago Poetry Center for our annual summer gathering, including a literar...
06/01/2026

RSVP today for Blatant Gold on June 9! 💛✨

Join Chicago Poetry Center for our annual summer gathering, including a literary grab bags, an open mic, and performances by featured poets—all in celebration of the city's writers, readers, and teachers of poetry.

This year, Blatant Gold features Mayda del Valle, Chicago Poet Laureate, and honors Musu Bangura, recipient of the Gwendolyn Brooks Award for Excellence in Teaching.

RSVP and learn more with the link below! 🔗
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blatant-gold-2026-tickets-1989120311397?aff=oddtdtcreator

🗓️ Tuesday, June 9
⏰ 6–8pm
📍 Haymarket House
800 W. Buena Ave.

Under the guidance of CPC Poet in Residence Timothy David Rey, students at Waters Elementary School used "found language...
05/29/2026

Under the guidance of CPC Poet in Residence Timothy David Rey, students at Waters Elementary School used "found language" and images from magazines to create visual poems with new meaning.

Visual poet-artist Keith S. Wilson says this about visual poetry: “I’m interested in a sense of play... Play implies a sense of freedom and even joy, which comes sometimes through movement through space. But play can also invoke discipline and intentionality as well, as when one plays an instrument.”

Students represented:
Xoelli C., Andrew J., Melanie M.J., Oliva A., and Rosalaia F.B.

Poetry at the Green is back!Join us in the park to hear featured poets share their work in this partnership between Chic...
05/27/2026

Poetry at the Green is back!

Join us in the park to hear featured poets share their work in this partnership between Chicago Poetry Center and The Green at 320 S. Canal St. (aka The Green at 320).

Curated by Timothy David Rey and Joy Young, the first event of the summer features Tara Levy. After every reading, stick around for the open mic to share your own poems, stories, songs, and more.

🗓️ Monday, June 1
⏰ 6–7pm
📍 The Green at 320
320 S. Canal St.

This year's Blatant Gold will feature an open mic hosted by CPC Poets in Residence Amari Amai and Noel Quiñones! ✨💛Bring...
05/21/2026

This year's Blatant Gold will feature an open mic hosted by CPC Poets in Residence Amari Amai and Noel Quiñones! ✨💛

Bring your poems, stories, and songs to the open mic, then stay for performances by Mayda del Valle and Musu Bangura. We can't wait to celebrate Chicago's poetry community with you!

RSVP and learn more with the link below. 🔗

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blatant-gold-2026-tickets-1989120311397?aff=oddtdtcreator

🗓️ Tuesday, June 9
⏰ 6–9pm
📍 Haymarket House
800 W. Buena Ave.

Can't make it to the event tonight? No problem! We live stream every Blue Hour event, every time. RSVP at the link below...
05/20/2026

Can't make it to the event tonight? No problem!

We live stream every Blue Hour event, every time. RSVP at the link below to get access to the link when the reading starts:

https://May2026livestream.eventbrite.com

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1448 E. 52nd Street , #256
Chicago, IL
60615

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