Palabra Pura promotes literary expression in more than one tongue through a monthly bilingual poetry reading featuring Chicano and Latino artists. With an aim to foster dialogue through literature in Chicago and beyond, each evening pairs a local poet with a visiting writer along with an open mic to engage the interaction of diverse voices, ideas, and aesthetics. The readings are held the third Wednesday of every month (except August and December) throughout 2010.

Palabra Pura se enfoca en la expresion literaria en varios idiomas a traves de una serie de lecturas mensuales bilingues con artistas Chicanos y Latinos. Nuestra meta es promover el dialogo a traves de la literatura en Chicago y mas alla. Con este fin, cado lectura combina un poeta local con uno invitado, ademas de un open mic para cultivar la interaccion de voces, ideas esteticas diversas. Las lecturas se ofrecen el tercer miercoles de cada mes (con excepcion de agosto y diciembre).

Palabra Pura is presented in partnership with Letras Latinas of the Institute for Latino Studies at the University of Notre Dame and the Rafael Cintron Ortiz Cultural Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago. This series is also supported by contratiempo and Arena Cultural. 

Palabra Pura se presenta con la colaboracion de Letras Latinas del Instituto para Estudios Latinos de la Universidad de Notre Dame y el Centro Cultural Latino Rafael Cintron Ortiz de la Universidad de Illinois en Chicago. Tambien colaboracion la revista contratiempo y Arena Cultural.

2010 programs will be held on January 20th, February 17th, March 17th, April 21st, May 19th, June 16th, July 21st, September 15th (co-sonsored by the Poetry Foundation), October 20th and November 17th. Readers will include Kristin Naca, Linda Rodriguez, Gabriela Jauregi, Luis Albert Ambroggio, Silvia Curbelo and many others.  

Links to Partner Organizations

Letras Latinas of the Institute for Latino Studies at the Univerity of Notre Dame

Rafael Citron Ortiz Latino Cultural Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago

revista contratiempo

Arena Cultural

2009 Programs
January: John Murillo & Rafael Franco Steeves
February: One Poem Festival
March: Joanne Diaz & Dawn Herrera-Terry
April: Dan Vera & Carmen Alicia Murguia
May: The Winds Shifts: New Latino Poetry - On Tour
June: Emma Trelles & Jacob Saenz
July: Javier Huerta & Luis Humberto Valadez
September: Juan Felipe Herrera
October: Laura Solorzano, Dolores Dorantes, & Jen Hofer

2008 Programs
January: ariel robello and Juan Manuel Sanchez
February: Tim Hernandez and Stephanie Gentry-Fernandez
March: Aracelis Girmay and Olga Ulloa
April: Lorna Dee Cervantes and Rigoberto González
May: Naomi Ayala and Diana Pando
June: Adrian Castro and Febronio Zataraín
July: Emanuel Xavier and Irasema González
September: Tomás Riley and Xenia Ruiz 
October: Frances Treviño and Tony Del Valle
November: Juan J. Morales and Liliano Bilbao

2007 Programs
January: Cynthia Cruz and Juana Goergen
February: Carl Marcum and Fernando Olszanski
March:  Ray Gonzalez and Yolanda Nieves
April:  Victor Hernandez Cruz
May: Lisa Alvarado and Gregorio Gomez
June: Sandy Florian and Raul Niño
July: Suzanne Frischkorn and Coya Paz
September: Urayoán Noel
October: Peter Ramos and Bernardo Navia
November: Manuel Paul López and Eduardo Arocho

2006 Programs
February: Paul Martinez Pompa and Jorge Frisancho
March: Orlando Ricardo Menes and Beatriz Badikian
April: Maria Melendez and Carlos Cumpian
May: Lidia Torres and Johanny Vazquez Paz
June: Brenda Cardenas and David Hernandez
July: Francisco Aragon and Olivia Maciel
September: Sheryl Luna, Leon Leiva Gallardo, Tato Laviera
October: Richard Blanco and Achy Obejas
November:  Jorge Sanchez and Ada Limon