Comedy Catalyst Course
In 2026, Grassroots Comedy and Rising Organizers are teaming up to launch something totally new: a training experience that uses comedy not just to entertain, but to cut through the noise, spark understanding, and move people toward action. Applications are open now and due January 30th. Please read the application thoroughly for pricing and scholarship opportunities.
The Comedy Catalyst Course is a 5-week, hands-on program that teaches comedians (and the comedy-curious) how to use humor as a tool for advocacy, civic engagement, and social change. Participants learn from professional comedians, organizers, and advocacy trainers to create comedic contentwork that makes people laugh, think, and act. This opportunity is exclusively available for residents of the DC metro area, and will encourage focus on local challenges (or opportunities…) such as DC statehood and autonomy, immigration, and more.
This course is designed to bring funny people into the world of social change, and activists into the world of comedy for a purpose. We will focus on how to use comedy, humor, satire, and irony to highlight and progress social change. By approaching political issues in these new ways, participants will learn to break through the noise of daily politics and advocate for the issues that matter to them in new, innovative ways.
Why Comedy?
Let’s be honest: things in our democracy kind of… suck right now. On the issue-based level, every right and safety seems to be at risk, including our right to talk about it. At the same time, misinformation is everywhere, and partisan echo chambers are louder than ever. We're also more distracted than ever. Thanks to the gift of social media algorithms, most attention spans are down to just over 8 seconds (which is, indeed, shorter than that of a goldfish).
The truth is, facts alone aren’t cutting through the noise anymore. To reach hearts and minds, we need something sharper, faster, and funnier. Research this up:
Exposure to issue-based political satire significantly increased individuals’ likelihood of taking political action
A 2025 AP report found that climate-focused comedy increased awareness and engagement while reducing anxiety about climate change.
About the Program
Each week blends comedic technique with organizing fundamentals:
Week 1 — Foundations of Comedy & Advocacy | Understanding what comedy does, why people laugh, and the role humor plays in social change.
Week 2 — The Mechanics of Humor & Organizing | Pattern recognition, joke structure, and the basics of community organizing.
Week 3 — Building Connection Through Comedy & Community | Relationship-building, storytelling, and improv for advocacy.
Week 4 — From Ideas to Action | Workshopping jokes and applying organizing principles to comedic messaging.
Week 5 — Refinement & Performance Prep | Sharpening material, strengthening delivery, and preparing for showtime.
Conclusion — Final Showcase | A live performance where participants debut their work for a real audience, and walk away with a professionally recorded video of their set.