Chicago Poetry Center

?? What Would the World Be Like Without Color? Swift 2nd graders explored this question with Poet in Residence Leslie Reese and had some big thoughts: “It would be boring,” “It would be sad,” and “Artists wouldn’t be able to have any fun!” Through poetry and art, students looked at Rob Gonsalves’ surreal illustrations, Bisa Butler’s vibrant quilts, and Shel Silverstein’s playful poem “Colors” to inspire their own writing. Together, they created a collaborative color poem that captures the way colors sound, taste, feel, and tell stories in their world. ??Swipe to read their words and imagine a world of color through their eyes! #CPCPoetry #PoetryInSchools #StudentPoets #ColorPoetry #ChicagoPoetry #YoungWriters

? There’s Still Time to Apply! ? The Chicago Poetry Center is looking for new board members! If you’re passionate about poetry and want to help us expand access to the arts in Chicago and beyond, now’s your chance. ?? Apply now at the link ?? https://bit.ly/3D1K78W or share this post to spread the word! #ChicagoPoetry #Chicago #nonprofit #Poetry

Amundsen Residency students wrote love poems to unexpected objects of adoration after reading Frank O’Hara’s “Animals” and Richard Brautigan’s “A Boat” and “Catfish Friend.”?Enjoy "Poem" by Theofania T. Poem by Theofania T. White and blue glistens listening to the calm flow of the waves taken back to the days where nothing mattered no problems, stress, frustration, remembering the times we went on vacation and we talked about our next vacation. We had plans, views, and determination. The rocky mountains off in the distance, large and tall, you couldn’t miss it stopping on the side of the road to pick up the greenest, going to the corner stores for Fanta drinking them all day by the beach because we wanna.

How's your day your day going? Check out this student poet's description of a wild day performed at our Winter 2025 All Schools Reading

The Chicago Poetry Center Board invites you to join us at ??? Bigger Table: Write & Give Back ??? a thematic writing fundraiser series to support CPC's work across Chicago. The theme of this virtual workshop will be Foraged Poems. Date & Time: Saturday March 15, 10:30am - 12:30pm CST Hosted & facilitated by CPC Board Member Shivani Gupta Registration: You can sign up for the workshop by donation, with a suggested sliding scale of $10 - $20. If price is a barrier, please email [email protected] for a no-questions-asked fee waiver. Eventbrite registration link: https://bit.ly/3DSnjsq

We’re heading to AWP 2025 in Los Angeles! ?? Join us on Friday, March 28 (10:35-11:50 AM, Room 410, Level Two) for “The Long Haul: Sustainability for Small Literary Arts Nonprofits.” This panel features leaders from Chicago Poetry Center, Literary Cleveland, Torch Literary Arts, and the Saint Louis Poetry Center, sharing insights on: ?? Running impactful programming on a limited budget ?? Building lasting partnerships ?? Supporting writers at every stage of their careers ?? Panelists: Amanda Johnston, B. Metzger Sampson, Erin Quick, and Matt Weinkam ?? Moderator: Helene Achanzar ?? Learn more and add the panel to your schedule here: ?? https://bit.ly/3QKvQAI ?? Planning to attend AWP? We’d love to see you there!

?? Join the Chicago Poetry Center Board! Are you passionate about poetry and community? The Chicago Poetry Center is looking for dedicated individuals to join our board and help us expand access to poetry across Chicago and beyond! We’re seeking professionals with expertise in: ?? Financial, legal, and HR fields ?? Fundraising and development ?? Marketing and communications ?? Education and arts programming If this sounds like you (or someone you know), we’d love to hear from you! APPLY NOW AT THE LINK ?? https://bit.ly/3D1K78W ?? Know someone perfect for this? Send them this post or tag them in the comments—we love to grow our community! #ChicagoPoetry #Chicago #nonprofit #Poetry

???? We’re so grateful to the incredible students, families, and teachers who made CPC’s Winter 2025 All Schools Reading such a special event! Hearing our residency students bring their poems to life on stage is always a highlight of the year and this showcase was no exception. From heartfelt reflections to imaginative storytelling, every poet shared something powerful and unique. ?? Swipe to see these photos featuring poets from Amundsen High School ?? Haines Elementary ??? Lawndale Community Academy ??? Perez Elementary ?? Sabin Elementary ??? The O School ??? Twain Elementary ?? and Waters Elementary ??? ??? Huge thanks to photographer Joshua Tatro for capturing the joy of the day!

???This February, high school students from Chicago and nearby suburbs competed in the Chicagoland Regionals of Poetry Out Loud, sharing powerful recitations for a chance to advance to the Illinois State Competition in Springfield. The 1st and 2nd place winners from each region will compete at state, with hopes of reaching the national finals in Washington, D.C., for a $20,000 prize! ?? City Regional Winner – Charles Kaffer, The Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences ?? Metro/Suburban Regional Winner – Jaden Conley, Niles West High School Huge thanks to our judges, CPC Poets-in-Residence, and the Illinois Arts Council Agency for making this event possible! ?? Swipe to see the photos from the competition, captured by Glenn Willoughby!

BIG NEWS! Free Critical Conversations sessions are now open to ANYONE. (No limitations due to location, sector, or anything else!) Space is limited so register at ?? https://lnkd.in/gMeuNrm8 Just 7 sessions left!