American Writers Museum

<h1>Winter Writing Institute (Online)</h1>
Join us for an online professional development session co-presented by Teach Tank. This session will support educators in using writing as a healing practice, facilitating complex conversations through writing experiences, and developing culturally responsive writing strategies that can be used across grade levels and content areas. Free, registration required.
Illinois Teachers will earn 4 CPDUs.
For any questions, reach out to the AWM Education Team at <a title="mailto:education@americanwritersmuseum.org" href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/summer-writing-institute-tickets-1267633388589?aff=oddtdtcreator" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">education@americanwritersmuseum.org</a>.

Local Event: Winter Writing Institute

Cook County

Chicago

Illinois

Winter Writing Institute

Winter Writing Institute (Online)
Join us for an online professional development session co-presented by Teach Tank. This...

Join us for a conversation with Emmy Award-winning journalist&nbsp;Mary Ann Ahern&nbsp;of Chicago’s NBC 5 about covering religion, writing about Chicago’s Pope, and shaping the public’s perception and practice of faith.
Mary Ann Ahern joined NBC 5 News in March 1989 and was named the station’s Political Reporter in 2006. Most recently, Ahern was front-and-center at the Vatican for NBC 5 Chicago’s extensive on-site coverage of one of the year’s biggest international stories when Chicago native, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, became Pope Leo XIV. For her standout work at the Vatican, Ahern earned a pair 2025 Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards.
This is an in person program at the American Writers Museum. This program will also be livestreamed, and you can&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/religion-and-journalism-in-chicago-with-mary-ann-ahern-online-tickets-1978158152284?aff=WebsiteListing" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">register for the link to the online broadcast here</a>.
This program is presented in conjunction with the AWM’s special exhibit&nbsp;<a href="https://awmamericanprophets.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">American Prophets: Writers, Religion, and Culture</a>, a powerful new exhibit that takes you on the ultimate exploration through spirituality and storytelling.&nbsp;American Prophets&nbsp;is supported by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative.

Local Event: Religion and Journalism in Chicago with Mary Ann Ahern (IN PERSON)

Religion and Journalism in Chicago with Mary...

Join us for a conversation with Emmy Award-winning journalist Mary Ann Ahern of Chicago’s NBC 5 about covering religion,...

Religion and Journalism in Chicago with Mary Ann Ahern (IN PERSON)

Join us for a conversation with Emmy Award-winning journalist&nbsp;Mary Ann Ahern&nbsp;of Chicago’s NBC 5 about covering religion, writing about Chicago’s Pope, and shaping the public’s perception and practice of faith.
Mary Ann Ahern joined NBC 5 News in March 1989 and was named the station’s Political Reporter in 2006. Most recently, Ahern was front-and-center at the Vatican for NBC 5 Chicago’s extensive on-site coverage of one of the year’s biggest international stories when Chicago native, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, became Pope Leo XIV. For her standout work at the Vatican, Ahern earned a pair 2025 Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards.
This is the livestream of an in person program at the American Writers Museum. When you register for this event, you will receive access to the livestream link. If you would like to <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/religion-and-journalism-in-chicago-with-mary-ann-ahern-in-person-tickets-1978156419100?aff=WebsiteListing" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">attend the program in person at the AWM, get your tickets here</a>.
This program is presented in conjunction with the AWM’s special exhibit&nbsp;<a href="https://awmamericanprophets.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">American Prophets: Writers, Religion, and Culture</a>, a powerful new exhibit that takes you on the ultimate exploration through spirituality and storytelling.&nbsp;American Prophets&nbsp;is supported by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative.

Local Event: Religion and Journalism in Chicago with Mary Ann Ahern (ONLINE)

Religion and Journalism in Chicago with Mary Ann Ahern (ONLINE)

