Rockford Anthology Week events celebrate the launch of new collaborative book

October 20, 2025|By Kevin Haas|In Top Stories, Things to Do, Rock River Current, News, 815 News, Rockford

“The Rockford Anthology” will be released Tuesday, Oct., 21, 2025. (Photo by Alan León/Provided to Rock River Current)

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A collaborative book involving 82 contributors sets out to offer a nuanced portrait of the city, chronicling a blend of joy and pain from current and former Rockford residents.

“The Rockford Anthology” will be officially released Tuesday by Belt Publishing. The 303-page, $24 paperback is the latest in the Cleveland-based publisher’s Anthology series, which features stories from people living in the Rust Belt. There are more than 20 cities in the series, including Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Youngstown, Ohio; and Detroit, Michigan.

“This is going to be more than a book launch. The anthology showcases what makes Rockford special, so we’re having a weeklong party for our contributors and our community to celebrate,” Rachel León, an author and Rockford native who is the editor of the anthology, said in a news release.

Mayor Tom McNamara is scheduled to kick off a week of events to celebrate the book’s release by issuing a proclamation Monday night during the City Council meeting at City Hall. The book’s official launch party is then at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 27 Aluna, 124 N. Main St., as one of eight events slated around the book’s launch.

Diverse contributors

Among the contributors are nationally recognized figures such as bestselling author Kimberla Lawson Roby, Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Bing Liu, and comedian Ashley Ray-Harris.

Local contributors include the outgoing city poet laureate Lydia Kozlowski, arts and community advocate Vic Rivera, education advocate Emily Klonicki, Tad More Tailoring co-founder Sarene Alsharif, social justice advocate Linda Zuba, and Tommy Meeks, who founded Rockford’s Juneteenth celebration decades before it was a state or federal holiday.

The poets, essayists, writers, storytellers, photographers and other contributors range in age from 14 to 86. Among the youngest is the city’s third youth poet, Trinity Rucker. The oldest is poet Wanie Reeverts, who composed an ode to the Forest City’s oldest burr oak tree.

“Narratives are as diverse as the contributors, chronicling people’s joys in the community and their pain,” a news release on the book states. ” The book’s recurring theme is that Rockfordians show up, turning passion projects into traditions.”

The Rockford Anthology includes the backstories of Somium, an immersive outdoor art project, South Main Mercado, an annual showcase of Latino culture, and Friends of Veterans Memorial Circle, a community effort to reclaim the rundown veterans’ memorial with thousands of flowers year after year. The last piece was written by Helen Karakoudas, an occasional contributor to the Rock River Current.

“I wish everyone could see their hometown receive this level of thoughtfulness and care, whether they’re from a big city, a small town, or, like Rockford, somewhere in between,” Emily McClanathan, wrote in a review for Sixty Inches from Center.

Giving back

Rachel León is an author and the editor of “The Rockford Anthology,” which is being released Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025. (Photo by Alan León/Provided to Rock River Current)

León, author of the upcoming novel “How We See the Gray,” has decided to donate any royalties she’s owed as editor of the book.

“I see the book very much as a community project, and for this reason, I wanted that money to be donated to the community,” she said in a news release.

Contributors were asked to provide feedback on what should be done with the money, and there was a 50/50 tie between the Rockford Area Arts Council and Family Peace Center, León said. She used a tiebreaker to decide where to send the royalties, and the arts council won. Now, 100% of the royalties will be directly deposited to the arts council.

To honor the fact that so many contributors wanted the money donated to the Family Peace Center, León said she is working on a separate fundraising project for that nonprofit.

Anthology Week events

Launch party: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 27 Aluna, 124 N. Main St., Rockford
Readings with contributors: 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22 at the Estelle M. Black Library, Rock Valley College, 3301 N. Mulford Road, Rockford
Virtual reading with contributors: 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23. Go HERE to sign up.
Photography exhibit: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 at 317 Art Collaborative, 317 Market St., Rockford. The exhibit features photos by contributor Matt Schwerin.
Ars Pvblica event: 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 at The Underground Art Gallery, 418 E. State St. Rockford. Ars Pvblica will host a Rockford Anthology-inspired evening with the theme of “Home”
Live performances: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 at the African American Resource Center at Booker Washington Center, 524 Kent St., Rockford. “Celebrating Third Spaces,” or “Celebrando Tercer Espacios” is a relaxed, family-friendly event will include live performances and encourage participants to connect and foster a sense of community.
Artist talk: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 at 317 Art Collaborative, 317 Market St., Rockford. Photographer Matt Schwerin will showcase his work and include readings from “The Rockford Anthology.”
Reading and reception: 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27 at the Howard Colman Library, Rockford University, 5050 E. State St., Rockford.