Past Events
Mother & Daughter Event with Joy Harjo
On November 11, BOOKsisters hosted a Mother and Daughter event featuring award winning poet Joy Harjo at Flourish Studios in Chicago. Along with her personal story, Harjo shared with guests her new book, For a Girl Becoming, a beautifully illustrated story celebrating the gifts of being a girl. The 120 guests also participated in an activity lead by Book Group Leaders LaCoya Katoe and VersAnnette Blackman where they used the poem "Remember" by Harjo to inspire their own poems. Mothers and daughters wrote to each other, remembering the special moments they have shared together. The inspirational evening closed with a quote from "Remember" by Harjo:
"Remember that you are this universe and that this universe is you. Remember that all is in motion, is growing, is you."
Special thanks to Flourish Studios, sponsors Frankie's on the Park and The Book Stall at Chestnut Court, and event hostesses...
Lisa, Lindsey and Sam Aronson
Kathy and Abby Bresler
Sue and Elsa Brodarick
Lisa and Frankie Burik
Megan and Lauren DeZara
Suzi and Lili Gurry
Jill and Sami Hart
Hedy and Gaby Keiderling
Andrea and Meredith Leon
Sharon and Alexa Markman
Sally and Margaret McPherrin
Claire, Rachel, Caroline and Alexandra O'Grady
Michelle and Julia Porter
Bonnie and Jaclyn Shifrin
"Honor Thy Mother" Benefit
This year's Honor Thy Mother luncheon showcase how literature touches our lives in so many ways. Over 250 guests listened to Annie Barrows, co-author with Mary Ann Shaffer of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, share her story of how this wonderful book came to life. Three young women from our book groups read their original poems, moving and delighting the crowd. Through our new Fund-a-Program auction we raised over $14,000, in good measure due to the influence of a very generous $10,000 matching gift which inspires so many of our friends to join in the bidding. Overall, the event raised more than $58,000. A big thanks to our luncheon co-chairs Laura Jacobs, Angela Valavanis, and Denise Winter and to all the event committee members!
SPECIAL THANKS:
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the following businesses that lent their support for our Honor Thy Mother event in 2009.
Christine McClure Photography
Davis Florist
Design Green Landscapes - Noreen Edwards
Maria Ballantyne Public Relations
Mission Press
MK The Restaurant
Schaefer's Wines, Foods & Spirits
SpringHill Suites by Marriott
Sutton Hotel
Poetry Bash 2009!
Literature for All of Us second major poetry reading brought together young poets from our 2008-2009 collaborating sites. Poetry Bash! 2009, held on May 6, featured 30 young poets from 8 of our partner sites along with MC Akil Charlton, DJ Beto and Spoken Work Artist Sage. Students from Family Focus Evanston, Theolene Simpson Academy for Young Women, Fredrick von Schiller Middle School, Illinois Department of Human Services – Teen Parent Services Program, Upton Sinclair Alternative High School, Bronzeville Academic Center and Sullivan House attended and brought their families to share in the event. The event was held at Theatre Building Chicago, in downtown Chicago.
*Check out pictures from these events on our Facebook page.
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