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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261001T190000
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DTSTAMP:20260921T172719Z
CREATED:20260917T214028Z
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UID:15374-1790881200-1790886600@guildcomplex.org
SUMMARY:Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards (GBOMA) 2026
DESCRIPTION:The Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards (GBOMA)\, founded by Gwendolyn Brooks and presented annually by Guild Literary Complex\, celebrates outstanding original poetry by Illinois writers. Finalists selected by guest judge I.S. Jones will perform their work live for a chance to win a $500 audience prize\, publication in RHINO Poetry\, and an invitation to read at the Evanston Writers Workshop’s 2026 conference. \nBUY TICKETS HERE: https://epiphanychi.com/events/gwendolyn-brooks-open-mic-awards-gboma-2026-finals/ \nDate: Thursday\, October 1st\, 2026 \nDoors: 5:00 PM \nShowtime: 7:00 PM \nAt Chase House \n2026 GBOMA Finalists \nDywaine Betts Jr \nJohn Franklin Dandridge \nSylvia Ewing* \nLotus Fulton \nGregorio Gomez \nThomas Gossett \nSamina Hadi-Tabassum* \nDavid Mathews \nDavid Orr* \nHilesh Patel \nSandra Santiago \nSuzie Torres \nKira Tucker \nSooahn Yang \nMiranda Barfuss \nE’mon Lauren
URL:https://guildcomplex.org/event/gwendolyn-brooks-open-mic-awards-gboma-2026/
LOCATION:Epiphany Center for the Arts\, 201 South Ashland Ave.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60647\, United States
CATEGORIES:GBOMA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://guildcomplex.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Flyer-3.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261014T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261014T210000
DTSTAMP:20261005T233740Z
CREATED:20260811T001526Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261005T233740Z
UID:15300-1792004400-1792011600@guildcomplex.org
SUMMARY:¡Slam Diáspora en Vivo!
DESCRIPTION:The first and only Spanish language slam in Chicago returns in-person!\n\n\nThe first and only Spanish language slam in Chicago returns in-person! All participants have a chance to compete at the international level at the final slam hosted by a Latinx country (TBD). Hosted and curated by Yesenia Roman and Luis Tubens “Logan Lu.” \nOpen to poets of all styles and ages! From anyone who is just starting\, to anyone who has been writing for decades\, are all welcome to participate. SIGN UP HERE. \nRequirements:\nSlam– 2 poems in Spanish/Spanglish\nOpen Mic– Any genre of performance art in any language! \nWe believe that poetry pertains to everyone\, and that all of us carry it within us. This slam is to experiment\, play\, and to let the words flow. \nRemember: the point is not the points\, the point is the community. We want to nurture a poetic community\, and invite new people to participate as audience members\, as poets\, and as spoken-word lovers.\nSlam Diáspora is the first Spanish slam in the U.S. and aims to create a space that unites Latinx poets in the US with poets in Latin America\, to form a poetry community despite borders. Participants and winners from last year can participate again! \n——————————————– \n¡Abierto a poetas de todos estilos y edades! Desde quien apenas esta empezando a escribir\, a quienes llevan décadas escribiendo– todos están bienvenidos a participar. REGÍSTRATE AQUÍ. \nRequisitos:\nSlam– Dos poemas (en español/spanglish)\nOpen Mic– Música/Poesía/Cuento etc\, en cualquier idioma \nCreemos que la poesía le pertenece a todxs\, y que todxs traemos poesía adentro. Este Slam es para experimentar\, jugar\, y dejar que la palabra fluya. \nRecuerden: el punto no son los puntos\, sino la comuna. Queremos crecer como comunidad poética\, e invitar a nuevas personas a participar como audiencia\, cómo poetas\, y cómo amantes de la palabra viva.\nSlam Diáspora es el primer slam de poesía en español de los EEUU y busca crear un espacio que une\npoetas Latinx en los EEUU con poetas en Latinoamérica para fomentar una comunidad poética a pesar de las fronteras. ¡Participantes y ganadores del año pasado pueden participar de nuevo! \nJUEZ DE HONOR\n\n \n\n\n\n\nYazud E. Brito-Milian (they/them) is a Chicane poet\, impatient collagist\, abolitionist\, and eldest sister. Born in Winston-Salem\, NC\, and based in Chicago\, IL\, they are working on their first chapbook\, crossfade\, dedicated to their dad’s black and yellow KORG M50 and the musicians who raised them. Yazud has received fellowships from The Watering Hole\, Periplus\, and CantoMundo. Their work appears in Muzzle Magazine\, Voicemail Poems\, The Poetry Project\, and Huizache Magazine. They are one of the founding members of Tanda Poetry Collective\, a BIPOC-led poetry book club and workshop space for BIPOC poets. They also co-host a new reading series and open mic on the South Side called Canto-Kòjo. In Spanish\, canto means “to sing\,” and in Yoruba\, kòjo means “together.” Yazud hopes to continue using poetry as a tool for gathering—to ensure our communities remain alive and celebrated.
