More than 125 Chicago poets, poetry fans, and literary leaders gathered at Haymarket House on June 18, 2025 to honor CPC’s anti-censorship roots and wrap up our 50th anniversary year.
Our headlining poet for the night, Martín Espada, is the author of more than twenty books as a poet, editor, essayist, and translator. We brought back a lapsed CPC tradition by recognizing three incredible teaching artists — Leslie Reese, Timothy David Rey, and Joy Young — with the Gwendolyn Brooks Award for Excellence in Teaching.
The event kicked off with a community open mic and filled Haymarket House with the sounds of community connection, laughter, and celebration for many hours. Big thanks to our event sponsors: Revolution Brewing, Luna Bay, and Miko’s Italian Ice!
Check out a gallery of images below, and check out the recording here.
