The Poetry Center Dba The Chicago Poetrey Center

TO PROMOTE POETRY IN CHICAGO-AREA COMMUNITIES, STRENGTHEN LITERACY AND FOSTER CREATIVITY THROUGH POETRY, AND SUPPORT THE CAREERS OF POETS

1) SIX POINTS READING SERIES - A MONTHLY, FREE AND PUBLIC READING SERIES, AT ROTATING LOCATIONS ACROSS CHICAGO. THE SERIES FEATURES EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED AS WELL AS LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL WRITERS. 2) HANDS ON STANZAS - A CREATIVE LITERACY RESIDENCY PROGRAM IN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE ORGANIZATION HIRES CHICAGO POET/TEACHING ARTISTS (POETS IN RESIDENCE) TO TEACH YEAR-LONG RESIDENCIES. THE POETS MEET WITH THEIR CLASSROOMS WEEKLY, AND PUBLISH STUDENT WORK AFTER EACH SESSION ON THE ORGANIZATIONS HANDS ON STANZAS SCHOOL BLOGS. EACH WEEK POETS AND STUDENTS READ, WRITE, DISCUSS, AND PERFORM POETRY. THE PROGRAM IMPROVES READING AND WRITING SKILLS, BUILDS CONFIDENCE, AND AFFIRMS THE VOICES OF YOUNG CHICAGOANS. 3) POETS WITH CLASS - A TOURING, AFTER SCHOOL, AND CUSTOM BUILT PERFORMANCE POETRY PROGRAM. THE ORGANIZATIONS WORKSHOPS TEACH THE CRAFT OF WRITING AND CREATIVE PERFORMANCE TO EMPOWER AND ENGAGE STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES, K THROUGH COLLEGE AND BEYOND. POETS WITH CLASS TEACHING AND TOURING ARTISTS BOASTS SOME OF CHICAGOS MOST ACCOMPLISHED WRITERS AND PERFORMERS, ALL OF WHOM HAVE EXTENSIVE BACKGROUNDS IN THEATER, POETRY, AND EDUCATION. 4) ONLINE ARCHIVE + EDUCATION RESOURCE - A FREE ONLINE POET RESOURCE AND ARCHIVE FEATURES A PAGE FOR EVERY POET WHO HAS READ FOR THE POETRY CENTER READING SERIES SINCE THE CENTERS FOUNDING IN 1974. PAGES FEATURE STREAMING AUDIO, READING INFORMATION, AND OFFER ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND INFORMATION ON EACH WRITER.