We believe the world would be a better place if we all knew a little bit of improv.
Events
We offer special programming throughout the year to spread the word (and the magic) of improv. Some things you sign up for, some you just show up to. All are welcome—check back for upcoming offerings or get in touch to bring an event to your community.
Youth/Young Adult Programs
Young people are capable but often missing the skills that help them navigate the world—communication, adaptability, confidence. These aren't learned from a textbook. You learn them by doing. And improv provides not only the skills, but also the practice, to help our youth do just that.
Improv for Mental Health
Improv can help build emotional flexibility, reduce social anxiety, and create space to be present with others. We offer programs for individuals and groups. We also facilitate training for professional coaches and therapists who want to bring these tools into their work.
“Improv Chattanooga has been an incredible gift for helping students find their voice. His work with our Ambassadors of Change helped foster confidence, connection, and creative leadership in ways that has left a lasting impact on our students.”
The “Yes, And” Project
Empowering collaboration, community, and growth for Chattanooga’s nonprofit arts leaders through applied improv & coaching.
The Yes, And Project was born from listening to fellow nonprofit arts leaders in the area express a genuine desire to work together more, but find it tough to actually do it. As artists, we know just how powerful connection, collaboration, and partnership can be in unlocking creative potential and fostering growth, but as nonprofit leaders we also know just how challenging it can be to create and act on opportunities for collaboration.
Funny enough, it’s an art form that can help! Improv is many things, but at it’s heart it’s a purposeful way to create something from nothing together. It’s pure collaboration!
The Yes, And Project brings to bear the principles and practices of improv through applied improv workshops in which participants will not only experience in-the-moment collaboration and foster connection with fellow arts leaders, but they will also walk away with practical skills and tools for ongoing productive creative collaborations born from the art of improv.
Participants will also have the opportunity to engage in individual coaching to support their personal and professional growth.
Funded by Lyndhurst Foundation, The “Yes, And Project” is a free program for nonprofit arts leaders at any level, including board members, executive leadership, and individual contributors. You are welcome to sign up as an individual or with a group from your organization.
Applied Improv
Applying the craft and practice from the art of improv beyond the stage for the benefit of living and working better. AKA more confidence, better communication, stronger relationships, powerful creativity, and much much more.
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Professional Coaching
A collaborative process helping people grow through exploration and application of mindsets, behaviors, and skills. The coach acts as a confidential advocate, partner, and resource helping leaders at all levels create self-awareness, lean into their strengths, develop more influence and presence, navigate personal and professional challenges, and create change for themselves.
The “Yes, And” Project’s Applied Improv Workshops
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Listening for Deeper Understanding and Better Connection
Connection and community are built on a foundation of mutual understanding and trust. It all starts with real listening. Listening is a skill, one we can learn and get better at with practice. Techniques from applied improv help us get out of our own heads so we can really listen to each other, move from active listening to listening with intent, and hear beyond the words we say so we can build a community of trust and support.
The Art of Acceptance: How to Learn to Let Go and Get on With It!
“Yes, and” is more than a nice set of words or a way to build ideas. Truly adopting a “yes, and” mindset means accepting the reality we’re in, not the one we wish we were in. It also means accepting that in a community we’re bound to run into different perspectives, goals, and experiences. Improv teaches us how to embrace our reality as well as our differences to move forward in productive and often exciting ways.
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Creating Generosity for the Benefit of All
Practicing techniques from applied improv provides the opportunity to experience community through working together with generosity. Improv teaches us that our job is to make our teammates look good (and not worry if we look good ourselves). We learn to jump in and support without hesitation when our teammates struggle, to add a bit of spice when it can elevate what’s working, and to back off and let our teammates shine when they’re on fire. In other words, we play with generosity and the result is that everyone succeeds.
Unlocking Practical Creative Collaboration
Collaboration is hard. Particularly in the beginning. More people. More opinions. More possibilities for things to go off the rails. Though collaboration may be hard, going it alone is even harder. Applied improv skills give us ways to be productively collaborative and create possibilities that would only emerge from working together in the spirit of “yes, and.”
Starts Monday April 13 at 6pm at The Chattery (1800 Rossville Ave). Following workshops scheduled monthly for a duration of 4 months; May 11, June 8, and July 13.
There is a limit 25 participants for the workshops.
If you are unsure if you qualify, feel free to reach out!
**While each session is designed to be standalone, the biggest benefit from these workshops comes from attending each one. The hope is that those who sign up intend to attend each, but, again, the world of nonprofit is unpredictable and schedules can be rough, so there is flexibility for missing sessions.**
The “Yes, And” Project’s Coaching Offering
One-on-one professional coaching providing individualized support, guidance, and advocacy for your unique personal and professional growth.
An opportunity to work on yourself and your growth
A whole-person approach allowing you to work on any area or topic you might need
Open to anyone in your organization who feels they might benefit from coaching
Sessions are 100% confidential with agreements between coachee and coach signed upon scheduling sessions.
Sessions can be in-person, via video call, or phone call
Each session is 1 hour
Multiple sessions possible based on availability
About The “Yes, And” Project’s Leader / Facilitator
Jason Parker
Executive Director, Improv Chattanooga & Certified Professional Coach (CPCC/PCC)
Jason is an improv teacher, performer, and director, with 30 years of experience in the art form. He is also a certified professional coach and trainer, helping individuals, teams and organizations in personal and professional development. Prior to coaching, Jason spent 20 years working in advertising, helping some of the world’s largest brands better communicate and connect with their audiences while also helping to drive internal culture change with his clients. Jason earned a master’s degree in social psychology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, with a focus on cognitive bias as well as the role of humor in communication.
Jason weaves together his diverse experience and expertise across applied improv, social cognition, personal and professional development, leadership coaching, corporate culture, and organizational performance to create impactful experiences and programs that help individuals, teams, and organizations unlock the best versions of themselves.
Register for
The “Yes, And” Project
If you are unsure if you qualify, go ahead and reach out!
Connect
Interested in bringing improv to your school, organization, or community group? Have an idea for a partnership? Just curious and want to learn more? We'd love to hear from you.