GII Symposium 2026

As safety nets and protections in our communities and country constrict, and many groups come increasingly under attack, it can be tougher than ever to find ways to speak up and resist-- while also guarding against exhaustion and burnout-- on limited life energy budgets. This presentation will explore the ways in which the practice of improv might accomplish both. We’ll look together at evidence supporting the importance of playfulness in adult life, and then take a closer look at improv in particular, as seen through the lens of "Playful Subversions." Participants will be invited to join the conversation about the ways in which improv has the potential to be a powerful strategy for pushing back against authoritarianism and oppression.