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GBOMA 2025

10/02/2025 @ 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

$15
Alt text: Green promotional poster for the 31st Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards (GBOMA) Live. Features finalist names and event details for October 2 at 6:30 PM (doors at 6) at Epiphany Center for the Arts, 201 S. Ashland Ave, Chicago. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Finalists include Barbara Barrows Chirskira Caillouet Mars April Caulton Sylvia Ewing Lisa Farver Rocio Franco Gregorio Gomez Crystal Vance Guerra Wesley Frazier Keys Miguel Marzana Ciara Miller Hilesh Patel Sayeda Qader Sandra Santiago Samina Hadi-Tabassum Kara Rose Trojan

The Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards (GBOMA) is returning for its 31st year! GBOMA is an annual poetry competition founded by Gwendolyn Brooks, Illinois’ third Poet Laureate. 

This year, the top contestants were selected by guest judge Dan “Sully” Sullivan, and are invited to perform their original poems at this live finals event on October 2, where the audience favorite is awarded the $500 prize.

Come out and support the 2025 finalists for the Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards (GBOMA) as they perform their works live.  Join us for an all-ages event of poetry and community.

2025 GBOMA Finalists

Barbara Barrows
Chirskira Caillouet
Mars April Caulton
Sylvia Ewing
Lisa Farver
Rocio Franco
Gregorio Gomez
Crystal Vance Guerra

Wesley Frazier Keys
Miguel Marzana
Ciara Miller
Hilesh Patel
Sayeda Qader
Sandra Santiago
Samina Hadi-Tabassum
Kara Rose Trojan

Details

Venue

  • Epiphany Center for the Arts
  • 201 South Ashland Ave.
    Chicago, IL 60647 United States
  • Phone (312) 421-4600
  • View Venue Website