IMPROV FOR WELL-BEING AND CONNECTEDNESS

With roots in social work, scenic improvisation (“improv”) involves impromptu acting, unscripted scene-development, and problem-solving. While emerging research demonstrates that improv is useful for enhancing health and wellbeing, there have been few studies that focus on young people. In partnership with The Second City Toronto and YWCA Scarborough, and YWCA Shelters, the YWL led three SSHRC-funded pilot projects exploring the potential of improv to facilitate well-being and connectedness, engaging: 1) young women of colour (ages 14-18) participating in an after-school program; 2) youth and adult women experiencing homelessness; and 3) the YWL team as an exploration of improv as a tool for strengthening youth-adult partnerships.