Scholars&nbsp;Lisa Marie Gring-Pemble&nbsp;and&nbsp;Martha Watson&nbsp;join us online to discuss their book&nbsp;Your Daughters Will Prophesy: Religion and Rhetoric in the Nineteenth-Century Woman’s Movement. Their work explores how nineteenth-century women used the Bible to claim their voice on the moral questions of their day.The event is free and online; registration is required.
This program is presented in conjunction with the AWM’s special exhibit&nbsp;<a href="https://awmamericanprophets.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">American Prophets: Writers, Religion, and Culture</a>, a powerful new exhibit that takes you on the ultimate exploration through spirituality and storytelling.&nbsp;American Prophets is supported by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative.
<img src="https://i0.wp.com/americanwritersmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Your-Daughters-Will-Prophesy-2.jpg?resize=218%2C327&amp;ssl=1" alt="Your Daughters Will Prophesy: Religion and Rhetoric in the Nineteenth-Century Woman's Movement book cover" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/americanwritersmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Your-Daughters-Will-Prophesy-2.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/americanwritersmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Your-Daughters-Will-Prophesy-2.jpg?resize=100%2C150&amp;ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/americanwritersmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Your-Daughters-Will-Prophesy-2.jpg?resize=300%2C450&amp;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/americanwritersmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Your-Daughters-Will-Prophesy-2.jpg?w=667&amp;ssl=1 667w">More about&nbsp;Your Daughters Will Prophesy:
Caught between their identity as Christians and social norms that silenced them, American women used scripture to claim moral and then rhetorical agency. They reinterpreted familiar biblical passages, recovered previously ignored stories about women, and contested passages used to circumscribe women’s activities. By strategically adopting a rhetorical posture of dissent, these women became prophetic voices in American society.
In&nbsp;Your Daughters Will Prophesy, Lisa Marie Gring-Pemble and Martha Watson analyze the argumentative resources four women—Jarena Lee,&nbsp;Sarah Moore Grimké,&nbsp;Lucretia Coffin Mott, and&nbsp;Frances Willard—used to counter gendered restrictions and gain access to platform and pulpit, catalyzing what became known as the woman’s movement.
Praise for&nbsp;Your Daughters Will Prophesy:
“In this well-written and accessible book, Lisa Marie Gring-Pemble and Martha Watson reveal how four of the most influential nineteenth-century US women wrestled with scripture and the Christian tradition to justify their public speaking and activism.”&nbsp;—Kristy Maddux, University of Maryland, author of&nbsp;Practicing Citizenship: Women’s Rhetoric at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair
“Most people—inside and outside of academia—would not consider the possibility that activists might look to scripture to make the case for women’s rights.&nbsp;Your Daughters Will Prophesy&nbsp;counters this assumption with a detailed history of the ways in which nineteenth-century female reformers used the Bible as a rhetorical resource.”&nbsp;—Patricia Davis, Northeastern University, author of&nbsp;Laying Claim: African American Cultural Memory and Southern Identity
About the authors:
LISA MARIE GRING-PEMBLE&nbsp;is an associate professor at George Mason University. She is author of&nbsp;Grim Fairy Tales: The Rhetorical Construction of American Welfare Policy, and her writing has appeared in journals, including the&nbsp;Quarterly Journal of Speech&nbsp;and&nbsp;Rhetoric and Public Affairs.
MARTHA WATSON&nbsp;is author and editor of several books, including&nbsp;Lives of Their Own: Rhetorical Dimensions in Autobiographies of Women Activists. She is a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland.

Local Event: American Prophets: Religion & Rhetoric in the Early Woman’s Rights Movement

American Prophets: Religion & Rhetoric in the...

Scholars Lisa Marie Gring-Pemble and Martha Watson join us online to discuss their book Your Daughters Will Prophesy: Religion...

