Genre: Spoken Word

Citywide Poets at ArtBlock

United States of Writing
9.16.19

Last week I helped organize InsideOut’s annual Citywide Poets orientation, which preps the writing mentors who will lead after-school sessions in local high schools and community centers in Detroit from October through May. This year the program is bringing together eighteen writers to participate as mentors, including Nadine Marshall, Jassmine Parks, Brittany Rogers, and Devin Samuels.

In addition to our growing numbers, what made this year’s orientation awesome was the place where we gathered, a new community arts center in the Northwest Goldberg neighborhood called ArtBlock. This space offers an outstanding first impression with its colorful mural on the north wall of the building. Inside the building, there are three separate mural-covered rooms fit for anything from readings to workshops to parties. ArtBlock is available for community groups and local nonprofits to use free of charge, which was a great help to InsideOut. I look forward to this year’s Citywide Poets programming and to seeing future events at ArtBlock.

ArtBlock mural by artist Fel3000ft. (Credit: Justin Rogers)
 
Justin Rogers is the literary outreach coordinator for Poets & Writers in Detroit. Contact him at Detroit@pw.org or on Twitter, @Detroitpworg.

The Slam at the Cube

United States of Writing
9.9.19

LaShaun “Phoenix” Kotaran is a longtime figure in the slam community and has recently been chosen to host a new poetry slam series in Detroit. It is exciting to see poetry back in a venue that hasn’t had a poetry event in over ten years—Detroit Symphony Orchestra. This immaculate building offers a dynamic recital hall known as the Cube for performances.

I had a chance to speak to Phoenix about adding this new gig to her extensive hosting career. While Phoenix is excited about the opportunity, she feels that the literary offerings in the city have shrunken, especially since the city’s bankruptcy. “It’s been tough to partner with venues in downtown Detroit and Cass Corridor,” Phoenix says. However, the new slam series at the Cube brings hope of fresh growth. “Detroit Symphony Orchestra is very Detroit, very white and blue collar. It is Detroit grit. This is the perfect space to cultivate culture,” she says.

The first Cube Poetry Slam went down last month and featured incredible local poets and an acoustic set by singer and songwriter Peter Collins who made his Detroit debut. This fall, the series continues with an all-female lineup. I will be watching this series very closely and reporting about it in the near future!

LaShaun “Phoenix” Kotaran and poets read at the Cube. (Credit: Justin Rogers)
 
Justin Rogers is the literary outreach coordinator for Poets & Writers in Detroit. Contact him at Detroit@pw.org or on Twitter, @Detroitpworg.

Wendy’s Subway

Caption: 

“What we can contribute is an open space that’s really excited about learning and welcoming poets and writers from across different communities of literature in New York.” In this BRIC TV video, Rachel Valinsky, the artistic director of the Brooklyn nonprofit Wendy’s Subway, talks about the organization’s history and programming, and how it functions in the community as a reading room, event space, and publisher.

Genre: 
Poetry
Fiction
Creative Nonfiction
Spoken Word
Tags: 
Wendy's Subway
Rachel Valinsky
BRIC TV
nonprofit

Green Brain Comics

Indie Bookstore, Reading Venue

Green Brain Comics, along with the Emerging Writers Network, hosts Brain Candy, a free, curated live program of prose, music, poetry, and visual art. Brain Candy readings occur every third Monday of the month with new monthly guests.

The shop also hosts book club discussions, comic book signings and release parties, and movie screenings.

Tags: 
illustrations

Artist Village Detroit

Reading Venue

Artist Village Detroit is located in the Old Redford district of Detroit and was founded in 2003 by Alicia Marion George, affectionately known as the Queen of the Village, Charles “Chazz” Miller, founder of Public Art Workz and resident artist of AVD, and John George, founder of the Motor City Blight Busters. AVD is a nonprofit organization with the mission to revitalize the community through public art and educate the youth on ways they can market their art.

Tags: 
-book arts -visual art | poetry

East City Bookshop

Indie Bookstore, Reading Venue

East City Bookshop has become a gathering place for book lovers of all ages since opening in 2016. The friendly staff offers favorite book picks, and there are author events, book clubs, and community events throughout the year. 

Tags: 
bookselling

Pages

Subscribe to Spoken Word