Making a difference for veterans by making space for creativity
Veterans’ Day is on Monday, Nov. 11 and we’re marking the occasion by highlighting WIT’s work with the community of US military veterans in our area.
Since 2019, we have been collaborating with the Armed Services Arts Partnership (ASAP) to offer introductory improv classes and workshops to veterans at no cost. ASAP leverages the “restorative power of comedy, storytelling, and artistic expression” fits well with WIT’s own core values of facilitating creative joy and self-discovery, and building community.
Sparking creativity and connection
“ASAP’s mission is to spark creativity and connection and to combat social isolation within the military-connected community,” says the organization’s project coordinator Andrea Reichwald. “The improv classes we offer in partnership with WIT help us achieve that by providing opportunities for our community to meet new people, develop friendships, and boost their confidence and sense of self.”
The classes, which are also open to active duty service members and military families, are currently taught* by Clyde Thompson — a familiar face around WIT, who was part of the all-veteran improv team Smoking and Joking that participated in the 2023 Fighting Improv Smackdown Tournament.
Clyde served for five years as an Electronic Warfare Specialist and Cryptologist in the US Navy and says improv provides an important outlet for veterans like himself.
“That ability to have fun and be silly and joyful, and just kind of leave the rest of the world behind… it’s beneficial for everyone, but I think more so than most people,” he says. “Because the military holds the expectation of being doubly serious.”
The power of laughter in dealing with trauma
According to the US Department of Veterans’ Affairs, people who have served are more likely to develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder than civilians, and among veterans, those who deployed to war zones are more likely to have PTSD than veterans who did not.
For Anne Barlieb, who has severe treatment-resistant combat-related PTSD following 14 years in the Army that included an 18-month deployment to Iraq from 2007 to 2008, the arts and storytelling, in particular, have been tremendously valuable.
“By inviting service members in and saying, ‘You know, you wore the uniform, you have that experience, we respect it… we even have great reverence for it, but that’s not all you are,’ it allows for a space where we can own our experience and then expand from there, and integrate it into the way forward.”
Improv represents freedom
Speaking after their student showcase at WIT on November 2, Anne’s improv teammates Arleen Roberts and Kimberly Pollard echoed her sentiments.
“Improv has been really great to just get me out of my own mind,” says Kimberly, who will retire in August following a quarter-century in the Air Force. “Thinking on your feet and having the back of your teammates definitely goes with being in the service.”
For Arleen, who spent 16 years combined in the Marine Corps and the Navy and was stationed in, or took part in military exercises, from Korea and Japan to Norway and Iceland, improv represents freedom.
“It’s way harder than I thought, but rewarding at the same time. I left [class] every week feeling very tired — because it is work — but absolutely exhilarated,” Arleen says.
“Serving our country is such an honor and there’s so much responsibility that comes with it. Programs like this give you the opportunity to put that aside just for a minute and have fun. We speak a language that we all understand and it’s a very safe space.”
* Other WIT instructors who have taught through ASAP include Pete Bergen, Tara Demmy, and Jeff Bollen.
Written by Anna K Nelson
WIT is seeking to raise $30,000 through our Community Fund to cover all of our outreach activities this fiscal year. If you believe in the power of improv to spark creativity and connection, please make a tax-deductible donation. Your contribution, in any amount, will make a difference. Thank you!