R.S.V.P. HERE TO ATTEND OR CONTRIBUTE to Collaborate - the Guild Literary Complex's first annual benefit.

A short Open Mic will begin the evening.

     Linda Rodriguez has published two books of poetry, Skin Hunger (Potpourri Publications) and Heart’s Migration (Tia Chucha Press). Recipient of the Elvira Cordero Cisneros Award from the Macondo Foundation and the Midwest Voices and Visions Award from the Alliance of Artists Communities and the Joyce Foundation, she is vice-president of the Latino Writers Collective, founder of the Kansas City Women Writers Series, and a founding board member of The Writers Place. Rodriguez has published poetry and fiction in numerous journals and anthologies, as well as a cookbook, The “I Don’t Know How to Cook” Book: Mexican. She is currently working on a book of poetry based on teachings from her Cherokee grandmother.

The Poetry Performance Incubator will be reading an excerpt from its revision-in-progress of the stage performance "Tour Guides." Hear a sneak peak before the full production this December and talk about the script and process with its author/performers. Visit the Links Hall website for more info here.

A free poetry writing workshop inspired by our monthly bilingual Palabra Pura series. Work with other community poets to develop and share work and get constructive feedback.

September’s Palabra Pura bilingual poetry reading will be our annual partnership with the Poetry Foundation. This year’s event will feature poets Valerie Martinez and Silvia Curbelo. Please note, this month’s event will be held at the Jazz Showcase.

The Guild is honored to host a celebration of Kent Foreman, whose career has spanned five decades and whom the Chicago Tribune has called the "elder statesman of spoken word." Kent has performed with noted artists such as Amiri Baraka, Maya Angelou, Max Roach, Allen Ginsberg, his mentor Oscar Brown, Jr.; he has influenced and mentored many more. Kent has won the Chicago Historical Society's esteemed Carl Sandburg Award, has been to the finals of the national poetry slam three times and appeared on Def Poetry Jam.The program will feature performances by Kent and friends Roger Bonair-Agard, Regie Gibson and Marty McConnell, each one invited by Kent as some of Chicago's strongest poets. Due to Kent's health it will be a short set, so plan to get there early for what is sure to be a powerful evening.

Like literary mash-ups? Like tipping back a few cocktails? Then come to our next B.Y.O.P. (Bring Your Own People) Wednesday July 28th - an evening combining voices from dancing girl press and Proyecto Latina, plus Q&A and chit-chat to get to know each other better. (Snacks provided; cocktails are on you.) Cheers!

More about our invited guests:

With this event, the Guild Complex will take a step toward enhancing the dialogue and awareness of work coming out of the Latino and African American poetry communities. Palabra Pura, Chicago’s monthly bi-lingual reading series, initiates Palabra Pura Special Events by inviting African American poets to share its stage.

The Guild Complex is proud to present the 17th annual Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Award.  Curators will select 20 semi-finalists from open submissions.  Those 20 poets will perform their work in front of a live audence.  This special event showcases emerging performance poets in an exciting audience-involved competition for a $500 prize.