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Poetry Out Loud 2025 Illinois State Champion

Monday March 17th was a magnificent day for the Poetry Out Loud 2025 Illinois State Competition. In Illinois this year, 48 high schools were part of Poetry Out Loud, 200 teachers, and over 7,900 […]

Blue Hour April 16

The Chicago Poetry Center presents BLUE HOUR, a free monthly in-person reading series and generative writing workshop at Haymarket House, 800 W. Buena. Our April featured readers are Ayokunle Falomo and Viola Lee. The […]

We’re Hiring! Community Outreach Intern

*** UPDATE: We’re no longer accepting applications. Thank you to all who have applied! We will follow up with all candidates. *** Downloadable PDF – Community Outreach Intern Job Posting SUMMARY Application deadline: March […]

Apply Now – Open Board Call

Application Open: March 10 – 31, 2025 Please click here for Board Application Form The Chicago Poetry Center is excited to announce an open call for new board members. We are seeking individuals with […]

How to Organize a Poetry Manuscript: Presented by C. Russell Price

Are you looking for a way to collect and organize your poems into a manuscript that might one day be published as a chapbook or full-length collection of poetry? Join the Chicago Poetry Center […]

Blue Hour March 19

The Chicago Poetry Center presents BLUE HOUR, a free monthly in-person reading series and generative writing workshop at Haymarket House, 800 W. Buena. Our March featured readers are Sarah Ghazal Ali and R.A. Villanueva. […]

Poetry Out Loud 2025 Chicagoland Regionals Winners!!!

The Chicago Poetry Center is now in its 8th year as Chicagoland Regional Host Organization for the national youth poetry competition, Poetry Out Loud. Poetry Out Loud is a collaborative project of the Illinois […]

CPC’s Values Remain in Times of Change

Letter sent by CPC Executive Director to all board, staff, and Poets in Residence on Monday, February 3, 2025: As news mounts of organizations changing their values or language due to pressure from the […]

Our Silent Auction is Live!

Our silent auction is open for bids! We’re excited to be auctioning dozens of great bundles ranging in interest, all generously donated by staff, board members, and board alums! A few highlights: These are […]

Critical Conversations: Anti-Racism Free Sessions

From February through June of 2025, the Chicago Poetry Center is offering free online Critical Conversations: Anti-Racism sessions open to all. Drawing on CPC’s decades of workshop facilitation, Critical Conversations use poetry as a […]

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I’M FROM THE CITY LIGHTS / STREAMING OUT IN THE NIGHT / AND HUGE SKYSCRAPERS / TOWERING OVER THE LAKE – MELISSA E., 7TH GRADE POET