This one’s from Marissa:

As some of you know I spent the better part of the last few months teaching with an amazing arts/literacy program, Hands on Stanzas for the Poetry Center of Chicago. I was a Poet in Residence at Smyser Elementary (located on the west side of our fair city), teaching the entire fourth grade (108) kids the wonders of poetry.

In celebration of the all the schools involved with this program, and all the hardworking Poets in Residence; we are having an All Schools Reading on Wednesday May 7th, at 6:30 PM. The Art Institute is hosting the event in their Ballroom located at 112 S. Michigan Ave.

There will be a little reception following the reading (each kid is only reading 2 poems a piece, so I can’t imagine it running past 8 pm). Expect animal crackers and juice for the reception - it’s kid friendly, though I am sure there will be adult fare as well.

It would be great to see some friendly faces there - BTW my two kids rock: one will be the next Marianne Moore, and the other one is the next Saul Williams.
Come out and support a free night of kids reading poetry, and lend some support towards an amazing arts program in Chicago.

Thanks and hope all of you spent some part of April celebrating National Poetry Month.
-Marissa.