On May 3, ARTSiE and ZENTLI hosted a poetry event that lit up the Evanston community with bold voices, shared stories, and cultural pride. The intimate gathering brought together a dynamic lineup of poets—each offering a unique voice and vision—against the warm and welcoming backdrop of ZENTLI’s community space.

The afternoon was anchored by Miguel Angel Ontiveros, who read from his newly released book, Consecuencias. With verses that explored memory, language, and consequence, Ontiveros invited listeners into an intimate, yet provocative experience.

Joining him were six extraordinary poets whose voices brought richness and range to the afternoon including:

• Gregorio Gómez, a celebrated voice in Chicago’s poetry scene

• José Bono Rovirosa, a poet offering a lens into displacement, identity, and justice

• Beth Jacobs, an ARTSiE friend from Family Focus who shared pieces that invited us to slow down and pay attention

• Rafael Calderón, a bilingual poet who honors culture, resilience, and family roots

• Jim Doyle, a beloved Chicago-based poet

• Laura Friedlander, a poet rooted in nature and community

This event marked another beautiful collaboration between ARTSiE and ZENTLI, grounded in a shared mission to amplify diverse voices and foster meaningful cultural exchange. We are grateful to the poets, attendees, and volunteers who helped us warm up the afternoon with poetry, tacos and good company!

We are so grateful for opportunities like this where we can bring quality and inspiring art to our community! Want to continue to create opportunities like this for the community? Donate today!