In 2013, a woman named Rachel Hyman reached out to me on Twitter to talk neighborhoods.
We were both working in that space; me through this site, her through Anthology of Chicago. We combined forces to create “Welcome to the Neighborhood,” a reading series that would explore Chicago through its component elements.
An itinerant, homeless series, we go where we’re needed. We’ve raised funds for a literacy nonprofit at a Logan Square bar, feted Studs Terkel at the University of Chicago and packed the house twice at the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Starting in 2014, we’ve had local artists illustrate the stories, turning each performance into a dynamic visual experience the Chicago Tribune called “a living graphic novel.”
Find out where we’re going next and see photos from past readings at our Facebook page.
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Past events:
Printers Row Lit Fest, June 11, 2016
Nestor Gomez – Uptown
Britt Julious – Austin
Clarence Browley – Pilsen
Zoe Zolbrod – Wicker Park
Ben Tanzer – Gold Coast
Psalm One, art by Dmitry Samarov - Englewood
Elaine Hegwood Bowen, art by Marine Tempels - Englewood
Steven Schroeder, own art – Hyde Park
Rachel Hyman, art by Sarah Zimmer - Hyde Park
Megan Stielstra, art by Camille Swift - Wicker Park
Chicago Book Expo, Dec. 6, 2014
Alexai Galaviz-Budziszewski – Pilsen and Heart of Chicago
Dan Campana – Wrigleyville
Megan Stielstra - Uptown
Oni Woods – Bronzeville
Kush Thompson – Austin
The Museum of Contemporary Art’s Word Weekend, July 26, 2014
Paul Dailing, art by Jamie Hibdon - Little Village
Don De Grazia, art by Dmitry Samarov – Wrigleyville
Irene Marquette, art by Rachel Foss – Andersonville
Oni Woods, art by Emily Torem – Bronzeville
Kari Lydersen, art by Chester Elvin - Pilsen
Let’s Get Working: Chicago Celebrates Studs Terkel, May 10, 2014
Lily Be – Humboldt Park
Kush Thompson – Austin
Malcolm London – Austin
Jim Padar – Near West Side
Kimberly Dixon-Mays – Hyde Park
Chi Lit: Tales of the Neighborhoods, Aug. 13, 2013
Dmitry Samarov – Beverly
Robert Loerzel – Lakeview
Shannon Cason – Bronzeville
Bill Savage – Rogers Park
Paul Durica – Pilsen
Melanie LaForce – Logan Square
Molly Meacham – Roscoe Village
Kimberly Dixon-Mays – Hyde Park
Sarah Gonzalez – Pilsen
Press:
Chicago Tribune, “Welcome to the Neighborhood aims to diversify Chicago live lit,” Jan. 29, 2015
Chicago Reader, “Welcome to the Neighborhood,” Jan. 15, 2015
Crain’s Chicago Business, “10 Things to Do,” Jan. 15, 2015
Chicago Reader, ”Assembling a picture of Chicago, neighborhood by neighborhood,” Aug. 9, 2013
Gapers Block, “Stories from Around the Way @ Cole’s Bar,” Aug. 9, 2013
Chicagoist, “Pencil This In: Chi Lit – Tales Of The Neighborhood,” Aug. 13, 2013