April 2008
Building a Fire: Teen Weekly Writing Workshop
April 7, 14, 21, 28 Mondays, 4:00–6:00 pm
Hosted by poet and spoken word artist Marcelis Wyatt. Middle School and high school students write and read their own poetry. Free and open to the public. No pre-registration necessary.
Oak Park Public Library
Small Meeting Room
834 Lake Street
Oak Park , IL 60301
Contact Alan Jacobson
for more information:
(708) 452-3451 or ajacobson@oppl.org
The Klinck Memorial Library’s
3rd Annual Poetry Day
April 9 Wednesday, 12:00-1:30 pm
Students may share a favorite poem or one of their own. Dominican and Concordia students will participate in this lively open microphone. Free and open to the public.
No pre-registration necessary.
Concordia University
Koehneke Community Center
Alumni Room
7400 Augusta Street
River Forest, IL 60305
Contact Marty Breen for more information:
(708) 209-3181 or marty.breen@cuchicago.edu
UniVerse: A United Nations of Poetry
April 10 Thursday, 7:00–9:00 pm
The evening features poet/musician Richard Fammerèe, author of Lessons of Water & Thirst, Rachel Webster, winner of the 1991 American Poets’ Young Poets Prize, Stephen Young, program director of the Poetry Foundation, and Francesco Levato, author of Marginal State, whose poetry based video artwork has been shown at the Gene Siskel Center. Visit http://www.universeofpoetry.org for a preview of this exciting evening. Free and open to the public. No pre-registration necessary.
Oak Park Public Library
Veteran’s Room
834 Lake Street
Oak Park , IL 60301
Contact Jim Madigan for more information: (708) 697-6909 or jmadigan@oppl.org
Japanese Bookbinding and Poetry Workshop
April 12 Saturday, 1:00-4:00 pm
Participants will experiment with Japanese bookmaking and explore poetry forms including haiku, tanka and renga for writing in their original books. Free and open to adults and to youth ages 11 and older. Pre-registration necessary.
River Forest Public Library
735 Lathrop Avenue
River Forest , IL 60305
Contact Blaise Dierks for more information
(708) 366-5205 or blaise.dierks@riverforestlibrary.org
Meeting the Muse: Young Adult Poetry Workshop and ‘Teach the Teachers’ In-service
April 18 Friday, 8:00 am-12:00 pm
Highly regarded poet Cynthia Gallaher stops in at Trinity High School to conduct two poetry writing workshops for students and a short "teach the teachers' in-service for educators interested in using poetry and creative writing to reach students in their classroom. Contact Trinity directly if interested in taking part in any of these offerings.
Trinity High School
Library
7574 W. Division Street
River Forest , IL 60305
Contact Molly Klowden for more information
(708)453-9340 or mklowden@trinityhs.org
"Fire on the Mic" Monthly Poetry Showcase
April 18 Friday, 7:00-9:00 pm
Poets of all ages are invited to share their work at this dynamic “Open Air Open Mic" poetry slam on the stage outside Oak Park’s Main Library in Scoville Park. Free and open to the public. No pre-registration necessary.
Oak Park Public Library
Scoville Park, Oak Park
834 Lake Street
Oak Park , IL 60301
Contact Alan Jacobson for more information:
(708) 452-3451 or jacobson@oppl.org
Young Adult Poetry and Art Workshop
April 22 Tuesday, 3:00–5:00 pm
Youth ages 11 and up won’t want to miss this opportunity to create artwork based on their original poetry. Free and open to the public. No pre-registration necessary.
River Forest Public Library
735 Lathrop Avenue
River Forest , IL 60305
Contact Blaise Dierks for more information:
(708) 366-5205 or blaise.dierks@riverforestlibrary.org
Poetry NOW! Festival of Poetry
April 26 Saturday, Registration 9:00 am
Events 9:30-4:30 pm
Free and open to the public.
This powerful daylong event is sure to delight, entertain and inform aspiring and experienced writers, teachers, librarians and members of the public who are passionate about, or simply intrigued, by poetry and the written word. Some of our nation’s and region’s most dynamic poets will conduct free workshops, panels and live performances.
Featured poets include:
- Carlos Cumpian
- Richard Fammerèe
- Krista Franklin
- Cynthia Gallaher
- Janice Harrington
- Toni Asante Lightfoot
- Erin Teegarden
- Avery R. Young
Winners of the 2008 Poetry NOW! Poetry Writing Contest will also be on hand to share their award-winning works.To register for limited space workshops or to find out about CPDU/CEU credits call (708)524-6845 or email poetrynow@dom.edu.
Dominican University, Parmer Hall
7900 W. Division Street
River Forest , IL 60305
Contact Tracie Hall for more information:
(708) 524-6845 or thall@dom.edu