AUBURN HILLS, Mich., April 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Three
Midwest poets recently won $1,600 in prizes in the "Spirit in the
Words" Poetry program sponsored on April 9 by the Chrysler Group at
the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Ten poets --
most from the Detroit area -- read their original poems and shared
their cultural experiences with a diverse audience at the program --
the fifth time Chrysler Group has sponsored the poetry reading in
Detroit.
Michael Reyes of Chicago won first place and $1,000, Ingrid "Ngriot
the Poet" Denise Hatcher (Detroit) won second place and $500, and
Latitia McCree (Detroit) placed third and won $100.
"The 'Spirit in the Words' poetry program is Chrysler Group's way
of providing an avenue for poets and writers to celebrate the spoken
word," said Kenneth Levy, Chrysler Group Vice President of
Communications. "We realize that documenting words to paper, whether
they rhyme or not, is often the only measure we have of remembering
events that have had a profound effect on our lives."
An independent panel of judges comprised of authors and journalists
selected the winning poets based on their delivery, content and
creativity.
According to the National Endowment of the Arts, 24 million people
in the U.S. write creatively for their own fulfillment. Of those, 2.3
million have published their work. The "Spirit in the Words" poetry
program began in Detroit in 1994. In 1999, "Spirit in the Words"
received the prestigious "Poets and Writers" President's Citation in
recognition of Chrysler Group's work with the arts and the community.
The poetry program has expanded and now travels to a number of
diversity journalism conferences each year. This year, "Spirit in the
Words" will be in San Diego at the National Association of Hispanic
Journalists Convention in June and in Milwaukee at the National
Association of Black Journalists Convention in July. The program
invites journalists to read and perform their works in an effort to
further the art of poetry and demonstrate the Chrysler Group's
commitment to diversity.
In addition to the delivery of poetry, Chrysler Group publishes a
"Spirit in the Words" compilation book with several works from poets
all over the world. Chrysler Group donated 300 of these books to the
Charles H. Wright Museum.
Source: Chrysler Group
Contact: Curtrise Garner of Chrysler Group, +1-248-512-2712
Website:
http://www.media.daimlerchrysler.com/
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