From February through June of 2025, the Chicago Poetry Center is offering free online Critical Conversations: Anti-Racism sessions open to any Illinois nonprofit organization employee or volunteer.
Drawing on CPC’s decades of workshop facilitation, Critical Conversations use poetry as a springboard to increase belonging and inclusion in the workplace. By centering the dialogue on lived experiences reflected in poems, the process launches transformative discussions without requiring those most violently and directly affected by racism to tell or retell their stories of trauma and resilience.
Each session is led by two trained and racially diverse facilitators. Sessions include exploration of a theme related to racial justice through discussion of contemporary poems, sharing of personal experiences, and guided writing practice. No prior poetry experience or education is needed!
Two types of Critical Conversations sessions will be offered through this program: Belonging and Inclusion, and The Continuum of Harm. Participants may register for one Belonging and Inclusion session and one Continuum of Harm session.
All participants will also receive access to the Continuing Practice Guide, which provides all of the materials and guidance needed for pairs or small groups to engage in additional self-guided discussions around racism and its impact on their lives and workplaces using poetry as the center and launch point.
Accessibility: The session will take place over zoom and will be live captioned.