Poetry Gets Its Own Block Party

CHICAGO – On Saturday, July 30, the Poetry Foundation, Crescendo Literary, and The Renaissance Collaborative, Inc. host the Chicago Poetry Block Party, a festival of poetry, music, art, and community, on the 3700 block of South Wabash Avenue, the site of the historic Wabash YMCA in Bronzeville. The event takes place from 2:00–8:00 PM and guests of all ages can enjoy workshops, art activities, and music and poetry performances from some of Chicago’s best poets.

The Chicago Poetry Block Party features musical performances from soulful vocalist Ravyn Lenae, rapper and prison abolitionist Ric Wilson, and Avery R. Young, who blends phonetics, linguistics, hymns, jazz and hip hop in his work. Award-winning Chicago-based poets Nate Marshall, Eve Ewing, Fatimah Asghar, Porsha Olayiwola, Sarah Kay and José Olivarez will lead poetry workshops and perform original works.

The Chicago Poetry Block party is the culmination of a three-day poetry incubator presented by the Poetry Foundation and Crescendo Literary on July 28-30. Over two days of workshops and talks, the Incubator brings together a group of emerging poets who engage with community through their creative practice. Faculty poets Patricia Smith and Ross Gay share craft and professional talks to help participants explore best practices and develop aspirational poetry projects based on the needs of their communities.

“With this event, poetry will come onto the streets, a great place to experience the immediacy and vibrancy of the art form,” said Henry Bienen, president of the Poetry Foundation. “The Chicago Poetry Block Party creates a space for connection between poets, artists, and families to celebrate and create together.”

Eve Ewing, co-founder of Crescendo Literary, states, "Our dream is for the Chicago Poetry Block Party to be a welcoming, celebratory, affirming space for all Chicagoans to enjoy poetry—whether they think of themselves as fans of the craft or just want to enjoy an all-ages day of fun outside. The day is for everyone."

"As a long-standing pillar in Bronzeville, The Renaissance Collaborative is excited about its partnership with the Poetry Foundation to bring such an artful and impactful event to the community," said Patricia Abrams, executive director of The Renaissance Collaborative.

Partnering Organizations:

About the Poetry Foundation
The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine, is an independent literary organization committed to a vigorous presence for poetry in our culture. It exists to discover and celebrate the best poetry and to place it before the largest possible audience. The Poetry Foundation seeks to be a leader in shaping a receptive climate for poetry by developing new audiences, creating new avenues for delivery, and encouraging new kinds of poetry through innovative literary prizes and programs. For more information, please visit poetryfoundation.org.

About Crescendo Literary
A collaboration between poets Eve Ewing and Nate Marshall, Crescendo Literary creates and curates events, works of art, and educational resources grounded in the belief that 1) artists can, should, and must be accountable to the communities from which they emerge, and 2) communities, in turn, are strengthened by the meaningful presence of excellent art. For more information, please visit crescendoliterary.com.

About The Renaissance Collaborative
The Renaissance Collaborative is a non-profit devoted to addressing the housing needs of low- and moderate-income residents in Chicago’s near- and mid-south communities. TRC promotes self-sufficiency through an innovative and comprehensive network of supportive housing, and workforce and community development. For more information, please visit trcwabash.org/

Follow the Poetry Foundation and Poetry on Facebook at facebook.com/poetryfoundation or on Twitter @PoetryFound.

POETRY FOUNDATION | 61 West Superior Street | Chicago, IL 60654 | 312.787.7070
Media contact:
Polly Faust, media assistant, [email protected], 312.799.8065
Elizabeth Burke-Dain, director, marketing and media, [email protected], 312.799.8016

For questions about participating in the Poetry Incubator and the Chicago Poetry Block Party, contact:
Ydalmi Noriega, [email protected], 312.799.8008