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Administrative Staff
Suma Karaman Rosen
Executive Director
Dynamic classroom teacher turned nonprofit leader, Suma’s experience in corporate, nonprofit and educational settings has brought depth to her leadership of InsideOut since 2017. Suma is inspired by the resilient and empowered InsideOut students, and brings this passion to all corners of our work, from managing finances and fundraising, to amplifying students’ voices far and wide.
Lia Greenwell
Operations & Communications Manager
Lia brings masterful organization to her work as Operations & Communications Manager, where she focuses on telling the InsideOut story and building our capacity as an organization. Serving as the hub where program and administration meet, Lia is equally skilled in supporting the InsideOut team and providing high quality customer service to external stakeholders. A poet and essayist, her writing has appeared in the Kenyon Review, the Missouri Review, and elsewhere.
John Randolph
Development Manager
With a deep commitment for finding the perfect intersection between donor passion and organizational need, John coordinates InsideOut’s individual and corporate giving, as well as fundraising campaigns. John previously served as a Campaign Manager at the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields and a Vista Volunteer with Hunger Solutions Minnesota. He experienced the transformational power of writing as a teen and is thrilled to support InsideOut in sharing that power with students throughout Metro Detroit.
Mitch Van Acker
Communications & Development Associate
Mitch supports InsideOut’s communications and development efforts, bringing the InsideOut story to life across media platforms and fulfilling administrative needs. Above all he values openness and creativity to ensure that InsideOut maintains a responsive and evolving approach its goals. He’s a writer, painter, and member of CAVE, a Detroit-based artist’s collective where keeps a studio.
Program Staff
Alise Alousi
Director of School & Community Partnerships
Alise has grown with InsideOut from the ground up. As a former Writer-in-Residence at Cody and Cass Tech High Schools, Alise learned first-hand how to cultivate and empower student voice. She brings this on-the-ground knowledge and many years of non-profit youth program experience to her work as Program Director, which she held from 2009-2019, and in her new role as Director of School & Community Partnerships. Alise is a talented poet whose work has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies, and is a recipient of a Knight Arts Challenge Detroit award.
Michelle Bolofer
Program Director
A native Detroiter, experienced educator, and lifelong Diversity and Inclusion advocate, Michelle is dedicated to closing the opportunity gap for students and communities. As a classroom teacher, corporate educational consultant, and start-up nonprofit director, she has worked to improve educational equity and expand access to resources. With her passion for youth development and community empowerment, Michelle leads the InsideOut program and directs our program vision.
Shawntai McCall-Brown
School Programs Manager
With a passion for literacy and pedagogy, Shawntai works with Writers-in-Residence and classroom teachers to cultivate impactful and meaningful learning. In addition to attending InsideOut programs as a student and working in the classroom as a Writer-in-Residence, Shawntai has a Master of Arts in Literacy Learning and has worked as an educator with students of all ages as well as adults. A Kresge Artist Fellow, Shawntai is a playwright with the Extra Mile Playwrights and poet whose work has appeared in Kaleidoscope, Cactus Heart, and Synaesthesia Magazine.
Reynaldo George Hinojosa Jr.
Lead Teaching Artist
Reynaldo is a Tejano born writer and musician whose teaching focuses on community building and identity. Working with InsideOut has afforded Reynaldo the opportunity to put into practice his love of teaching and building new and unique worlds with youth. Reynaldo’s poetry and fiction focuses on identity, generational trauma, colonialism, and constructing worlds beyond Capitalism. You can find some of his work published in runner magazine Detroit, Wayne Literary Review, and Kind Writer’s Literary Magazine.
Suzanne Honda
Program Development Coordinator
With a passion for creativity, connection, and play, Suzanne brings her many years of experience in education and her dedication to building intentional communities to InsideOut, where she began in schools as an Assistant Writer-in-Residence in 2019. Since then, she’s continued to work to uplift and celebrate Detroit’s unique collection of vibrant creatives across organizational programming. Suzanne is the author of When We Were Birds (Porkbelly Press, 2022). She holds awards from Atlanta Review and Writer’s Digest, and her work has been published SWWIM Every Day, Birdcoat Quarterly, among others.
Peter Markus
Senior Writer
Pete found his calling as a Writer-in-Residence with InsideOut and has been with the organization since it was founded in 1995. In addition to inspiring students in the classroom, Pete partners with schools to create programs that fit their needs. Pete has published widely about the transformative power of writing, co editing To Light a Fire: 20 Years with the InsideOut Literary Arts Project, and most recently a memoir, Inside My Pencil: Teaching Poetry in the Detroit Public Schools. A Kresge Arts in Detroit Fellow, Pete is the author of the novel Bob, or Man on Boat as well as five other books of short fiction.
