ECOS: A Chicago Latine Poetry Festival

A Chicago Latine Poetry Festival celebrates Chicago’s relationship with and influence on Latine poetry. It echoes (“ecos’ in Spanish) the Nezahualcóyotl Poetry Festival, organized in 1991 by Chicago poet Carlos Cumpián and aligns with the September release of Latino Poetry: the Library of America Anthology

The Poetry Foundation has partnered with local cultural organizations to present programming activations in three Chicago neighborhoods: the North River Commission in Albany Park, the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture in Humboldt Park, and the National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen. The festival will feature free, bilingual Spanish and English programming, including poetry readings and performances, writing workshops, live music, storytime for kids, and more! 

An outline of the full schedule is below; visit each event page for more details and to register for events! Keep an eye on this page for updates as more information becomes available.

Headlining Performances

• ECOS: A Chicago Latine Poetry Festival (opening night): Brenda Cárdenas, Davon Clark, Suzi Garcia, Achy Obejas, Julian Randall, and Erika Sánchez

September 26, 2024 | 4:30 AM - 7:00 AM | Poetry Foundation

• ECOS Poetry Lot Jam

September 27, 2024 | 5:30 AM - 7:30 AM | In Person

• ECOS David Hernandez and Salima Rivera Tribute Reading

September 28, 2024 | 10:30 PM - 1:00 AM | In Person

• ECOS: A Chicago Latine Poetry Festival (Closing Performance)

September 28, 2024 | 5:00 AM - 7:30 AM | In Person

Activities in Pilsen

• ECOS Pop-up Gallery Readings with Guild Literary Complex

September 28, 2024 | 12:30 AM - 2:00 AM | In Person

• ECOS Contratiempo lecturas en las galerias / Pop-up Gallery Readings with Contratiempo (Spanish readings)

September 28, 2024 | 11:00 PM - 12:00 AM | In Person

Activities in Humboldt Park

• ECOS David Hernandez and Salima Rivera Exhibit Opening + Open Mic

September 27, 2024 | 4:30 AM - 7:00 AM | In Person

• ECOS Word Dealers: A Night of Poetry

September 28, 2024 | 4:30 AM | In Person

Activities in Albany Park

• ECOS Kids Storytime with ¡Viva! Los Libros

September 28, 2024 | 8:30 PM - 9:30 PM | In Person

• ECOS Albany Park Open Mic

September 28, 2024 | 2:30 AM | In Person

• ECOS This is For You: Poetry Workshop

September 28, 2024 | 10:30 PM - 11:30 PM | In Person

• ECOS: That’s My Heart Right There: Poetry Workshop

September 28, 2024 | 12:30 AM - 1:30 AM | In Person

• ECOS Bookbinding Workshop with Marimacha Monarca Press

September 28, 2024 | 12:30 AM - 2:00 AM | In Person

Host or Publisher Poetry Foundation & Poetry Magazine