American Prophets: Religion & Rhetoric in the Early Woman’s Rights Movement

Join us online for a discussion with&nbsp;Dr. Rima Vesely-Flad&nbsp;about her new book&nbsp;The Fire Inside: The Dharma of James Baldwin and Audre Lorde. Black, queer, feminist, Buddhist:&nbsp;The Fire Inside&nbsp;casts a fresh new light on the radical literary legacies of James Baldwin and Audre Lorde.
This is an online-only program with the American Writers Museum.
This program is presented in conjunction with the AWM’s special exhibit&nbsp;<a href="https://awmamericanprophets.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">American Prophets: Writers, Religion, and Culture</a>, a powerful new exhibit that takes you on the ultimate exploration through spirituality and storytelling.&nbsp;American Prophets&nbsp;is supported by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative.
<img src="https://i0.wp.com/americanwritersmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/The-Fire-Inside-1.jpg?resize=243%2C365&amp;ssl=1" alt="The Fire Inside: The Dharma of James Baldwin and Audre Lorde by Dr. Rima Vesely-Flad book cover" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/americanwritersmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/The-Fire-Inside-1.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/americanwritersmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/The-Fire-Inside-1.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 683w, https://i0.wp.com/americanwritersmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/The-Fire-Inside-1.jpg?resize=100%2C150&amp;ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/americanwritersmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/The-Fire-Inside-1.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/americanwritersmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/The-Fire-Inside-1.jpg?resize=300%2C450&amp;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/americanwritersmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/The-Fire-Inside-1.jpg?w=1000&amp;ssl=1 1000w">
More about&nbsp;The Fire Inside:
The Fire Inside&nbsp;explores the writings of Audre Lorde and James Baldwin through a Dharmic lens, revealing for the first time how two of America’s greatest literary voices reflect—and expand—Buddhism’s most timeless truths toward justice and liberation.
Dr. Rima Vesely-Flad dives deeply into a dharma of liberation as lived by Baldwin and Lorde, offering timely lessons to help us each meet this moment. She explores the writers’ enduring legacies to show that liberation depends not only on organizing and mass movements, but the generative power of inner well-being, authenticity, art, and embodiment. Each chapter shares how looking inward is the way forward, examining Baldwin and Lorde through key Buddhist principles.
This book offers space for emerging conversations within spiritual communities—ones that don’t shy away from difficult or uncomfortable truths; that center—and celebrate—Black, queer, radical thought; and that embrace the ways our inner lives, creative fire, sensuality, and expressions of love can ignite and sustain revolutionary liberation.
Praise for&nbsp;The Fire Inside:
“I have followed and admired Rima Vesely-Flad’s work for years. She is tapping resources that all of us can access for greater hope and change.” —MICHELLE ALEXANDER, author of&nbsp;The New Jim Crow
“This groundbreaking work is a gift of love reminding us of how Black liberation struggle, like the dharma itself, has always been about everyone getting free.” —LAMA ROD OWENS, author of&nbsp;Love and Rage&nbsp;and&nbsp;The New Saints
“This is a read not to miss… I find my own embers of wellness, justice, and harmony stoked with her joy of expression from the heart and mind on behalf of us all.”&nbsp;—LARRY WARD, Buddhist teacher, author, and cofounder of The Lotus Institute
“This book is a fire that both illuminates and refines, a call to engage with the truth of our times while drawing strength from ancestral wisdom.”&nbsp;—RUTH KING, author of&nbsp;Mindful of Race
About the author:
DR. RIMA VESELY-FLAD&nbsp;is the Visiting Professor of Buddhism and Black Studies at Union Theological Seminary. She is the author of&nbsp;Black Buddhists and the Black Radical Tradition: The Practice of Stillness in the Movement for Liberation&nbsp;(NYU Press, 2022)&nbsp;and&nbsp;Racial Purity and Dangerous Bodies: Moral Pollution, Black Lives, and the Struggle for Justice&nbsp;(Fortress Press, 2017).

Local Event: The Fire Inside: The Dharma of James Baldwin and Audre Lorde (ONLINE)

The Fire Inside: The Dharma of James Baldwin...

Join us online for a discussion with Dr. Rima Vesely-Flad about her new book The Fire Inside: The Dharma of James Baldwin and...

The Fire Inside: The Dharma of James Baldwin and Audre Lorde (ONLINE)

