Katie Fuhs spends her days mobilizing Christians to welcome and befriend refugees. But in the evenings, you might just catch her taking an improv class.
Fuhs loves comedy as a personal reprieve, but she’s also found it to be instructive in her humanitarian work. The idea of “yes, and” is the cornerstone of improv. It prompts performers to accept their scene partner’s premise and build upon it.
Similarly, Fuhs says, humanitarian leaders—and anyone who wants to bless their neighbors—can model a “yes, and” approach to caring for others. In “5 Lessons Humanitarian Leaders Can Learn from Improv,” Fuhs describes what it looks like to say “yes” to the stories of others. She illustrates how to move toward people in need with an “and” approach that adds vital dynamics like connection, vulnerable leadership, and playfulness to the relationship.
At first glance, it may seem like comedy and caring for refugees have nothing to do with each other. But, as Fuhs shows, the things that bring us great joy and comfort can be the very things that teach us how to engage the world around us. May we consider what makes us smile, and how it might help us bless our neighbors.
