InsideOut Literary Arts Marks 30 Years of Empowering Detroit Youth with Mural on Historic Avenue of Fashion

May 27, 2025

InsideOut Literary Arts, celebrating 30 years of inspiring Detroit youth through creative expression, has partnered with City Walls Detroit to unveil a vibrant new mural on Detroit's Avenue of Fashion. The artwork, created by Detroit artist Oshun Williams with assistance from Ijania Cortez and Joe Cazeno III, is located near Livernois and 7 Mile Road on Yoshi Hibachi Grille Livernois. Founded in 1995 by Terry Blackhawk, InsideOut has served over 70,000 Detroit youth through various programs including their Writer-in-Residence Program and Citywide Poets, becoming a national model for literary arts education.

Who is affected

Detroit youth and students who participate in InsideOut Literary Arts programs
Local community members and visitors to the Avenue of Fashion
The 70,000+ youth served by InsideOut over its 30-year history
Alumni who have gone on to careers as authors, educators, activists, and artists
Detroit public schools where the Writer-in-Residence Program operates

What action is being taken

InsideOut Literary Arts is collaborating with City Walls Detroit to unveil a new commemorative mural
Detroit artist Oshun Williams, along with Ijania Cortez and Joe Cazeno III, is creating the mural near Livernois and 7 Mile Road
InsideOut is conducting a yearlong anniversary campaign including poetry showcases, community workshops, and releasing a digital archive
The organization continues running its core programs including the Writer-in-Residence Program, Citywide Poets, Youth Advisory Board, and Student Publications
InsideOut is working with institutions like the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Charles H. Wright Museum through its InsideOut at the Museum program

Why it matters

The mural celebrates 30 years of InsideOut's impact on Detroit youth through poetry and storytelling
InsideOut has become a national model for literary arts education, serving over 70,000 youth across Detroit
The programs boost literacy, academic confidence, empathy, critical thinking, and civic engagement among participants
The Avenue of Fashion placement is significant as a hub of Black entrepreneurship undergoing revitalization
The artwork visually represents the organization's mission of fostering youth voices, creativity, and self-expression

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle