Established in 1940 by the WPA's Federal Art Project, the South Side Community Art Center has provided a second home... more

One of the 20th century's most significant poets, Gwendolyn Brooks wrote about race in America, often from the perspective of... more

Margaret Walker's signature poem "For My People" encompasses the strengths and struggles of Blacks not only in Chicago but throughout... more

The DuSable Museum is one of the nation's premier institutions dedicated to the history, art, and culture of the African... more

Pilsen was a diverse neighborhood in Chicago long before anybody used the word “diversity.” Stuart Dybek and Ana Castillo read... more

Marc Smith conceived the worldwide phenomenon of slam poetry at the Green Mill in the 1980s. Audience participation encouraged. Need a... more

The neighborhood of Bucktown is home to Danny's Tavern and Myopic Books, two hot spots in the local poetry scene.... more

The Newberry Library is an independent research library, and has twice served as the home for Poetry magazine during its... more

Li-Young Lee grew up in this immigrant neighborhood, and his poem "The Cleaving" depicts his struggles with identity, violence, and... more

This tour stop includes poetry addressed to graves in Chicago's ritzy Graceland Cemetery. Carl Sandburg, Vachel Lindsay, and Harriet Monroe... more