nbd just hanging out at the Obama Presidential Center opening this weekend! 😍 We had a blast seeing so many writers -- and the energy was incredible!

As a therapist serving people living around the poverty line, I gotta say things aren’t great. People are feeling the financial squeeze in ways totally unrecognized by folks in my middle class bubble. We aren’t anywhere near pitchforks and torches, but we aren’t trending in a positive direction.

Wrighty@wrightsnake.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Nice thing to see on my way home.

I’M GOING TO POST THIS PHOTO EVERY DAY UNTIL he PEACEFULLY GOES AWAY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

TONIGHT: Organizers in Minnesota are asking you to shine a light for their state.

Leah Greenberg ❌👑@leahgreenberg.bsky.social · 10mo ago

ICE OUT OF MINNESOTA -- our latest on the murder of Alex Pretti and the actions we should take right now:

Masked federal agents in Minnesota just shot and killed another person. We must put a stop to Trump’s ICE. Now. Stop the funding, stop the occupations, stop the killings.

Minnesota Star Tribune@startribune.com · 10mo ago

Man shot by federal agents has died, police chief says www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...

I am asking my fellow Republican and Democratic Governors across the nation to have a unified response. We must all stand against the lawlessness being inflicted in our states.

tinyurl.com/eyy6nyfv An immediate post for folks in Chicago...

Darkness before the light?

Things in Minneapolis keep getting worse and if you ask me, there is little difference now between ICE and the guards in Tehran. But we can't hide in the closet now.

open.substack.com

Please be aware that contrary to their fundraising ads, @forwardblue.bsky.social has no relationship with the No Kings mobilizations, no record of doing anything in support, no inside information, and is ignoring requests to cease advertising that suggests they are involved.

Rep. Angie Craig: "We're gonna move forward to impeach Kristi Noem"

Never escaping the adage "men are afraid that women are laughing at them; women are afraid that men will kill them"

Shantal@shantalg.bsky.social · 10mo ago

He never dropped his phone. Even while “fearing for his life” and shooting her with the other hand.

Happy Limbo Week, #writers! Here is some incentive, we hope, to finish the year strong with a plan in place for next year. Between December 29 and December 31, use the code holidaypubcrawl to take $50 off Pub Crawl registration. buff.ly/Lu34UA1

@meganstielstra.bsky.social's "Urgency and the Personal" essay class begins on 1/8 -- this 4-session online class focuses on how to tell our own stories in ways that make them equally urgent to others. Don't miss this! buff.ly/oNFCsxM #writingcommunity

Urgency and the Personal Essay: Four Lessons on What to Say, How to Say it, Revision, and Submitting with Megan Stielstra - StoryStudio Chicago

"I’ve written a hundred course descriptions in my career, but over the past few months these paragraphs feel new and charged and vital. What does it mean to write in this time? To write of this time?…

buff.ly

🎤 This Wednesday evening 12/17, hear from Democratic candidates running for Senate in Illinois. Robin Kelly, Raja Krishnamoorthi, & Juliana Stratton have all committed to participate, along with other candidates. This virtual forum is hosted by @nwsofa-indivisible.bsky.social & partners. Details:

Indivisible Chicago Alliance ❌👑@indivisiblechicago.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Illinois's Dick Durbin is retiring. Who'll be our next US Senator? Attend the virtual IL Democratic Senate Candidate Forum, US Senate – Hear from the candidates! Wednesday, Dec. 17th, 7:00 pm CT. Hosted by @nwsofa-indivisible.bsky.social. Get info & register for Zoom link ⤵️

Excited to be in the room when Literary Chicago cheers, hoots, and hollers to celebrate award winners...and our writing community. @mbwwelch.bsky.social wrote a beautiful piece on the 10th CHIRBy Awards! A City Where Words Breathe: shorturl.at/hnljZ @storystudiochicago.bsky.social #literarychi

A City Where Words Breathe: On Celebrating 10 Years of the CHIRBy Awards - Chicago Review of Books

I arrived late to my first Chicago Review of Books Awards in 2019. I was a new editor on the team then, nervous and uncertain about how early to arrive for the ceremony and lost between the awfully na...

chireviewofbooks.com

This is who she was. Passionate in her beliefs. Fiercely loyal to her friends. Never afraid to let you know exactly where she stood. The best. Fun Fact: I remember arguing with her over which of us hated Piggy the most. I was sure I did. She disagreed. It remains unresolved...

