All posts in News & Events

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 […]

Poetry Out Loud 2025 National Champion !!!!

This year marks Poetry Out Loud’s 20th Anniversary and there is much to celebrate. On Thursday May 8, 2025, Isavel Mendoza, a 12th-grade student at Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts in […]

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 […]

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

*** 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 […]

Donate

Support our student poets today!

CONNECT WITH US!

Twitter Facebook-f Instagram

STUDENT POETRY

Click on a school name below to browse student poems from current school partners.

POETRY ARCHIVE

Click on a school name below to browse student poems from our archive.

RECENT FACEBOOK POSTS

TESTIMONIALS

“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.”
-Oscar S.

“Writing poetry makes me feel free.”
-Buenda D.

“Writing poetry is like your best friend.”
-Jessica M.

Search

CONTACT US

General Inquiries
info@poetrycenter.org

Programs (School & Organizational)
programs@poetrycenter.org

Reading Series and Events:
curator@poetrycenter.org

The Chicago Poetry Center is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
FEIN: 23-7400515

SEND US A POSTCARD

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