Café Shapiro is an annual event where undergraduate student writers, nominated by their instructors to participate, read from their creative works. Café Shapiro began in February 1998 as part of the University’s “Year of the Humanities and Arts” (YoHA). and was originally conceived as a student coffee break. Café Shapiro takes place in the Shapiro Undergraduate Library during winter evenings in March. For many student writers, Café Shapiro is a first opportunity to read publicly from their work. Café Shapiro features poems and short stories authored by University of Michigan students, becoming an annual celebration of undergraduate student writers as they think creatively and critically, reason, ask questions, and develop the skills that help them understand and participate in our world.