What Events, Contests, and Resources Does the Illinois State Poetry Society Offer?

The Illinois State Poetry Society (ISPS) offers a monthly open mic and reading, chapter meetings and poetry critiques across Illinois, a full events calendar, and resources that spotlight members and their poems. Its stated mission is to "promote poetry in all its forms and spotlight our members and their work." If you are a poet or poetry lover in Illinois looking for regular readings, feedback on your work, or a community to join, these are the main offerings to consider.

Events: Monthly Open Mic and Chapter Meetings

Monthly Open Mic & Reading at Brewed Awakenings

ISPS has sponsored a monthly open mic with two featured poets for almost twenty years. The event is led by Wilda Morris.

• Location: Brewed Awakenings, 19 W Quincy, Westmont
• Schedule: Last Sunday of the month, 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Cost: Free

This is the most accessible entry point if you want to read your work aloud or simply listen. Because it runs on a fixed monthly schedule, you can plan around it without needing to check a rotating calendar.

Chapter Meetings and Poetry Critiques

ISPS chapters meet regularly in public venues and/or online across Illinois. The site lists these chapters:

• North Suburban
• Southern
• Champaign
• Lisle (Founding)
• West Suburban
• Haiku
• Pontiac (North Central)

For meeting dates and times, the site directs you to its Chapters & Meetings page and Events Calendar. Chapter meetings are where poetry critiques happen, so this is the route to take if you want feedback on drafts rather than just a reading audience.

Full Calendar of Events

The site maintains a Full Calendar of Events covering upcoming activities. Use it to confirm current dates, since chapter schedules and special events can change.

Contests and Resources

The site's own description names events, contests, and resources as part of what ISPS provides, and its mission centers on promoting poetry and spotlighting members' work. Beyond that, the homepage content emphasizes:

• Poems — member work is featured as a core part of the site.
• Member spotlights — the society explicitly aims to highlight members and their writing.
• History and membership information — the site invites visitors to explore ISPS's history, events, members, and poems.

Specific contest names, deadlines, entry fees, and prize details are not stated in the available page content, so check the site directly before planning a submission.

How This Connects Poets Across Illinois

The structure serves two different needs:

The geographic spread of chapters — from the Chicago suburbs to Champaign, Southern Illinois, and Pontiac — means most Illinois poets can find a group within reasonable distance or join online.

Before You Join

• Confirm the current meeting time and venue on the Chapters & Meetings page or Events Calendar; the monthly open mic details above come from the site's homepage and may be updated.
• If you are specifically interested in contests, look for a dedicated contests page, since the homepage does not list contest specifics.
• Email [email protected] with questions about membership, chapters, or events.