In this 2-cycle journey, participants will explore the power of comedy as a tool for social change, with a special focus on stand-up comedy. From climate change and economic inequality to LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice, and mental health, you’ll learn how to write and perform material that blends humor with meaningful social critique. Through workshops and performance coaching, you’ll develop your own comedic voice.
Discover how satire and personal storytelling can raise awareness, inspire dialogue, and challenge the status quo— all while keeping your audience laughing. By the end of the journey, you’ll have developed a 5 -10-minute stand-up routine that not only entertains but sparks meaningful conversations about the world around us. Comedy is a form of intelligence, whether you’re new to comedy or a seasoned performer, this journey will help you use humor as a force for social impact.
Learning Objectives
- Develop Comedy Writing and Performance Skills
Practice writing and performing stand-up with a focus on social impact. - Understand the Role of Comedy in Social Change
Explore how humor and comedy have been historically used to critique societal issues and drive social movements. Identify current social issues (e.g., inequality, justice, climate change) and learn how to frame them in comedic narratives that engage and inform audiences. - Learn to Write Six Different Types of Jokes for Standup
We’ll demystify different styles of joke writing such as absurdity, understatement, the rule of three, the double down, misplaced sincerity, and observational joke writing. - Balance Humor and Sensitivity
Learn how to use humor responsibly, balancing humor with sensitivity, to avoid reinforcing stereotypes or causing harm while delivering a meaningful message. - Explore Diverse Voices in Stand Up Comedy & Find Your Comedic Voice
Study diverse comedians from various backgrounds who use humor to address social issues, expanding perspectives on comedy’s role in activism. Work on identifying your unique comedic voice and perspective, especially as it relates to social issues you’re passionate about. - Critique and Workshop Comedic Works
Engage in peer review and feedback sessions to refine comedic material, focusing on its effectiveness in conveying social messages. - Produce a Final Comedy Project with a Social Message
Create a final comedic piece (stand-up routine) that addresses a specific social issue, incorporating the techniques and insights learned throughout the journey.
Meet Your TA
Hollie Harper is a South Jersey comedy nerd/writer/actress/content creator. In 2021 she created and co-exec-produced Hella Late! with Hollie Harper on BRIC TV for which she was nominated for best actress at the 2021 NYC Web Fest. She’s a board member of Standup Girls where she teaches standup and sketch comedy and also teaches both for Gold Comedy. She was also a recent semi-finalist in the NBC Standup Competition.
Hollie is a creative consultant for the Black Women in Comedy Laff Fest and The Lake Placid Film Festival and has been featured on NY1, Black Enterprise Magazine, Black SD Magazine, Thrive Global, Confessional Magazine and was profiled on the nationally recognized Motherly podcast.
This past summer she won Best Actress at the Act One, One Act Festival, and her live, sold-out comedy show F.D.K with Emily Flake was selected for this year’s New York Comedy Festival.
Apply Now
Applications for the Spring 2025 Cycle are open!
Priority Deadline: December 31, 2024
Final Deadline: January 15, 2025
Cycle(s) Offered:
Spring 2025 (March-May)
Summer 2025 (July-September)
Please note that this journey runs over 2 cycles and concludes in September 2025.
Time:
4+ hours per month
Areas of Focus:
Comedy Writing, Stand-Up Comedy, Performance Skills for Stand-up, Audience Engagement and Reaction, Finding Core Beliefs, Leadership
Requirements:
- Have at least 2 Pair Sessions per month
- Attend Journey’s Live Meetings
- Complete asynchronous coursework
- Write your own 5-10min stand-up set
- Participate in 2 live comedy shows (1 per cycle)
- Attend 1:1 office hours with Journey Instructor (optional)
The Power of Punchlines Package
As a mentee or mentor in The Power of Punchlines Journey you’ll have access to an online course designed to help you learn about comedy writing as an essential aspect of the humor writing process. You’ll be paired with a mentee or mentor for two full cycle, and you’ll meet with them at least once each month. You’ll attend two Journey Meetings a month and are encouraged to attend monthly Workshopping Studios.
The Power of Punchlines Courses
Participants will be enrolled in two courses during the Power of Punchlines Journey, which spans two cycles: Spring 2025 and Summer 2025. The first course, Intro to Stand-Up Comedy, will take place in the Spring Cycle. The second course, Stand-Up Comedy: Cookin’ & Poppin’, will follow in the Summer Cycle, building on the content from the first course.
Courses:
- Intro to Stand-Up Comedy (Spring)
This course teaches the fundamentals of joke writing, comedic structure, and crafting punchlines. - Stand-Up Comedy: Cookin’ & Poppin’ (Summer)
This course is designed to build on the foundational skills of stand-up by focusing on refining material and delivery.
These courses are offered as a part of this journey package. If you’d like to take a course without joining a journey, click here.
The Power of Punchlines Mentoring
Mentees and mentors in the Humor for Impact Journey will be paired for a minimum of two cycles. Each pair will meet for at least two hour-long sessions per month. Mentees will develop community-based social activism projects, while mentors will provide support and guidance throughout the process. This journey is open to both mentor/mentee pairs and peer-to-peer pairs.
This Journey requires mentees and mentors to commit to 2 per month. If you’d like to mentor but cannot commit to this requirement, click here.
The Power of Punchlines Community Experiences
Participants will attend two Journey Live Meetings each month as part of the course for that cycle. Additionally, you can schedule 1:1 office hours with the Journey Instructor for individual assistance as needed.
Each cycle will conclude with Stand-Up Comedy Shows, where participants can perform their sets for a live audience. There will be one in-person show and one virtual show per cycle.
- Spring Cycle Journey Meetings:
March 8th & 22nd
April 5th & 26th
May 10th & 31st - Spring Cycle Stand-Up Comedy Shows
June 7th and 8th - Summer Cycle Journey Meetings:
July 12th & 26th
August 9th & 23rd
September 6th & 20th - Summer Cycle Stand-Up Comedy Shows
September 27th & 28th
This Journey requires attendance at the Community Experiences noted above. If you’d like to attend Community Experiences but cannot commit to these requirements, click here.
Lead 360 Adventure
The Power of Punchlines Journey is a part of the Lead 360 Adventure.
All journeys within this Adventure emphasize leadership, aiming to help mentees and mentors develop their leadership skills and work together to create a better future. Learn more about the other Adventures offered at Girls Write Now below.
Not ready for a Journey?
If you want to be a part of the Girls Write Now Collaboratory but you aren’t ready to join a Journey, you can participate in individual writing courses, short-term mentoring services, and select community engagement experiences. See all of the options available to you below!
Writing
Take a course without joining a journey, being paired with a mentee or mentor, or attending community experiences.
Mentoring
Meet with a mentee or mentor without joining a journey, accessing writing courses, or attending community experiences.
Community
Attend Community Experiences without joining a journey, being paired with a mentee or mentor, or accessing writing courses.