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  • The Power of Punchlines: Stand-Up Comedy for Change (Summer 2025)

Summer 2025

The Power of Punchlines: Stand-Up Comedy for Change

In this 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.

The-Power-of-Punchlines

Apply Here

Deadline: April 30, 2025

Apply Here

Apply Here

Deadline: April 30, 2025

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.

Apply Here
  • Cycle(s) Spring 2025 (March-May) & Summer 2025 (July-September). Please note that this journey runs over 2 cycles and concludes in September 2025. New participants may join for the summer cycle only.
  • 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
  • Available Spots Per Cycle 20

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.
Writing

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.

 

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

    New participants may join for the summer cycle only.

  • Summer Cycle Journey Meetings:
    July 12th & 26th
    August 9th & 23rd
    September 6th & 20th
  • Summer Cycle Stand-Up Comedy Shows
    September 27th & 28th
Journey Circle: Community

Lead 360 Adventure

The Power of Punchlines Journey is a part of the Lead 360 Adventure.

Learn more about the other Adventures offered at Girls Write Now below.

See All Adventures

Find Your Journey

Find Your Journey

Civil Discourse: Connection & Persuasion (Summer 2025)

Our words can change minds and the world. Discover what you can do with yours… Mentees will learn how to persuade audiences on issues that matter to them. By the end of the journey, they will not only gain confidence in self-expression and analytical thinking but also develop and deliver a final speech that showcases their growth in civil discourse and persuasive communication.

Civil Discourse Connection & Persuasion; two girls speaking with a mic

Multimedia Tour (Summer 2025)

Explore all of the topics that Girls Write Now has to offer with mini courses, exploratory studios, and one-on-one pair sessions. Discover new skills and build on existing ones with courses and experiences that touch on a range of topics from horror writing to journalism to publishing and much more! Ideal for mentees who enjoy working across multiple genres or are focused on specific projects, this journey offers the flexibility to tailor your learning experience to your individual needs. With a focus on adaptability, this program allows you to balance exploration with dedicated time for your independent projects, providing a comprehensive yet customizable Journey. Great for mentees who are not committed to one medium or who enjoy working in multiple mediums at once.

Multimedia-Tour
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