Michigan Humanities is thrilled to celebrate 20 years of Poetry Out Loud (POL) in our state and across the nation. In recognition of this milestone, we’ve invited Michigan POL alumni to share their stories and insight into their experience with the program.
Our next featured POL alumnus is Glenn Doss, the Michigan POL State Champion in 2023. Glenn was active in POL at Melvindale High School, and currently lives in Adrian, Michigan.
Where are you now in your professional and/or educational career?
I am studying Business at Siena Heights University with a certification in Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Currently, my campus involvements include being a Student Government Historian and D.E.I. Senator, Black Student Union President, Resident Assistant, first-year peer mentor, member of the Honors Program, member of the Competitive Cheerleading Team, and working closely within my university’s TRIO Student Support Services and McNair programs. I also work as a youth cheer coach in my spare time.
I had my first political internship last year assisting Andrew Winckle’s campaign for Lenawee Commissioner, and plan to graduate this year, continuing my education at an institution where I can continue to pursue my aspiration of becoming a governor.
What do you remember most vividly about your Poetry Out Loud experience?
At State Finals, my last recitation was “Respectability” by Tina Boyer Brown (a poem centering police brutality and racial profiling). The room was silent as I spoke. My voice shook, and I was on the verge of tears. I finished and the room stayed still for a couple more seconds. I saw people crying, holding hands, and mouthing “thank you.”
Sharing that experience with the audience—that mournfulness and vulnerability—was unforgettable. I was able to use my voice to make the voices of those profiled and silenced by police brutality heard again, and to this day it remains one of the proudest and most impactful moments of my life.
How does Poetry Out Loud continue to impact your life or professional/educational growth?
Poetry Out Loud was my first platform. When I spoke, people listened intently and were truly interested in what I had to say. POL helped me to recognize that my voice matters and empowered me not just to speak but to be heard.
Driven by my experience in POL, I now speak up and out in every capacity of my life. I have become more well-spoken and self-assured, confidently advocating, collaborating, and innovating every day.
Poetry Out Loud has also exemplified to me the importance of uplifting the voices of others, illustrating the beauty of an environment in which diverse perspectives and stories are brought together and prompting me to advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in my professional and educational life.
What advice would you share with a student or teacher considering Poetry Out Loud?
To students: If you have ever felt that you have something you need to share with the world, POL is your opportunity. This is a program filled with individuals who want nothing more than to listen to you and to hear what you have to say. Take the opportunity, be yourself, and show the world who you are—and when you do, savor it.
For teachers: Always, but especially in today’s climate, students and youth need to know that they are heard, seen, and matter. Implement Poetry Out Loud in your schools and classrooms. Show your students that you care what they have to say; you will be amazed to witness the talent and potential which will blossom in front of you.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this blog do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or Michigan Humanities.