InsideOut Literary Arts is widely recognized as one of the nation’s top writers-in-the-schools programs. With numerous accolades, including a feature on PBS NewsHour and a performance at the Kennedy Center, InsideOut has proven its ability to foster and empower authentic youth voices. In fact, the program received the highest honor in youth arts programming, the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award, presented by Michelle Obama in 2009.

The primary goal of InsideOut is to transform lives through the written and spoken word. Founded in 1995 by Dr. Terry Blackhawk, a former Detroit Public Schools teacher, InsideOut now serves over 100 classrooms and community sites annually.

Its professional writers not only help students experiment with words but also teach them that each unique voice matters. Through creative writing, InsideOut inspires and equips young people to think critically, create bravely, and share their voices with the world. With a strong emphasis on growth, creativity, youth voice, equity, and community, InsideOut is dedicated to empowering young individuals to transform themselves and their communities