Jassmine Parks
Program Development Coordinator
A dedicated educator who excels at creating safe spaces for youth, Jassmine joined InsideOut as Leading Teaching Artist after serving in teaching roles across our programs. Jassmine believes in the power of language to reflect on past experiences, build agency, and create a future in which we exist as our best selves. A Kresge Artist Fellow and Detroit slam poetry champion who has performed internationally, Jassmine’s work has been published through SlamFind, All Def Poetry and Wusgood? Magazine.
Justin Rogers
Citywide Poets Manager
Justin’s journey with InsideOut began first as a student at Cody High School where a Writer-in Residence encouraged his writing and recruited him to join Citywide Poets. Since then, Justin has performed for international audiences and published his writing widely. Justin now coordinates our Citywide Poets program, elevating youth voice through weekly sessions around the city, guest writer workshops, performances, and open mic opportunities for youth.
La Shaun phoenix Moore
Advanced Youth Programming Coach
With a passion for youth advocacy, La Shaun phoenix Moore, a Detroit-based vocalist, spoken word artist and culture creator, mentors our Youth Advisory Board and coaches our Performance Troupe as they grow as artists and leaders.
Kelsey Ronan
Publications Assistant
Kelsey shepherds nearly two dozen titles through our school literary journal publication process each year. She brings her experience as an InsideOut Writer-in-Residence and as a published author (her novel Chevy in the Hole was a NYTimes Editor’s Pick!) to make each book shine.
Writers-in-Residence
Ashley Adams
Ashley Adams known as Galaxy is an award-winning performance poet, speaker, storyteller, and educator from Metro Detroit. She began writing poetry as a of way of expression while getting her bachelors degree from Eastern Michigan University. She has performed for crowds both in-person and virtually, reaching audiences all over the world.
Aubri Adkins
Aubri K. Adkins is a Detroit based prose writer originally from Montana. She founded and curated the East Side Reading Series, showcasing over a hundred poets and writers from 2015-2020.
Aja Allante
Aja Allante is a queer poet from Detroit’s eastside. As a Citywide Poets alum, she has slammed and coached at Michigan’s Louder Than A Bomb poetry festival. In 2019, Aja self-published a collection of poems titled “necessary evils.”
Peace Bell
PEACE is a two-time Recording Artist, two-time Grand Slam Champion, and Motown the Spoken Word finalist, who continues to move crowds with her energetic wordplay. Her current projects include writing in preparation for publishing her book entitled “If I Were a Writer.”
Cat Batsios
Catharine Batsios is from Flint, and currently stays in Detroit. She writes poems about the cities that build her. She thinks poetry is for actualization, is about creating a world to live in, and raising a voice.
Alexandra Collier
Alexandra is dedicated to uplifting members of the community through youth advocacy programs and has been teaching the arts for the last 5 years in the Detroit area.
Jazmine Cooper
Jazmine Cooper (she/they) is a writer based in Detroit, MI. She received her MFA from Antioch Los Angeles and has finished her first novel. You can find her work in Lunch Ticket and The Detroit Metro Times. When they’re not writing, they’re working on one of their many hobbies, or reading.
Jeniya Dabish
Jeniya Dabish is a fiction author and poet. She is currently a writer-in-residence, teaching what she loves, hoping to inspire others to live life on the WRITE path. Her writing has appeared in Marrow Magazine and Artemis Journal, among others. Her piece “Catharsis” was nominated for the 2023 PUSHCART PRIZE in fiction.
Cal Freeman
Cal Freeman is the author of the book Fight Songs. His writing has appeared in many journals including Southword, The Moth, Passages North, The Journal, Hippocampus, Drunken Boat, and The Poetry Review.
Alana Gracey
Alana Gracey has a deep appreciation for the importance of writers of all ages having their voices and stories heard. She facilitates creative writing workshops and reading and discussion groups. Her poetry has been featured in HIVES Buzz-Zine and Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora.
Kimani Quest MCODY Graham
Quest is an Emmy awarding winning entertainer, celebrated for his work as a poet, battle rapper, actor, and filmmaker. This Detroit native made a mark in the entertainment industry with his commanding performances and creative storytelling. Quest balances his professional pursuits with his role as a proud father and philanthropist.
Justin Groppuso-Cook
Justin Groppuso-Cook is a poet, musician, & healing artist from Metro Detroit. His poetry has appeared in The Tiger Moth Review, Luna Luna Magazine, Dream Pop Journal, Anti-Heroin Chic, Rust + Moth, and Glass: A Journal of Poetry among others.
