ECOS: A Chicago Latine Poetry Festival celebrates Chicago’s relationship with and influence on Latine poetry. It echoes (“ecos’ in Spanish) the Nezahualcóyotl Poetry Festival, organized in 1991 by Chicago poet Carlos Cumpián and aligns with the September release of Latino Poetry: the Library of America Anthology

The Poetry Foundation has partnered with local cultural organizations to present programming activations in three Chicago neighborhoods: the North River Commission in Albany Park, the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture in Humboldt Park, and the National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen. The festival will feature free, bilingual Spanish and English programming, including poetry readings and performances, writing workshops, live music, storytime for kids, and more!

Fri Sep 27, 2024

7-9pm – ECOS Poetry Lot Jam at 33rd Ward Parking Lot (4747 N Sawyer, Chicago IL 60625)

Sat Sep 28th, 2024

10-11am – Kids Storytime with ¡Viva! Los Libros at Drake Gardens (4643 N Drake Ave, Chicago, IL 60625)

12-1pm – This is For You: Poetry Workshop at Drake Gardens (4643 N Drake Ave, Chicago, IL 60625)

2-3pm – That’s My Heart Right There: Poetry Workshop at Movement on Montrose ( 2951 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618)

2-3:30pm – Bookbinding Workshop at Movement on Montrose ( 2951 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618)

4-5:30pm – Open Mic at Drake Gardens (4643 N Drake Ave, Chicago, IL 60625)

Agenda

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
ECOS Poetry Lot Jam (Friday)
Celebrate Latine poets in Chicago’s Albany Park neighborhood with ECOS: A Chicago Latine Poetry Festival! Co-presented with North River Comission, activities in Albany Park begin on Friday evening with the headlining event: ECOS Poetry Lot Jam. This all-ages event will feature poetry performances by Julián Martinez and Marta Collazo with an opening performance by student poets from the Chicago Poetry Center. Between poetry sets, explore community vendors or jive along to music from Future Rootz, who will close out our evening. At 33rd Ward Parking Lot (4747 N Sawyer, Chicago IL 60625)

10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
ECOS Kids Storytime with ¡Viva! Los Libros (Saturday)
Kiddos and their guardians are invited to join us for storytime with¡Viva! Los Libros. Sit amongst the growing veggies in this beautiful community garden and relax as the ¡Viva! Los Libros team brings a book (or two, or three) to life. Books will be read in English and Spanish., and in between. At Drake Gardens 4643 N Drake Ave, Chicago, IL 60625 We will provide blankets to sit on, but this outdoor event is BYOC (bring your own chair). The Poetry Foundation’s events are completely free of charge and open to the public.

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
ECOS This is For You: Poetry Workshop (Saturday)
Maya Odin from the Chicago Poetry Center will lead attendees in this outdoor poetry writing workshop. What message would you leave in a poem? Inspired by a poem by Nancy Morejón titled, Bottle in the Sea, we will discuss the messages people leave for others (stories, advice, histories, jokes, etc.) and messages people have left for us. Let’s write message poems. At Drake Gardens 4643 N Drake Ave, Chicago, IL 60625

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
ECOS: That’s My Heart Right There: Poetry Workshop
Noel Quiñones from the Chicago Poetry Center will lead attendees in this poetry writing workshop. Inspired by Willie Perdomo’s poem of the same title, we will discuss the words and phrases we use to express love for each other to each other. Let’s write some love poems together—no experience is necessary! Space is limited, so register in advance.

2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Bookbinding Workshop with Marimacha Monarcha Press
In this workshop, Marimacha Monarca Press (MMP) will lead participants in a bookbinding workshop in which you’ll make your own chrysalis journal. MMP will show participants how to make their own journals with seed paper using a saddle stitch. Fill the journals with poems, love letters to yourself, doodles, and ponderings.Tear pages away to plant andwrite down ideas or feelings you want to embrace and let go of. All materials will be provided. Slots are limited, so register in advance! at Movement on Montrose 2951 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
ECOS Albany Park Open Mic (Saturday )
Open mic at Albany Park (location to be announced soon). Registration for the open mic will happen in-person at the beginning of the event, with poetry being prioritized. Each reader will have three minutes to share their work. At Drake Gardens 4643 N Drake Ave, Chicago, IL 60625.

RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ecos-activities-in-albany-park-tickets-991385188787?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Official Website

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Tags: 33rd Ward Parking Lot, Albany Park, Carlos Cumpián, Chicago, Drake Gardens, ECOS: Activities in Albany Park, Future Rootz, Julian Martinez, Marimacha Monarca Press, Marta Collazo, Maya Odin, Movement on Montrose, Nancy Morejón, Noel Quiñones, North River Commission, Poetry Foundation, Willie Perdomo