Christopher Webb@cwebbonline.com · 12mo ago

Carrie Fisher was the blueprint. Protect your people. Call out the predators. #RESIST

We are so thrilled for @poetpatriciasmith.bsky.social, who just won a National Book Award!! In 2023, @recycledgiraffe.bsky.social interviewed her about “Unshuttered” (@nupress.bsky.social), check it out as we celebrate her win in Chicago 🥳 chireviewofbooks.com/2023/03/13/u...

Summoning the Past Through Words and Images: A Conversation with Patricia Smith About "Unshuttered" - Chicago Review of Books

A list of Patricia Smith’s achievements in poetry could take up much of this interview. A poet, playwright, essayist, educator and mentor, she’s deservedly won nearly every accolade and award, includi...

chireviewofbooks.com

It’s cold in Sweden but they can still deliver sick burns.

Acyn@acyn.bsky.social · 12mo ago

Swedish Deputy PM: Sweden needs to pick its friends wisely, and we are choosing Canada… So when we come to America, we come to Canada now.

Thank you to Charlotte Indivisible for sharing this toolkit tinyurl.com/CIPAjobs 🤝 #Charlotte #NorthCarolina #CommunityDefense

Whether your fancy is online or in person, we have the 8-session Creative Writing Essentials class for you! -- Online kicks off January 19 with Sarah Terez Rosenblum -- In person starts February 17 with @cynthiapelayo.bsky.social Register for these great classes now! buff.ly/mPerrQr #writers

NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen. Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.

Tired of being told how to think about events that are happening so quickly you barely have time to finish reading one headline before the next, even crazier one, pops up. Here's a lesson on how stop and notice, to make sense of it all #creativemuscle #usefulrage #writingisthinking buff.ly/eL1KuBX

Will It Matter In Two Months?

Let's make a list, shall we. Once connections are apparent and we can look back and notice--really notice--what truly matters will be revealed.

buff.ly

No joke, one of my greatest life decisions:

Rebecca Makkai@rebeccamakkai.bsky.social · 12mo ago

FIVE @storystudiochicago.bsky.social Novel in a Year classes are open for applications right now, but move quickly—those apps are due 11/14! Here are your options🧵

Stay focused, Chicago.

Puff the Magic Hater@mskellymhayes.bsky.social · last yr.

Bovino and many of his agents are headed to another city. Reports indicate that Charlotte and NOLA are upcoming targets. But there will still be ICE attacks in Chicago, as there were before, and we need to remain responsive. We also have a lot of deep prep work to do, bc they will be back in force.

So unbelievably proud and grateful!!!!! All of our @storystudiochicago.bsky.social and Stories Matter Foundation community and beyond will benefit. Thank you, MacArthur Foundation!!!!

Greg Zimmerman@gregzimmerman.bsky.social · last yr.

Sooooooo....this happened. (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Chicagoans chanting, "no ICE! No ICE!"

❗️ RALLY TONIGHT. A child care teacher was abducted by ICE this morning in Chicago's Roscoe Village/North Center. 📢 Alderman Matt Martin & @onenorthside.bsky.social announce an emergency rally TONIGHT Wed Nov 5, 6:30 pm at Northcenter Town Square, 4100 N. Damen.

Lynda Lopez@lyndab08.bsky.social · last yr.

Rally to protest the teacher violently taken by federal agents at a private daycare this morning on Addison near Western.

This is in our area. 😔 Donate to the teacher's GoFundMe to support any legal fees: www.gofundme.com/f/stand-with... Sign a petition demanding her release: www.change.org/p/demand-the... Stream Quigley's presser here: youtube.com/@repmikequig... Attend the rally at 6:30 pm at 4100 N Damen.

Gregory Pratt@royalpratt.bsky.social · last yr.

Federal agents pulling a woman out of Rayito Del Sol, a daycare by Lane Tech high school

Beyond proud to be a part of this amazing team and community! Chicago will never bend to fascists.

StoryStudio Chicago@storystudiochicago.bsky.social · last yr.

Please read our statement to support immigrants and immigrant communities. buff.ly/Ej5lgtQ