"Improv gives us a means for everyone to bring their life experience to the table"
I had the chance to catch up with Jim earlier this year in San Jose, California. We talked about his approach to teaching, and his work bringing improvisation to with children and teenagers with autism, and how it can be used to highlight and aid communication and interaction. We also touched on the broader aspects of improvisation as a tool in therapy, Jill Bernard mindfullness in improv workshop that we both attended and the legacy of Keith Johnstone.
Bullet Points
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The host John Cooper is a professional stand-up comedian, improviser, tutor & illustrator based in Manchester, UK.
Click here to listen to previous podcast interviews with other experts who use improvisation.
Big thanks to Claire and the team at Power to Change for inviting me along. It was really quite inspiring to be around so many community leaders, people who 'get things done' for the betterment of their local communities.
The session was about providing practical techniques that would get their voices heard at local authority level, to gain funding for their projects. It was a bit whistle stop as I tried to cram in a lot from what I've learned over the years; being confident and comfortable speaking and sharing to developing empathy in a narrative. I was aware these attendees probably had their own story to tell, and indeed they did. Everyone I spoke to over the afternoon and evening reception had an incredible story to tell. Choices they had made, often selflessly, to make things better for those around them. Events they had made happen, goals achieved or journeys that had just begun with a sentence along the lines of "...so I quit my regular job to go do this instead".
The strength of character in the room was tangible ( I even shared a bit of my own story) and I was pretty humbled at the end of the session when co-organiser Charlotte showed me the feedback from attendees while I sold some of my books.
Power to Change put on a great evening reception, highlighting the history of community business with a book launch and a play by the Manchester Shakespeare Company.
Not a bad way to spend my birthday.
Excellent workshop on telling your story led by @JohnCooper_uk, Charlotte and Clare #Locality17 pic.twitter.com/7n08SMxdEJ
— DewsburyParkMansion (@DewsParkMansion) November 14, 2017
Amazing workshop @JohnCooper_uk thank you for making the storytelling so much fun... @Locality17 pic.twitter.com/kpBDQ0MrXZ
— Hero (@CoalvilleHero) November 14, 2017
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