WITS Alliance Folks in the News

Art by Carmelo Arden Quin

There’s plenty of good Writers in the Schools (WITS) news around the world. Here are a few articles about WITS Alliance members and the work they’re doing.

  • Terry Blackhawk, founding director of InsideOut Literary Arts Project in Detroit has been a featured blogger this month on the Huffington Post. Check out her column here.
  • Cecily Sailor, Education Programs Manager for Badgerdog Literary Publishing in Austin, TX, was interviewed by Write by Night magazine.
  • Seattle WITS has the highest level of service in its 16-year program: 26 elementary, middle, and high schools and one hospital.
  • In the fall of 2010 the Missoula Writing Collaborative received new funding from the Heineman Foundation ($30,000) to
    support their work teaching kids to love to write, and this funding was renewed in November 2011 at the same level.
  • WITS Houston’s Executive Director Robin Reagler was elected to the AWP Board of Directors. Her first term will begin in February 2012.

Share your literary education news with us, please.

Detroit Poets from InsideOut Find Brave New Voices

InsideOut Literary Arts Project in Detroit has a lot to be proud of. This week they welcome back from San Francisco six student poets, where their team placed fourth at Brave New Voices, the national youth slam competition.

“This is not just a slam. These are words for a better tomorrow,” slam team member Justin Rogers proclaimed.   The WITS Alliance congratulates Justin Rogers, Devin Magee, Joseph Verge, Ariana Washington, Breeana Blackmon and Andrew Barnhill. You guys give us hope!

InsideOut Poets Rock the White House

Ten students from InsideOut Literary Arts Project in Detroit performed for the Obamas at the White House last night, alongside reknown poets such as Elizabeth Alexander, Billy Collins, and Rita Dove. InsideOut is a founding member of the WITS Alliance. Click here and here for more information.