All posts in Poetry Center

Blue Hour 2025-2026 Season

The Chicago Poetry Center presents BLUE HOUR, a free, public monthly in-person reading series and generative writing workshop.  Each event takes place at Haymarket House (800 W. Buena) and features two readers from Chicago […]

Summer Poetry Gathering 2025

On Wednesday June 18, join the Chicago Poetry Center for our annual summer celebration! In line with CPC’s anti-censorship roots and wrapping up our 50th anniversary year, the headlining poet for our 2025 Summer […]

Virtual and In Person Writing Workshops May 3 & 9 

We have spent the month of April writing letters to strangers on the internet around the themes of Despair, Love & Tomorrow. We would love to start May by gathering in community and share […]

Poetry @ The Green at 320: Summer 2025

Poetry @ The Green at 320 returns for summer 2025! The Chicago Poetry Center and The Green at 320 S. Canal are proud to reintroduce this free, weekly reading and open mic series co-curated […]

Blue Hour May 21

The Chicago Poetry Center presents BLUE HOUR, a free, public monthly in-person reading series and generative writing workshop at Haymarket House (800 W. Buena) hosted and facilitated by Marty McConnell. Our May featured readers […]

Apply Now – Open Board Call

*** UPDATE: We’re no longer accepting applications. Thank you to all who have applied! We will follow up with all candidates. *** Application Open: March 10 – 31, 2025 Please click here for Board […]

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. […]

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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“Writing poetry makes me feel like I can see myself, like I can see my reflection, but not in a mirror, in the world. I write and I know I can be reflected.”
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Chicago Poetry Center
1448 E. 52nd St, #256
Chicago, IL 60615

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