You had me at... Get Lit! Join us for a night celebrating our favorite onscreen romcoms just in time for Valentine's Day!
Celebrate all things charming, hilarious, and heart-fluttering at Get Lit: Rom-Com Night as we bring the world of romantic comedies to life.
<ul><li>Test your knowledge of rom-com films in our Meet Cute Trivia Challenge.</li><li>Meet with our friends from <a href="https://thelastchapterchicago.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">the Last Chapter Book Shop</a>, Chicago's first &amp; only romance bookstore.</li><li>Unwrap your next read at the Blind Date with a Book station.</li><li>Design your own tote bag with your favorite rom-com quotes and drawings.</li><li>Enjoy beer, wine, and the night’s specialty cocktail, THE FIRST KISS. Non-alcoholic options are available as well.</li></ul>
Whether you’re coming with a partner, your best friends, or treating yourself to a cozy night out, this joyful evening promises nostalgia, laughter, and plenty of classic rom-com sparkle.
This is 21+ event. Attendees must show a valid photo ID at the door to enter.
<img src="https://img.evbuc.com/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.evbuc.com%2Fimages%2F1172845854%2F156014780883%2F1%2Foriginal.20251212-170953?h=740&amp;w=1200&amp;auto=format%2Ccompress&amp;q=75&amp;sharp=10&amp;s=f5088d6941398e4e97a222926a5b1dbe">
Get Lit is your way to enjoy evenings in the Loop. Meet friends and fellow book nerds for an early evening treat. Each month, the AWM serves drinks, games, special experiences, and fun activities to get you lit! Funds raised at this event go towards the AWM’s Write In Youth Education Program, which serves middle and high school students from under-resourced schools. <a href="https://americanwritersmuseum.org/get-lit-chicago-happy-hours-at-the-american-writers-museum/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">See our other upcoming GET LIT events here</a>.A limited number of discounted tickets have been made available for teachers and school librarians. To claim your discount, use the code provided in the AWM education newsletter. You can <a href="https://americanwritersmuseum.us6.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=a13addffb18c76c681de08c51&amp;id=3db4c0d9f8" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">sign up for the monthly education newsletter here</a> for regular updates. If you are an educator and have questions, please email our Education Team at education@americanwritersmuseum.org.
Buy your tickets today! A limited number of tickets are available at the door. AWM members, use the access code emailed to you to reveal the member ticket price. Tickets include admission to the museum and drink tickets for two complimentary beverages. Additional drink tickets are available for purchase. Guests must be 21+ to attend Get Lit and show a valid ID at the door.

Local Event: Get Lit: Rom Com Night

Get Lit: Rom Com Night

You had me at... Get Lit! Join us for a night celebrating our favorite onscreen romcoms just in time for Valentine's...

The best night of the year is back: Grown-Up Book Fair! With books for sale, games to play, and drinks to drink… cheers!
Indulge your literary impulses at&nbsp;Get Lit: Grown-Up Book Fair! Mix and mingle with fellow bookworms, share your favorite titles, and discover new ones. From cozy mysteries to epic adventures, there’s something for every reader to discover and enjoy!&nbsp;Vendors and tabling partners to be announced!
Interested in joining us? Email&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/get-lit-grown-up-book-fair-tickets-1969931877274?aff=oddtdtcreator" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">general@americanwritersmuseum.org</a>&nbsp;to pitch your bookstore or literary non-profit to join in the fun!
This is 21+ event. Attendees must show a valid photo ID at the door to enter.Get Lit is your way to enjoy evenings in the Loop.&nbsp;Meet friends and fellow book nerds for an early evening treat. Each month, the AWM serves drinks, games, special experiences, and fun activities to get you lit! Funds raised at this event go towards the AWM’s Write In Youth Education Program, which serves middle and high school students from under-resourced schools.&nbsp;<a href="https://americanwritersmuseum.org/get-lit-chicago-happy-hours-at-the-american-writers-museum/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">See our other upcoming GET LIT events here</a>.

Local Event: Get Lit: Grown-Up Book Fair

Get Lit: Grown-Up Book Fair

The best night of the year is back: Grown-Up Book Fair! With books for sale, games to play, and drinks to drink…...

Step back into the glittering, shadowy world of the Roaring Twenties at Get Lit: Speakeasy Rhymes, an evening of clandestine charm, jazz-age flair, and unfiltered artistic expression.
<ul><li>Share an original piece of poetry or song during our&nbsp;open mic. Don’t have anything to share? We’ll have pieces from notable American poets and songwriters that you can select.</li><li>Stop by the&nbsp;Blackout Poetry Bar&nbsp;to create a unique blackout poetry inspired by works of the 1920s.</li><li>Uncover the&nbsp;Secret Password&nbsp;hidden in clues around the museum to earn a special prize.</li><li>Enjoy beer, wine, and the night’s specialty cocktail,&nbsp;the Giggle Water. Non-alcoholic options are available as well.</li></ul>
Slip through our secret door, raise a glass, and lose yourself in a night where every whispered word keeps the spirit of the speakeasy alive.
This is 21+ event. Attendees must show a valid photo ID at the door to enter.

