2022 - ECC Writers Center Spring Reading Series

The Writers Center at Elgin Community College will host three authors for the Spring 2022 Reading Series. Due to ongoing social distancing practices, the events will take place virtually. All readings begin at 7:30 p.m.

On Thursday, February 10, the Spring Reading Series kicks off with writer and curator Hugh Ryan. His first book, “When Brooklyn Was Queer,” won the 2020 New York City Book award, was a New York Times Editors’ Choice in 2019, and was a finalist for the Randy Shilts and Lambda Literary Awards. His next book, “The Prison on Christopher Street,” explores New York City’s Women’s House of Detention and the queer case for prison abolition. Hugh was also honored with the 2020 Allan Berube Prize from the American Historical Association for his exhibition “On the (Queer) Waterfront.”

Eric May will follow Ryan on Thursday, March 17. May is an associate professor at Columbia College Chicago and the author of the novel “Bedrock Faith,” the 2021 One Book, One Chicago selection by the Chicago Public Library, and a 2014 Notable African American Title by Publisher’s Weekly. A Chicago native and former reporter for The Washington Post, May is a past recipient of the Chicago Public Library Foundation’s 21^st Century Award, president of the Guild Literary Complex, and a member of 2^nd Story. His fiction has appeared in the magazines Fish Stories, F, Hypertext, Solstice, and We Speak Chicagoese. His nonfiction has also appeared in Sport Literate and the Chicago Tribune.

ECC’s own Professor of English Chasity Gunn will read on Thursday, April 14. Gunn was a 2021 Academy of Poets Laureate Fellow and served as the inaugural Poet Laurate for the city of Elgin from 2019-2021. Gunn is the author of “How to Create a World.” Her work has been published in Bitterzoet Magazine, BRAVO, and Electric Moon. Gunn received a Cultural Arts Commission from the City of Elgin and a Teach for Justice grant from Teachers Pay Teachers. Her spoken word has been featured in the Bedlam Theatre’s 10x10 Fest and the Elgin Fringe Festival.

All readings are free and open to the public. To join, use the Zoom links below. For the dial-in number or more information on the Writers Center, please contact Rachael Stewart at rstewart@elgin.edu.

Hugh Ryan

February 10, 2022

7:30 p.m.

Zoom.us/join

Meeting ID: 993 7610 3184

Passcode: mockpwd

Eric May

March 17, 2022

7:30 p.m.

Zoom.us/join

Meeting ID: 968 5658 1342

Passcode: mockpwd

Chasity Gunn

April 14, 2022

7:30 p.m.

Zoom.us/join

Meeting ID: 984 9027 2057

Passcode: mockpwd