Darralynn Hutson
Darralynn has been a journalist and editor for more than 20+ years contributing to publications as diverse as Vogue Italia to The Detroit Free Press. She blogs daily on diversity in the media celebrating its rapid growth through vibrant storytelling.
Felicia Krol
Felicia Krol is a Michigan-based writer and educator. She holds a BA from Oakland University and an MFA from Pacific University, both in writing. Since 2015, she has worked with young writers across several Southeast Michigan communities, grounded by a commitment to nurture and honor student agency.
Audra Kubat
Detroit Music Award winning singer/songwriter Audra Kubat has released 6 albums to critical acclaim in a career that spans over 20 years.
Abbey Lilly-Lacca
Abbey Lilly-Lacca is a dedicated arts educator working as a classroom ELA educator, Youth Outreach Coordinator for Michigan Council of Teachers of English, and Creative Writing Coordinator for Michigan Council of Teachers of English.
Sicily McRaven
Sicily Amaris McRaven is a songwriter, multimedia artist, community arts facilitator, and activist working to move the conversation forward in their own right, social-behavioral connection, communication-based health, and art as social practice.
Sarah Merrifield
Sarah Merrifield (she/they) is a lifelong writer and poet who has engaged youth across metro Detroit in various capacities including teaching, mental health advocacy, and leading inclusive health classes for students with disabilities. Sarah is also a stand-up comedian and comedy producer who uses comedy to educate and enlighten audiences.
Cherise Morris
Cherise Morris is an award-winning poet, multidisciplinary artist, ritualist and spiritual worker born and raised in rural Virginia. Her essays have twice been recognized as notable works of literary nonfiction in The Best American Essays Series 2018 and 2019.
Andrew Morton
Andrew Morton is a British immigrant, playwright, and teaching artist. His plays have been produced in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. His play Bloom, inspired by urban gardeners in Flint, MI, is available through Dramatic Publishing. He is also the founder and producing artistic collaborator at Every Soul Arts.
Wafaa Mustafa
Wafaa Mustafa is an Iraqi poet from Dearborn, MI, and a graduate of Wayne State University, where she studied english and philosophy. She is a teaching artist with InsideOut Literary Arts, Citywide Poets, and the Arab American National Museum’s Teen Writing Fellowship.
Mic Phelps
Mic Phelps is a nationally ranked and recognized Slam Poet, author, rapper, producer, musician, teacher, and actor. Although he takes pride in these talents, the accomplishment he is most proud of is being a father to his two boys and daughter.
Ben Piper
Ben Piper aka Pipes is a poet, songwriter, and educator living in Detroit with his wife and pups. He studied and sang at Michigan State University, and received his M.A. in Secondary Education from Brooklyn College.
Madelyn Porter
Madelyn Porter, has worked as a professional storyteller/actor for the past forty years, and is a member of Actor’s Equity Association. She is lead drama instructor for Michigan Opera Theatre’s Create and Perform, drama instructor for Youth Arts Alliance, and House Manager for Detroit Public Theatre.
Naomi Richardson
Naomi Jewels Richardson is attending Wayne State University this fall majoring in Film, and Environmental Science. She is currently working on her first book called “My Cruel Endeavors,” while co-editing and directing an art magazine.
Caleb Shumake
Caleb is a recording artist, storyteller/songwriter, musician, and a life-long Detroiter.
Nia Shumake
Nia Shumake is a storyteller and educator from Detroit, MI. She graduated from University of Michigan in 2016, and since then she’s been writing seriously. She’s been able to write for Rogue Magazine and has contributed to buzz worthy campaigns featured in Bustle and Elite Daily.
Jacqueline Suskin
Jacqueline Suskin is the author of eight books. She has composed over forty thousand improvisational poems with her writing project, Poem Store. Suskin lives in Detroit where she works as a teaching artist, bringing nature poetry into classrooms with her Poem Forest curriculum.
Benjamin Williams
Ben Will, a distinguished Detroit artist, shines in music, poetry, and activism. Celebrated as 2022’s Motown Mic Spoken Word Artist of the Year, he also founded Motor City Sings, using art for social change. When not spearheading community projects, he’s at home with his cranky cat-son, Sir Brixton.
Ber-Henda Williams
Ber-Henda Williams is a bilingual poet whose work explores themes of empathy, feminine power and social change. She has hosted numerous poetry and literary events. She has performed poetry for United Way, Detroit Opera House and Detroit Institute of the Arts. She aims to inspire personal and collective transformation.
Hiring
There are currently no open employment opportunities. Check back in summer 2025 for information on Writer-in-Residence hiring.