InsideOut News
Letter from Terry
Dear friends,
Since InsideOut’s wonderful Coming Up Taller Award, presented at the White House last November, our Citywide Poets’ (CWP) recognition as one of the premier after school youth arts programs in the country continues to soar. We are currently savoring the “just-in” news that four ‘Citywides’ were awarded Certificates of Merit in Poetry from the Michigan Youth Arts Festival, thanks to poems with such intriguing titles as “A Phrase About the Rain” (Paige Alston); “Around the Cotton Club” (Shennice Gossett); “Sacrifice of the Ordinary” (Robyn Arnett), and “Grip” (Olaposi Omishope). Their awards earned invitations to participate in the MYAF festival at Western Michigan University and meet other ‘best of’ student poets and artists from around the state.
In addition to the MYAF awards, InsideOut won a first ever Sun Life Financial Rising Star Award (including a $5,000 student scholarship) and have received many invitations for our youth to perform locally. The first months of 2010 saw CWP opening for Wayne State University’s Martin Luther King Day Tribute, WSU’s College of Education Summit and the Detroit Declaration’s State of the City town hall forum. Audiences frequently jump to their feet to applaud the courage and clarity of our students’ words. Whether riffing on love or confronting social injustice or personal loss, our young people give voice to what matters most in their lives. Truly, courage is what it takes to plumb one’s soul and send words out to the wider world.
Classroom teachers report that students walk taller, speak more comfortably in class, learn more about their classmates, and feel more confident as writers thanks to InsideOut. A recent evaluation found significantly improved reading and writing skills, deeper understanding of poetry, and improved attendance and achievement as well as strong indications of “mental health benefits” thanks to InsideOut. Administrators have reported dramatically improved test scores and fewer incidents of undesirable behavior when InsideOut is a part of their school.
I hope that you, dear reader, as a valued supporter, will also applaud and join the growing number of friends who appreciate the power of language and creative expression of young people. It has been over a year and a half since we sent out an annual appeal, but we are facing a critical cash flow shortage now. Let the springtime’s new growth bring an upsurge of support and love for the young poets whose words InsideOut is committed to nurturing and bringing to the world. Become an active part of our community of supporters. Celebrate and support our youth with your generous donation to InsideOut!
Sincerely yours,
Terry M. Blackhawk, Ph.D.
Founding Director
Created May. 5, 2010 Article #1658
