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www.highlandparkpoetry.org
Highland Park Poetry was launched in January, 2007. The initial idea was to create a local celebration of National Poetry Month which is in April each year. Highland Park Poetry quickly blossomed into a year-long endeavor that involves poets throughout Illinois, the United States, and other countries. It will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2027.
Highland Park Poetry seeks to share poetry with audiences of all ages; to offer readings, displays, and writing workshops; and to create opportunities for poets. Though poetry is its primary focus, Highland Park Poetry also welcomes the contributions of visual artists to enhance reader experience online and in print.
Highland Park Poetry’s website includes the Muses’ Gallery, a display of poetry and artwork updated three times a year. The website also features poetry book reviews written by volunteer reviewers, Highland Park Poetry’s YouTube program, Poetry Today, and interviews area poets.
“Summer’s Last Breath” is one of the poems currently featured on the Highland Park Poetry’s website:
Summer’s Last Breath
August drifts,
gold along fences~
heat holding its last breath
while dusk gathers fireflies in
a small bowl of light.
Sara Etgen~Baker
Highland Park Poetry’s Monthly Meetings
Executive Director Jennifer Dotson (second from left) highlights Highland Park Poetry’s monthly series of in-person poetry readings and open-mic events as well as the daily poem posts on social media and its website. It publishes three books each year, the Poetry Challenge anthology, the summer anthology and the winner of the Prairie State Poetry Prize for a 1st or 2nd Book.
Highland Park Poetry’s Upcoming Events:
October 10, 2026, 4pm
Secret World Books, 1771 2nd Street, Highland Park, IL 60035
Highland Park Poetry welcomes Trudy Kleckner, author of “For Those Who Mourn” (FriesenPress, 2025) and Charlotte Digregorio, author of “Wondrous Instruction and Advice from Global Poets.” Open-mic follows features. Charlotte Digregorio is the author of nine award-winning books, two of which were Featured Selections of Writer’s Digest Book Club. Trudy Kleckner began to write poetry after raising a family and a long career as a marriage and family therapist. This new endeavor married her former interests to her love of the natural world.
Poets Respond to the American Revolution
The US250 Persona Poem Project
October 28, 2016, 7pm
The Moraine,1201 Park Ave. West, Highland Park, IL 60035
Highland Park Poetry is currently featuring selected poems from “Poets Respond to the American Revolution: the US250 Persona Poem Project.”
The poems allow readers to experience this history as something vital and present. They are partnering with the Highland Park Cultural Arts Advisory Group to present “Voices of the American Revolution,” a Readers Theater experience of poems from the project on Wednesday, October 28 at 7 PM at The Moraine, 1201 Park Avenue West. The program is free and open to the general public.
Please click here for the complete list of events and poems.
Events for Youth
Events for Youth
Highland Park Poetry welcomes audiences of all ages to events as well as poem submissions by writers of all ages. It is free for poets to submit a poem to the annual Poetry Challenge. Many elementary and high school students encourage their students to participate.
Highland Park Poetry partners with the 112 Education Foundation to showcase the selected student authors from the annual Poetry Challenge. The students get to read their poems before a supportive audience and receive recognition for their poetry.
Highland Park Poetry doesn’t presently charge a cover fee for its monthly reading and open-mic events, though it encourages patrons to support the poets by purchasing a book as well as support local Highland Park businesses that support poetry. Secret World Books hosts Highland Park Poetry’s monthly events and sells copies of Highland Park Poetry’s publications.
Surprise Visit from Illinois Poet Laureate
Illinois Poet Laureate MARK TURCOTTE made a surprise appearance at Highland Park Poetry’s open-mic.
Highland Park Poetry welcomes opportunities to partner and collaborate with fellow artists and local organizations. It would love to explore how it can work together to bring new creative projects to life.
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