The Metro: Michigan Poet Laureate Nandi Comer expands recognition for regional poets
To discuss her latest project, what it’s been like to be the state poet laureate, and to explore an event she’s teaching, Nandi Comer joined “The Metro.”
Some believe poetry is a lost art, but don’t say that to many Michiganders.
That’s in part thanks to the efforts of many local arts organizations that foster poetry and the work of poets around the state — including Michigan Poet Laureate Nandi Comer.
A native Detroiter and Kresge Arts Fellow, Comer was recently given another award for her efforts in expanding access to poetry — she’s one of 23 fellows for the Academy of American Poetry. The program will help her use billboards to expose the public to the work of Michigan poets.
To discuss her latest project, what it’s been like to be the state poet laureate, and to explore an event she’s teaching, Nandi Comer joined The Metro.
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Comer recently received $50,000 to initiate her project, Michigan Words, a statewide billboard campaign for poets.
“They asked me what I wanted to do for my capstone project, and I wanted to showcase Michigan poets in their own communities,” Comer said. “So that we as a city, as a town, as a municipality, can see our poets physically and know who they are and really celebrate them.”
Comer’s goal is to make these poets’ words as visible to the public as possible. To do that, she is having their works displayed on billboards and in pedestrian areas so that people traveling throughout Michigan can see them.
“I think because poets oftentimes have trouble celebrating themselves, we sometimes forget how rich our history is in poetics. I think that we’ve never really had a drought in talent,” Comer stated.
As well as increasing the representation of Michigan poets, Comer has also strived to help support writers succeed in the industry.
Comer helped start the organization Detroit Lit, which provides support to writers of color. Detroit Lit is hosting the Detroit Lit Summer Writers Institute, a series of professional development workshops and panels for writers of color, August 14-26 at 27th Letter Books on Michigan Avenue in Detroit, just west of Corktown.
People interested in attending can register for different workshops on Eventbrite.
“The goal of the series is really to provide professional development to writers. We know that our writers oftentimes have goals to become very known in their community, to publish in their community, but they don’t know the steps to getting there,” Comer explained. “And so I’m really excited that we’re able to have some of the best, most talented writers in Detroit who have already accomplished a lot in their careers, really lay out some really great advice, some really great training on how to do that.”
Detroit Poet Laureate Jessica Care Moore, as well as writers and poets Tawana Petty, Jonah Mixon-Webster, Tariq Luthun, and more, will give panels and share publishing and professional tools to help writers excel.
“We’re a strong city. We have strong writers. The only thing is, is that we have a lot of talent that needs to be supported,” Comer said.
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