Every Person Is a Philosopher

For Memorial Day, the Different Stories We Remember

In May 1865, Charleston, South Carolina had been largely abandoned by its white residents. Among the first Union troops to enter the city after its surrender were black infantry regiments. They marched in singing liberation songs. As historian David Blight put it: “Thousands of black Charlestonians, most former slaves, remained in the city and conducted [...]

“The ocean singing along with the coqui”: On the Front Porch with “This Is What I Miss”

This piece by NWA writer Edmee Cappas Velez, “This Is What I Miss,” is a litany of what’s unique to her homeland of Puerto Rico. She conveys those feelings beautifully: she appeals to each of the senses to craft a tapestry of what you might feel on a beach, and in the shade, and at [...]

A Taste of What Awaits You at Our Benefit This Wednesday!

Our 2013 Every Person Is a Philosopher Annual Benefit is almost upon us! It takes place this Wednesday (May 22) at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago Ballroom, 112 S. Michigan Ave. We’ve been teasing the event for a while now, and we hope you’ve all gotten a ticket if you can make [...]

Virtual Book Club: The Conclusion of Miles from Nowhere!

We’re excited for the Neighborhood Writing Alliance’s 2013 Every Person Is a Philosopher Annual Benefit, taking place next Wednesday, May 22! Our featured speaker is Nami Mun, author of the bestselling novel Miles from Nowhere, in conversation with Annie Tully of One Book, One Chicago. We’ve been hosting a virtual book club of Mun’s novel, which with this post [...]

“I can touch the universe this way”: Looking Ahead to Next Week’s Benefit with “Boundless Freedom”

As many of you know, our Every Person Is a Philosopher Annual Benefit is next Wednesday, May 22! We’re really excited and proud about what we have in store for the evening. If you’ve been following our book club discussion of Miles from Nowhere, you’ve been hearing about the Benefit’s featured conversation between author Nami [...]