I’m frustrated by my seeming inability to reach the numbers of people I’d like to reach with humane education. Twenty years ago, I began regularly visiting schools and colleges, giving humane education presentations on pressing global issues. Within a few years, I was reaching about 10,000 people a year. I co-founded the Institute for Humane Education in large part to increase the numbers of people exposed to humane education. Our thinking was that if we trained other people to be humane educators we could reach so many more. And we have. But twenty years later, the numbers are still too small. Comprehensive humane education has yet to become integrated into schools and curricula on a large scale, and our educational system has moved even further from critical and creative thinking and problem-solving and toward more standardized test-testing.What will it take to spread humane education issues and inspire more solutionaries for a better world? Well, I have a new idea, and I welcome your thoughts on it. Among my favorite things is improvisational comedy. I love attending improv performances, and it seems I’m not alone. Our local improv theater is often sold out. Who doesn’t enjoy laughing? I also happen to love participating in improvisation. So I think it’s time to embark on a new approach: humane education entertainment.
I’m ‘entertaining’ the idea of creating a show to take on the road that’s part stand-up, part monologue, part improv – with some visuals thrown in – that will be funny, moving, occasionally intense, and consistently thought-provoking, bringing humane education themes of human rights, environmental preservation, animal protection, and issues of culture and change into the realm of entertainment.
My goal is that instead of 25 people showing up for one of my “talks,” I’ll have at least 100 for each of my “shows” with gigs lined up across the U.S. and Canada. My hope is that people will come to be entertained, as well as inspired and engaged.
What do you think? Would you bring me to your city? Do you have any ideas or suggestions as I embark upon this plan?
Thanks in advance for any feedback!
Zoe Weil
Author of Most Good, Least Harm, Above All, Be Kind and Claude and Medea
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1 comments:
I think you are correct in that humor seems to reach a wider audience, even while addressing the same truths. I would only caution you to remain true to yourself while you embark on this journey- there are already plenty of "truth-telling" comedians out there, but fewer individuals who try to provide the tools for us to find the truth for ourselves. It's easier to laugh in the face of challenge (reactive), but it's more difficult to actually change the things that challenge us (proactive).
Remember also, you may be reaching more people than you realize- individuals like me who may not give you immediate feedback, but who have tried to take your message to heart and in our own ways tried to bring the idea of humane education to others.
I hope that made sense, and I wish you much luck in discovering what works for you! And, yes, please come to the Pacific NW!
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