There’s power in writing. Whether it's to jot down a few notes on the back of an old receipt, or writing a dissertation — there’s something revealing about seeing your thoughts written down in front of you. 

For almost 30 years InsideOut Literary Arts has helped countless Detroiters  find a love and passion for creative writing. Founded by Dr. Terry Blackhawk, a Detroit Public Schools teacher, it was a goal to inspire young people through the written and spoken word. 

InsideOut Literary Arts Executive Director Suma Karaman and Citywide Poets Coordinator Justin Rogers joined The Metro on Wednesday to discuss the third annual Detroit Youth Poetry Con — a day-long event where teen poets can participate in writing workshops, community-building activities and share their work with industry experts and peers. The free event will take place on Saturday, March 15. Teens interested in participating must register by March 9.

Hear more stories from The Metro on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.