Recently, I was selected as a semi-finalist for the Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards. This evening of performance poetry has been held annually for the past 24 years and is produced by the Guild Literary Complex. Although I didn’t move on to the finalist round, I felt extremely proud to be part of the event and to be surrounded by so many talented writers.

The Guild Literary Complex was founded in 1989 with a mission to “build on Chicago’s rich literary traditions through vibrant storytelling and radical inclusion, advancing access to and from the margins.” Current executive director Lisa Wagner is an alum of Columbia College Chicago, with an MFA in Creative Nonfiction. Throughout the evening, Lisa flitted through the crowd like a hummingbird making sure the performers, hosts, and guests were comfortable, helping adjust audio levels, taking pictures, and making sure all the logistics of the evening went smoothly.

Home of the American Writers Museum

Previously held at the Chopin Theatre in Wicker Park, the GBOMA (as it is affectionately known) this year moved to the American Writers Museum just north of Columbia College Chicago at 180 North Michigan Avenue. The American Writers Museum opened on May 16, 2017, with a mission to educate the public about American writers and to deepen the appreciation for good writing in all its forms. Located on the second floor of the building in a large yet cozy space, the museum features permanent multimedia exhibits where patrons can explore masterworks in-depth and contribute to a work of writing using pen and paper, myriad typewriters, or digital mediums. There is also a children’s gallery with story-times. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday and costs $8 for students.

The GBOMA was divided into four rounds of five writers. The winner of each round was selected by the audience via ballots, so it was advantageous to bring friends. Though the judging of the submissions was blind, the chosen performers truly represented the Guild’s mission of advancing access to and from the margins. Performers ranged in age from 17 to 75 and included individuals of many racial backgrounds and gender identities – all brought together for the love of poetry.

Inside the American Writers Museum

At the conclusion of each round, there were readings and reflections by past winner Nicole Bond, Nora Brooks Blakely (the daughter of Gwendolyn Brooks), and Haki Madhubuti, founder of Third World Press and a towering figure in African-American literature. The evening was televised by Chicago’s local CANTV in flattering HD. Once the ballots were tallied for the semi-finalist rounds, the finalists each performed their poem one more time. A Jazz combo played live to relax the finalists while the final decision was made. The winner was declared to be the youngest performer of the evening who, at 17, performed a powerful work linking their own life to that of African-American youths lost too soon because of gun violence.

It felt good to be part of Chicago’s literary scene and to network with other writers. I recommend checking out the American Writers Museum and will point out that the next GBOMA submissions are only 11 months away!