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 Lyndon DeFoe, the Michigan POL State Champion in 2016. Lyndon was active in POL from 2016 to 2017 at University High School Academy, and currently lives in New York City.
Where are you now in your professional and/or educational career?
I am a first year law student at Columbia Law School. Before coming to law school, I did voting rights advocacy work in Michigan and Wisconsin. I plan to use my legal education to prepare for a career in litigation and public policy.
What poetry are you reading and listening to now?
Interestingly enough, I have been engaging in poetry by compiling quotes excerpted from books, speeches, and short works. I considered these quotes to be short form poems and I pick one each day to read. A recent quote/poem that I picked was from James Baldwin: “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
What advice would you share with a student or teacher considering Poetry Out Loud?
Poetry Out Loud is an enriching experience for every student. By participating, students are not only honing their creative expression, but they are simultaneously developing valuable professional skills that will aid them in the real world, such as public speaking and confidence. I highly encourage any student to get involved and any educator to advocate to bring Poetry Out Loud into their school community.
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.