Pictured (Back Row): Crystal Williams, event producer, Crystal Vision Communications, Curt McAllister, Toyota Communications, InsideOut Literary Arts Students, The Performance Troupe Coach LaShaun Phoenix Moore, a Detroit-based vocalist, spoken word artist and Suma Rosen, Executive Director, InsideOut Literary Arts. (Photo provided)
Pontiac, MI – As the rain filled the sky this past Saturday morning, the InsideOut Literary Arts Performance Troupe rose to the occasion as the sun peaked out in the beginning of their show at the Motor Bella Auto Show in the Toyota Exhibit Area in Pontiac, MI. Toyota and InsideOut Literary Arts, an award-winning organization headquartered in Detroit, showcased the 2021 Performance Troupe winners as part of the organization’s Citywide Poets afterschool program, which provides teens with weekly creative writing workshops, publications, and performance opportunities. Toyota is a major sponsor of the InsideOut Literary Arts organization.
Detroit High School Students Algeonay Jackson, Fiona Colson, Cassidy Howard and Ife Martin recited spoken word poetry around “Loving Yourself” and what it means to “Start Your Impossible.” Alayae Hicks also a winner could not attend due to COVID-19 exposure. The Performance Troupe Coach LaShaun Phoenix Moore, a Detroit-based vocalist, spoken word artist and culture creator helped the troupe fine tune their skills and served as program Mistress of Ceremonies. Students from Alnur African Dance showed off their moves while DJ Bruce Bailey kicked out the tunes. The highlight of the day was when Toyota surprised the Performance Troupe students with iPad Air tablets, Apple Pencils, and Apple Care.
“Many people know Toyota as a car company, but we’re so much more than that,” said Alva Adams Mason, group director, Multicultural Business Alliance and Strategy/Multicultural Dealer Development, Toyota Motor North America. “We’re focused on educating today’s students to build tomorrow’s leaders. At Toyota, we believe that youth development during non-school hours is needed today more than ever, and it’s vital for adolescents to learn 21st century leadership skills that support their academic, career and life goals.”
For over two decades, InsideOut Literary Arts has reached more than 65,000 students in schools throughout Metro Detroit and published nearly 500 school literary journals. Through InsideOut’s programming, 94% of teachers surveyed said it improved student’s writing and critical thinking skills; 80% of InsideOut students demonstrated improved reading comprehension after taking part in the program; and 83% of the InsideOut students said they applied what they learned about writing in other classes. Students have gone on to be journalists, healthcare workers, entrepreneurs, and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwrights.
“Through the transforming power of the written and spoken word, paired with unique performance opportunities to a diverse range of audiences, students learn that creativity, voice and expression are critical tools that can shift paradigms and change the circumstances that affect their lives,” said Suma Karaman Rosen, executive director, InsideOut Literary Arts. “We are truly grateful to Toyota for supporting our year-long Performance Troupe program.”