Local Event: Get Lit: Speakeasy Rhymes

Get Lit: Speakeasy Rhymes

Step back into the glittering, shadowy world of the Roaring Twenties at Get Lit: Speakeasy Rhymes, an evening of clandestine...

IL Patch Team

Chicago Metropolitan Area

Lincoln Park

Bucktown-Wicker Park

Lakeview

North Center-Roscoe Village

Hyde Park

West Side

Lorraine Swanson

South Side

Lincoln Square

Oak Park-River Forest

Forest Park

FREE WEBINAR | “We Three Kings: The Top 10 Adoration of the Magi Paintings of the Italian Renaissance”
Presented by Dr. Rocky...

FREE WEBINAR | “We Three Kings: The Top 10 Adoration of the Magi Paintings of the Italian Renaiss..”

Chicago real estate brokerage <a href="https://www.bhhschicago.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago</a>, and its philanthropic arm, the Kindness Foundation, hosted The Sunshine Kids annual Teen Getaway to Chicago, Illinois this fall. The mission of the Sunshine Kids Foundation is to provide exciting, positive group activities so the kids can have fun and celebrate life. During the Teen Getaway, kids from all over the country visited Chicago to see the sights and make friends with other kids who are undergoing cancer treatment. 
<a href="https://dianeglass.bhhschicago.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Diane Glass,</a> CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago, said, &ldquo;We were delighted to have The Sunshine Kids visit us here in Chicago. It was a great opportunity to help kids make lasting friendships with other kids who understand what they&rsquo;re going through, and Chicago is a fantastic backdrop for wonder and new experiences. Our agents and staff greeted the kids at the airport and helped them get settled. They attend fun activities including going to the Shedd Aquarium, the Bean and Navy Pier. They also experienced Lake Michigan and the Chicago River by boat, made their own pizza at Lou Malnati&rsquo;s and had many great meals together. Our agents enjoyed the visit as much as the kids did.&rdquo;
ABOUT BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES CHICAGO AND THE KINDNESS FOUNDATION
The Kindness Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is to support meaningful local initiatives that improve the communities the company serves and enhance the quality of life for fellow citizens. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago is a full-service real estate firm with more than 1,300 real estate professionals and staff in 22 offices serving customers throughout the Chicago metropolitan area, the North Shore, West Suburban communities, Southern Wisconsin, Northwest Indiana and Harbor Country, Michigan. Recognized as a Top Workplace in Chicago, their local roots are complemented by the extensive global reach of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, one of the nation&rsquo;s leading real estate brands. Clients can experience all-inclusive homeownership services from their affiliated companies: Prosperity Home Mortgage, Fort Dearborn Title, and HomeServices Insurance. Visit BHHSChicago.com.

BHHS Chicago Hosted The Sunshine Kids for...

Chicago real estate brokerage Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago, and its philanthropic arm, the Kindness Foundation, hosted The Sunshine Kids...

Nearby Communities

State Edition

National Edition

Posting Activity

Winter Writing Institute

JAN

5

10:00 AM

American Writers Museum, 180 North Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL

Religion and Journalism in Chicago with Mary Ann Ahern (IN PERSON)

JAN

22

6:00 PM

American Writers Museum, 180 North Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL

Religion and Journalism in Chicago with Mary Ann Ahern (ONLINE)

JAN

22

6:00 PM

American Writers Museum, 180 North Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL

American Prophets: Religion & Rhetoric in the Early Woman’s Rights Movement

JAN

27

6:00 PM

American Writers Museum, 180 North Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL

The Fire Inside: The Dharma of James Baldwin and Audre Lorde (ONLINE)

JAN

29

6:00 PM

American Writers Museum, 180 North Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL

Get Lit: Rom Com Night

FEB

10

5:30 PM

American Writers Museum, 180 North Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL

Get Lit: Grown-Up Book Fair

MAR

10

5:30 PM

American Writers Museum, 180 North Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL

Get Lit: Speakeasy Rhymes

APR

14

5:30 PM

American Writers Museum, 180 North Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL

FREE WEBINAR | “We Three Kings: The Top 10 Adoration of the Magi Paintings of the Italian Renaiss..”

BHHS Chicago Hosted The Sunshine Kids for Annual Teen Getaway to Chicago