URL:https://guildcomplex.org/event/slam-diaspora-en-vivo-2026-3/
LOCATION:Taqueria El Mezquite\, 1756 West 18th Street\, Chicago\, IL\, 60608\, United States
CATEGORIES:Partner Event,Slam Diáspora
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261017T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261017T150000
DTSTAMP:20261001T180117Z
CREATED:20260930T191031Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261001T180117Z
UID:15385-1792242000-1792249200@guildcomplex.org
SUMMARY:Guild Literary Complex at The Loop Arts District Festival - National Black Poetry Day Readings & Reflections
DESCRIPTION:Presented in partnership with the Guild Literary Complex \nJoin us for a free poetry reading celebrating National Black Poetry Day. Honoring the history and continued legacy of Black poetry\, the event commemorates the birthday of Jupiter Hammon\, the first Black poet published in 1760. Hosted by Faylita Hicks. \n\nBlack Poetry Day Readings & Reflections \n \nSaturday\, October 17th \n1:00pm – 3:00pm \nAmerican Writers Museum \n180 North N Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL 60601 \nFree Admission \nReadings By: \nWesley Frazier Keys \nKenyatta Rogers \nKira Tucker \nLotus Fulton
URL:https://guildcomplex.org/event/guild-literary-complex-at-the-loop-arts-district-festival-national-black-poetry-day/
LOCATION:American Writers Museum\, 180 N Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60601\, United States
CATEGORIES:Special Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://guildcomplex.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Black-Poetry-Day-2026-scaled.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261111T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261111T210000
DTSTAMP:20260811T003043Z
CREATED:20260811T001527Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T003043Z
UID:15301-1794423600-1794430800@guildcomplex.org
SUMMARY:¡Slam Diáspora en Vivo!
DESCRIPTION:The first and only Spanish language slam in Chicago returns in-person!\n\n\nThe first and only Spanish language slam in Chicago returns in-person! All participants have a chance to compete at the international level at the final slam hosted by a Latinx country (TBD). Hosted and curated by Crystal Vance Guerra and Luis Tubens “Logan Lu.” \nOpen to poets of all styles and ages! From anyone who is just starting\, to anyone who has been writing for decades\, are all welcome to participate. SIGN UP HERE. \nRequirements:\nSlam– 2 poems in Spanish/Spanglish\nOpen Mic– Any genre of performance art in any language! \nWe believe that poetry pertains to everyone\, and that all of us carry it within us. This slam is to experiment\, play\, and to let the words flow. \nRemember: the point is not the points\, the point is the community. We want to nurture a poetic community\, and invite new people to participate as audience members\, as poets\, and as spoken-word lovers.\nSlam Diáspora is the first Spanish slam in the U.S. and aims to create a space that unites Latinx poets in the US with poets in Latin America\, to form a poetry community despite borders. Participants and winners from last year can participate again! \n——————————————– \n¡Abierto a poetas de todos estilos y edades! Desde quien apenas esta empezando a escribir\, a quienes llevan décadas escribiendo– todos están bienvenidos a participar. REGÍSTRATE AQUÍ. \nRequisitos:\nSlam– Dos poemas (en español/spanglish)\nOpen Mic– Música/Poesía/Cuento etc\, en cualquier idioma \nCreemos que la poesía le pertenece a todxs\, y que todxs traemos poesía adentro. Este Slam es para experimentar\, jugar\, y dejar que la palabra fluya. \nRecuerden: el punto no son los puntos\, sino la comuna. Queremos crecer como comunidad poética\, e invitar a nuevas personas a participar como audiencia\, cómo poetas\, y cómo amantes de la palabra viva.\nSlam Diáspora es el primer slam de poesía en español de los EEUU y busca crear un espacio que une\npoetas Latinx en los EEUU con poetas en Latinoamérica para fomentar una comunidad poética a pesar de las fronteras. ¡Participantes y ganadores del año pasado pueden participar de nuevo!
URL:https://guildcomplex.org/event/slam-diaspora-en-vivo-2026-4/
LOCATION:Taqueria El Mezquite\, 1756 West 18th Street\, Chicago\, IL\, 60608\, United States
CATEGORIES:Partner Event,Slam Diáspora
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