A letter from our partner at Nations Urban Ministry:

To the wonderful team at Unscripted Improv:

Thank you for volunteering your time to bring improv to our youth this summer. For our participants—especially those who are extremely shy and fear public speaking—your workshop was a safe space to practice communication in a way that felt playful, not pressured. We all discovered a liberating truth through your workshop: “Mistakes are gifts”.

Sara, your instructor, managed my rambunctious group well. Guiding us through games like Zip Zap Zop, Pass the Clap, Pass the Character, and Continue the Rhyme. She did more than teach improv; she dropped wisdom. Her mantra, “Mistakes are gifts,” helped to dissolve shame, replacing it with playful resilience. Watching teens who’d rarely laughed collapse into giggles (or full-on tear-streaming laughter like me!) was a revelation. It was amazing to witness youth being present in their bodies and practicing intentional eye contact and connection. We learned to embrace discomfort as a catalyst for growth. The games equipped our youth with tools employers value: adaptability, thinking on your feet, collaborating without judgment, and the courage to speak up. Even our quietest participants found themselves engaging and laughing. Through your work, I was reminded that vulnerability is a form of strength. Truly, “Mistakes are gifts” will stick with me as I undo a lifetime of self-doubt.

Thank you for showing our group that communication isn’t about being perfect. It’s about showing up, listening, and sometimes laughing until you cry. Your time here mattered more than you know.

With immense gratitude from the POWER Youth Experience Work Life Skills Interns at Nations Ministry Center.

Diane

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Diane Uwamahoro

Coordinator of Middle School Success