(Courtesy of Young Chicago Authors)

Young Chicago Authors is encouraging Chicago’s youth to engage in storytelling to express themselves with poetry and performance.

J. Ivy appears on “Chicago Tonight: Black Voices” on Feb. 28, 2024. (WTTW News)

J. Ivy is one of the most high-profile poets on the planet. He has worked with A-list artists including Jay-Z and Beyoncé. He even gave John Legend his “Legend” name. Ivy’s spoken word album “The Light Inside” just earned him a third Grammy.

Rick Telander appears on the Jan. 29, 2024, episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Rick Telander certainly waxes poetic when lamenting the fates of our oft-underperforming sports franchises. But now he’s turned his literary and wordsmith abilities to poetry in a new book called “Sweet Dreams: Poems and Paintings for the Child Abed.”

Sandra Cisneros reads from her new book of poetry. (WTTW News)

Sandra Cisneros visited her hometown for a reading of her new book at the Field Museum. “Woman Without Shame” is her first published collection of poems in 28 years. 

Leslé Honoré (WTTW News)

Following the election of Kamala Harris as vice president in November, Chicago poet Leslé Honoré updated a poem she wrote in 2017 to celebrate the historic nature of Harris’ win. 

If you spent any time as a child at the Chicago Cultural Center, you might remember the Art-o-mat machine that dispensed a piece of art in exchange for two tokens. That same machine has inspired a new concept for storytelling through poetry.

An illustration by Langston Allston from the new book “Everything Must Go.” (Courtesy Kevin Coval and Allston)

Chicago poet Kevin Coval and illustrator Langston Allston discuss their new book about Wicker Park in the 1990s – and the forces of gentrification that have changed it.

Eve Ewing appears on “Chicago Tonight.”

A new book by local poet and sociologist Eve L. Ewing investigates the legacy of the 1919 Chicago race riots through poetry, blending verse with historical text and archival photos.

Eric Elshtain, the Field Museum’s first-ever poet-in-residence, interacts with a group of children in the museum’s Stanley Field Hall. (John Weinstein / The Field Museum)

Poet Eric Elshtain is one of the museum’s newest additions, and he represents the institution’s latest effort at using art to change the way visitors interact with nature.

Often called “the people’s poet,” Martin Espada was recently awarded one of the nation’s top literary awards. 

Patricia Frazier

The 19-year-old writes poetry with a message of empowerment, social activism and remembrance. Meet Patricia Frazier.

“Brown Girls” director Sam Bailey, left, and co-creator Fatimah Asghar (Credit: Alexus McLane)

A web series that debuted in February has already been picked up by HBO. Made in Chicago, it highlights the friendships between young women of color. We talk with the award-winning poet who co-created the series, and an actor from the show.

(Courtesy of Brooks Permissions)

The Pulitzer Prize-winning poet also served as the state's poet laureate from 1968 until her death in 2000. Today's poets are finding creative ways to remember her.

(Courtesy of Brooks Permissions)

The Pulitzer Prize-winning poet also served as the state's poet laureate from 1968 until her death in 2000. Today's poets are finding creative ways to remember her.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning poet would have celebrated her 100th birthday this week. We take some poetic license ourselves with the Jazz June, a gin-based cocktail with a spring of fragrant lavender. 

Wednesday marks what would have been the 100th birthday for poet Gwendolyn Brooks.