InsideOut Literary Arts

InsideOut brings poetry into the Detroit classrooms.

  • For the thirtieth anniversary of this amazing organization we got thirty outdoor boards, all over the city, and put up lines from Detroit kids’ incredible poems. It was a profound act of urban beautification that lifted the whole city up.

    Read more here.

    Photography of Students by Na Forest Lim.

A billboard with a quote that reads, 'Not being normal helps keep me motivated in the shadows watching my city,' by Dazzi, Poet, InsideOut Literary Arts, against a blue sky with some clouds and power lines in the background.
A young girl wearing a crown and a checkered outfit is reading from a piece of paper outside a building with a sign that says 'Design'. There is a large billboard above her that reads 'Not being normal helps keep me motivated in the shadows watching my city'.
Large billboard with a poem by Veronica, reading: 'I am a clock that ticks fast. I am a flower that just bloomed.' The billboard is located near a parking lot, with cars and a fence visible at the bottom. The background includes trees, buildings, a clear sky with some clouds, and electrical wires.
Billboard with a quote saying, "My poem is smart like a cookie." by Ariyam, Poet, insideOut Literary Arts, against a background of blue sky and power lines.
Large billboard with pink text on a white background that reads, "The clouds move us. The moon rises above. The sun sets us all." at insideOut Literary Arts. The billboard is mounted on a brick building, with another building visible to the right and a red food truck with yellow text partially visible at the bottom right.
Young woman wearing glasses, a crown, and a gray jacket, smiling and holding a piece of paper, standing in a parking lot with cars and a brick building in the background. A billboard behind her displays a poetic quote about clouds, moon, and sun.
A billboard against a blue sky displaying the quote, "My poem wants a pony," attributed to poet Nuha from InsideOut Literary Arts.
Billboard with a quote by Lailah, a poet, that says: "I want to be known for what I do. I am going to thrive and save the day. I am that hero." The billboard is mounted on a metal frame against a cloudy/light orange sky.
A young woman with long brown hair wearing a beige sweater standing in front of a large billboard with a quote and a colorful image of children, outdoors on a cloudy day.
Billboard with a poetic quote about enjoying nature and music, attributed to Stella, a poet, from InsideOut Literary Arts, with a street number 1320, outdoors, surrounded by power lines and a black fence.
Billboard displaying a quote about poetry and liking a girl, attributed to Akari, a poet, with a note about InsideOut Literary Arts, against a backdrop of trees and a blue sky.
Billboard with quote: 'I STUDY THE POEM IN THE BUTTERFLY FLYING.' by Rawyah, Poet, InsideOut Literary Arts, against a sky at sunset with street lamps and other billboards in the background.
Billboard with a quote by Mateo reading: "I am a dream. I can be a dragon." in green text on a white background, against a cloudy sky.
Billboard with the quote 'Crops sprout from the palms of my sunkissed hands.' by Aniqa, poet, from InsideOut Literary Arts, against a light sky background.
Billboard with a quote by Charisma, Poet, about the beauty of melody and the heartbeat. The sky and clouds are visible in the background.
A billboard displaying a poem about loving a girl who doesn't let anything stop her, attributed to poet Taji, associated with InsideOut Literary Arts, against a clear sky background.
Billboard with a quote about poems and good people, attributed to Adam, a poet, from InsideOut Literary Arts, against a cloudy sky.
Billboard with a quote about perfecting punchlines and alphabet aerobics, attributed to Jordyn, a poet, associated with InsideOut Literary Arts, against a blue sky background.
Billboard with a quote from Jessica, a poet, about Detroit and the country looking like you. The quote is in red text on a white background.
Billboard with the quote, 'Poetry can be found hidden inside someone's mouth,' attributed to Chalil, Poet, from InsideOut Literary Arts, against a blue sky background.
A person dressed as a queen, wearing a crown and a hijab, stands on a city sidewalk reading from a piece of paper.
A large outdoor billboard displays a quote about poetry and the heart, with trees partially obscuring the lower part of the billboard and a blue sky in the background.
Billboard with green text on a light background stating, 'Detroit is like a Capybara Chillin on the Couch.' quote attributed to Evelyn, Poet, InsideOut Literary Arts, against a clear blue sky with some tree branches at the bottom.
A large billboard with a quote in purple text that reads, "It's a mystery why poems never end." The billboard is mounted on a metal scaffolding structure above a brick building, with an overcast sky in the background.
Billboard with quote: "Detroit is a basketball floating in space" attributed to Ondrae, Poet, insideOut Literary Arts, against a blue sky with scattered clouds.
Billboard with the quote 'I READ THE SUNSET LIKE I READ A DREAM' by Atheer, Poet, against a purple sky.
Billboard displaying a quote: "You can call me the raindrop that never falls" by Alexander, Poet, InsideOut Literary Arts, against a pink and purple sky.
Billboard with quote: 'My imagination is bigger than a dinosaur eating the sky.' - Ayah, Poet, InsideOut Literary Arts, under a blue sky.
Billboard with blue text on a light blue background stating, "My poem's name is Amelia. She likes spending my money." Signed by Braah, Poet, from InsideOut Literary Arts.
Billboard with a quote about neighborhood and poetry, attributed to a poet named Alivia, from InsideOut Literary Arts, against a cloudy sky background.
Billboard with a quote from poet Rima about a poem waiting for her at a donut shop, featuring a blue sky background.
Billboard with a quote about poetry, reading, and the mind, attributed to Zuri, a poet, with a blue sky background.
Billboard with the quote 'I would love to touch the sun with my dream hand and hold it' by Deena, Poet, InsideOut Literary Arts, against a cloudy sky at sunset.
A billboard celebrating 30 years of InsideOut Literary Arts, located on a brick building with a ladder on the side. The billboard features a congratulatory message and logos for Lafayette American, Poetry Foundation, and InsideOut Literary Arts.
Group of people posing in front of a colorful bus with large yellow balloon letters spelling "SOE try" on top, outdoors in an urban area.