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
Toni Nealie is the Literary Editor of Newcity and the author of the essay collection “The Miles Between Me.” A Pushcart Prize nominee, her essays have appeared in Guernica Magazine, Rust Belt: Chicago, The Rumpus, The Offing, Essay Daily, Chicago Quarterly Review, Hobart, Entropy and elsewhere. She worked in magazine journalism, politics and PR in her native New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Singapore and now edits, writes and teaches in Chicago. Find her at toninealie.com and on Twitter @tnealie. She can be reached at toni@newcity.com.
