Opening Night Open Mic at the Freight Yard

May 20th, 6:00 pm - May 20th, 8:00 pm

Dequindre Cut Freight Yard1905 Alfred StreetDetroit, MI48207 Map

Join InsideOut Literary Arts for an evening of interactive poetry games and dynamic performances by youth and adult poets. Hosted by the incomparable La Shaun “phoenix” Moore, this event will feature opportunities to engage with some of Detroit’s finest writers through Jenga poetry, zip code odes, on the spot songwriting and more! The event will also include an all ages open-mic and featured performances.**Parking and Accessibility**: There is free parking at the Dequindre Cut lot: goo.gl/maps/jDHfiXCxWGwheAPJ7 You can enter the Dequindre Cut at the northwest corner of Wilkins and Orleans. Make a right once you hit the greenway and head toward the river. Be advised you have to walk approximately two blocks.***InsideOut's Poetry for the People series brings workshops, installations, and performances to spaces across metro Detroit to demystify poetry and engage new audiences in the ways that language can connect to and enrich their lives.Poetry for the People is made possible by Knight Arts Challenge Detroit, along with contributions from individual donors.... See MoreSee Less

Sonnet Slam!

April 26th, 5:30 pm - April 26th, 7:00 pm

Trinosophes1464 Gratiot AveDetroit, MI48207 Map

Join InsideOut Literary Arts and Shakespeare in Detroit for a raucous celebration of the bard's birthday and National Poetry Month!Theater lovers and spoken word poets face off to see who will take home the title of Sonnet Slam Champion!Hosted by Satori Shakoor, this free event is great for all ages. Complimentary refreshments provided.Bring your own sonnet for an open mic!***This event is part of InsideOut's Poetry for the People project–a series of workshops, installations and performances in neighborhoods across the city designed to demystify poetry and engage new audiences in the ways that language can connect to and enrich their lives. Poetry for the People is made possible by Knight Arts Challenge Detroit, along with contributions from individual donors. Learn more at: insideoutdetroit.org/poetryforthepeople/... See MoreSee Less

Citywide Poets Visiting Writer Series: Reading and Open Mic Featuring José Olivarez

April 16th, 2:00 pm

Join us for our Visiting Writer Series Reading and Open Mic on Saturday, April 16th at 2PM featuring poet, educator, and performer José Olivarez! Taking place here on Facebook Live, this event is free and open to youth and adult artists of all ages.**Teen writers interested in attending a free youth workshop with José on April 16th at Noon can register at bit.ly/cwpregistration to receive the Zoom link.--José Olivarez is the son of Mexican immigrants. His debut book of poems, Citizen Illegal, was a finalist for the PEN/ Jean Stein Award and a winner of the 2018 Chicago Review of Books Poetry Prize. It was named a top book of 2018 by The Adroit Journal, NPR, and the New York Public Library. Along with Felicia Chavez and Willie Perdomo, he co-edited the poetry anthology, The BreakBeat Poets Vol. 4: LatiNEXT.---Citywide Poets is 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.Learn more at www.insideoutdetroit.org/cwp... See MoreSee Less