Founded in 2000 in Cambridge, Massachusetts by Haitian poet, actor, and playwright Jean Dany Joachim, the City Night Readings Series serves as a vibrant platform for poets, writers, performers, and literature enthusiasts. Free and open to the public, the events provide an opportunity for a diverse array of literary voices to share their work in an engaging and welcoming environment. Participants of all ages and skill levels, ranging from amateurs to seasoned professionals, present their creations in English, Haitian Creole, French, Spanish and various other languages spoken within the local community.

For over two decades, the events of the City Night Readings Series have offered enriching and diversifying literary experiences in Cambridge, in the Boston metropolitan area and beyond.

CNR promotes the art of words. It has partnered with poetry festivals and encourages the craftwork of poetry, prose and storytelling, including the production of texts that have become publications in print and online magazines and books.

Poets and writers who have participated in the City Night Readings Series include Dominique Batraville, Fred Brown, Rhina Espaillat, Danielle Legros Georges, Doug Holder, Victor Pavlenkov, Luke Salisbury, and many others.