Citywide Poets sites for the 2023/24 school year are kicking off with virtual and face-to-face options and will run from September 2023–June 2024!

Register

What is Citywide Poets?

Citywide Poets is InsideOut’s award-winning afterschool program, providing teens with a literary community to collaboratively explore their lives through the written and spoken word.

By participating in intensive artistic mentorship, publication, and performance opportunities, Citywide Poets cultivates a youth-driven narrative for the future of Detroit, rooted in their creativity and artistry.

Program Highlights

Weekly Sessions

Professional Writers lead weekly writing workshops where teens have the opportunity to create new pieces, improve their writing, discover published and performing writers, and bond with peers.

Visiting Writer Series

Students meet and work with visiting artists who have extensive publishing and/or performance experience at monthly workshops and open mics.

Publication

All active Citywide Poets are invited to be published in our annual program-wide student poetry anthology.

Performance Troupe

Students can participate in an annual competition to join our Performance Troupe, which provides additional weekly artistic mentorship and public performance opportunities.

Youth Advisory Board

Interested students can develop leadership and professional skills by presenting youth-led programming and influencing the design of InsideOut’s programs.

Annual Scholarship

High school seniors who participate in Citywide Poets are eligible to apply for the CWP Scholarship, which covers college tuition for up to $25,000 per year, for up to four years

Register
Justin Rogers at mic

Citywide Poets Locations for the 2023/24 School Year

Public Locations (free and open to all teens)

  • Virtual Location via Zoom with La Shaun phoenix Moore, Wednesdays from 4-6 PM
  • Durfee Innovation Society (2470 Collingwood St., Detroit), Thursdays from 4-6 PM
  • Detroit Public Library Main Branch (5201 Woodward Ave, Detroit), Wednesdays from 4-6 PM

School-Based Locations (free and open to all teens who attend the school)

  • Arts Academy in the Woods
  • Cass Technical High School
  • Denby High School
  • Detroit Enterprise Academy
  • Detroit Edison Public School Academy
  • Detroit School of the Arts
  • Fordson High School
  • Hamtramck High School
  • Jalen Rose Leadership Academy
  • Marygrove
  • Oak Park High School
  • Southeastern High School
  • Thurston High School
  • Other schools to be listed as they launch

For more information contact Citywide Poets Coordinator Justin Rogers by email or call 313-577-4601.