Lit Top 5: April 2019

Jan-Henry Gray/Photo: Phil Dembinski

mai c. doan

1
mai c. doan and Jan-Henry Gray
(Women & Children First)
Poets mai c. doan and Jan-Henry Gray launch debut collections, “water/tongue” and “Documents.” Also reading: Xandria Phillips.
April 26

2
Valerie Jarrett: Inside Power
(KAM Isaiah Israel)
Valerie Jarrett, longest-serving senior advisor in the Obama White House, discusses her memoir “Finding My Voice” with her daughter, CNN reporter Laura Jarrett. Moderated by Tina Tchen, former chief of staff to First Lady Michelle Obama
April 4

3
Melinda Gates: The Moment of Lift
(UIC Dorin Forum)
Philanthropist, businesswoman, global advocate for women and girls, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and author of “The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World,” Melinda French Gates says, “If you want to lift a society up, invest in women.”
April 27

4
American Writers Museum Annual Benefit OnWord 2019
(Four Seasons Hotel Chicago)
Honoring “Friend of the Writer”—author, editor, senior advisor to Librarian of Congress and director of the National Book Festival Marie Arana; Cultural and Civic Leadership Honoree Edward J. Wehmer; Inspiring Teacher Honoree Tom Elieff, with presenters A. Scott Berg and Rebecca Makkai. Hosted by Peter Sagal.
April 27

5
The Lushness of Print
(Poetry Foundation)
A display of broadsides from the ekphrastic partnership between poet Samiya Bashir and printer Daniela del Mar
Through April 25