Poetry Foundation Voted “Best Poetry Organization” in Chicago
Voters cast their ballots in Chicago Reader’s "Best of Chicago" 2024 poetry categories
The Poetry Foundation is thrilled to be named “best poetry organization” in Chicago by voters in the Chicago Reader’s “Best of Chicago 2024” poll!
We extend our congratulations to our fellow nominees, Chicago Poetry Center, Brighton Park Poets, Guild Literary Complex, and Luya. We also congratulate Chicago’s first poet laureate and longtime Foundation collaborator, avery r. young, who was voted “best poet,” and fellow honorees in the category, April Gibson, Hannah McDonald, Faylita Hicks, and Billy Tuggle. The poetry love continues from there—for winning “best new poetry collection,” we congratulate Diego Báez and Chicago poets Gibson, Tuggle, Ruben Quesada, and Hicks.
Chicago is a city steeped in poetry. It has served as the home to and inspiration for Gwendolyn Brooks, Sandra Cisneros, Haki R. Madhubuti, Angela Jackson, Carl Sandburg, Patricia Smith, avery r. young, and so many others. The Poetry Foundation’s staff and trustees are grateful to Chicagoans for recognizing poetry’s value by fostering a supportive community for poetry and poets.
Toasting the Chicago Poetry Center at the opening event for A Bigger Table: 50 Years of the Chicago Poetry Center. Photograph by Eric Strom.
In 2024, the Poetry Foundation collaborated with runner-up and grantee-partner, Chicago Poetry Center (CPC), to celebrate the organization’s 50th anniversary. The collaboration included an exhibition at the Poetry Foundation featuring 50 broadsides, 50 iconic vintage poetry event posters, archival materials and ephemera, and the documentary film A Bigger Table: 50 Years of the Chicago Poetry Center. The July 13, 2024 anniversary celebration was attended by current and past CPC staff and hundreds of poetry lovers from throughout Chicago. The Poetry Foundation is also proud to call finalist Guild Literary Complex a grantee-partner.
We once again congratulate our fellow honorees and thank them for supporting poets and making poetry more accessible for all Chicagoans!
The Chicago Reader’s “Best of Chicago” issue is scheduled for release on March 6, 2025. Learn more.