InsideOut Literary Arts

Since 1995, InsideOut Literary Arts has helped Detroit’s youth build their literary and academic skills through creative writing. By working with professional writers, students learn to think broadly, create bravely and share their voices with the wider world.

Why does learning to write poetry make a difference in a young person’s life?

Because students learn:

• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• How to improve their writing
• Positive and constructive ways to communicate their authentic feelings

Our programs also help students build self-confidence, foster their artistic excellence, create community, and elevate youth voice in Detroit and beyond.

InsideOut’s Transformative Programs include:

Writer-In-Residence Program

Our in-school creative writing program places professional writers in elementary, middle, and high school classrooms throughout Detroit to provide intensive weekly writing workshops. Every student is featured in a professionally published literary anthology at every school, every single year.

 Citywide Poets

InsideOut’s award-winning afterschool program provides teens with weekly creative writing workshops, publication, and performance opportunities. In this literary community, teens learn their words are powerful and embrace creative expression as a tool for self-development and civic engagement.

 Community Programming

From hosting community open mics to partnering with celebrated cultural institutions like the Detroit Institute of Arts, InsideOut provides young people with opportunities to share their voices and create community connections.

As Detroit’s largest and oldest literary non-profit, InsideOut now serves more than 100 classrooms and community sites annually. Our professional writers continue to help students experiment with words and learn that each unique voice matters – that there is power in “bringing the inside out.” Please consider investing in youth voices in Detroit and beyond.

To learn more, visit https://insideoutdetroit.org.