WIT to continue offering joy and community for federal workers throughout 2025
The DMV is home to a large number of past and present federal employees, including many who are part of the wonderful Washington Improv Theater community. Since the start of the year, WIT has engaged in several outreach initiatives aimed at providing current and former civil servants the chance to be in a welcoming and safe environment, where they can laugh and recharge their batteries. Those efforts, including monthly free workshops, are set to continue until at least the end of the year.
BACK STORY: As a gesture of support amid the downsizing of the federal workforce that began earlier this year, WIT organized a full day of back-to-back workshops in March for anyone wanting to “make space for joy.” That was followed by a free, two-hour, in-person session in July taught by WIT performer Richie Khanh, who is himself a federal employee, that was covered by The New Yorker.
ADAPTABILITY: In the article, WIT’s External Relations Director Dan Miller talks about the ways in which improv skills are really life skills that everyone can benefit from.
“Being able to adapt and respond in the moment? That’s a hugely valuable skill,” he’s quoted as saying. “It’s empowering to realize, ‘I don’t have to follow anybody else’s rules. I don’t have to look at the script’.”
ONGOING COMMITMENT: Over the course of the past few months, WIT has also offered free enrollments in our Level 1 classes to a handful of former federal employees who had lost their jobs due to government cuts.
“It’s gutting to see how demoralized so many people have been by these cuts. We decided to invite folks to take a free class in order to get a dose of much-needed joy,” says Miller. “As a community-based organization that puts people at the heart of everything we do, it just felt right. Everyone at WIT knows that improv is a vehicle for joy and community — and DC needs both of those things urgently.”
FUTURE WORKSHOPS: The outreach has been well received, prompting WIT to schedule monthly free workshops for federal employees until at least the end of the year. The September edition filled up very quickly and the next one, on October 16, is on its way to being fully subscribed as well. The other slated dates are November 20 and December 18. The sessions take place in the evenings at the Potter’s House in Adams Morgan. (Registration opens one month in advance of each workshop.)
IMPROV FOR ALL: WIT also offers regular Improv for All workshops that are open to everyone, as well as ones that are specifically geared toward the LGBTQ+ community (which are generously made possible by the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs), across the city. A list of all of upcoming Improv for All workshops can be found on the website.
WIT’s organizational training arm, known as WIT@Work, is also holding a free online seminar on September 24 called Confident Conversations: Improv for High Stakes Communication.
Image: Participants of the July workshop for federal workers that was led by WIT teaching artist and federal employee Richie Khahn (front row, furthest to the right).