Play for Grassroots Activists
Join us for engaging workshops led by experienced facilitators, designed to inspire fresh ideas and foster meaningful connections with grassroots activists from around the globe. Discover the transformative power of play through activities like improvisation, storytelling, movement, and role-playing—tools that will help grassroots leaders and their team members enhance their collaboration, communication, and conceptualization skills. Take advantage of this free opportunity to energize your team and create a lasting impact!
Host
Rita is the Executive Director of the Global Play Brigade and Founder of Street Project Foundation, a grassroots organization focused on youth development in Nigeria. She is an author and thought leader passionate about using play and performance for human development.
Host
Mamiko Miyamoto - Japan
Mamiko is a Linguist with a BA from England and TESOL (MA) from United States. Mamiko’s journey spans English teaching, HR management, and project management in business localization. She is one of the organizers of Applied Improvisation Facilitator Academia (AIFA) in Japan and is passionate about fostering playful learning mindsets in education.
Facilitators and Playshops for Friday
Put On Your Dandelion Glasses: Regeneration through Nature & Play
Experience the world and life through a new perspective! Is the dandelion a weed or a flower? Are things up or down? It’s up to you! Put on your dandelion glasses and bring your playful spirit to explore the cycles of nature to reveal how you and other adults see (and want to see!) the journey of life. Make a wish and blow seeds of change and hope into the world!
Connie Shui-Yi
Facilitator
Nancy Li
Facilitator
Meiko Kojima
Facilitator
Barbara Ann Michaels
Facilitator
Facilitators and Playshops for Saturday
Hikaru Hie - Japan
Hikaru Hie is a Japan-based Edutainer, Applied Improviser, performance activist, professor and social entrepreneur who founded Applied Improvisation Facilitator Academia.
She is a leader of GPB Japan, GPBee (Educator Ensemble) and GPB One Asia Pacific. She is also a certified GPB Ambassador and Certified Applied Improvisation Practitioner.
Click to learn more about the facilitator
Gwen Lowenheim - USA
The Founder and Coordinator of the International Conversation Group & Facilitator Training Programs at Pace University in NYC. She is a learning design specialist, teacher trainer, organizational developer, social entrepreneur and is on the faculty of the East Side Institute. Gwen trains and supervises educators and social entrepreneurs around the world in a performance-based learning approach that brings creativity and innovation into classrooms, organizations and community-based programs. She is also the co-founder of Yes And HigherEd Network.
Click to learn more about the facilitator
We spend so much time teaching what we know, but what if true learning comes from embracing what we don’t? In a world of constant change, relying on old knowledge isn’t enough—we need improvisation, curiosity, and a willingness to explore the unknown. Join educators, students, and change-makers as we use play and performance to rethink learning, adapt to uncertainty, and grow together in ways we never imagined. Let’s step boldly into the unknown—because that’s where possibility lives!
WHAT IS A GLOBAL PLAYSHOP?
Play with strangers across the world
The Global Play Brigade hosts three (s) global events per year as part of our mission to make PLAY mainstream and available to all. So far in 2024, we have hosted Heart and Power; where we focussed on mental health and well being, and Playtelligence; where we explored how play and creativity is necessary for learning, development and education. Every attendee has the option of joining workshops of their choice. Our last Global Playshop was attended by over 200 people from 29 countries, including China, Nigeria, Argentina, Ukraine, Serbia, Israel, Kuwait, Gibraltar, Peru, Japan, and the UK. Will you join to build the movement?
How will it work?
25-minutes - Welcome & playful warm-up exercise
50-minutes - Choose one workshop to attend (see above)
15-minutes - Reflections
30-minutes - Optional Special Event: A Graduation Celebration for the Global Play Brigade’s Ambassador Program. More info coming soon!
NOVEMBER 2024
THEME: CHANGEMAKERS' PLAY FEST
FAQ
I’m super excited to join the workshop! But…What exactly will happen during this workshop?
Thank you for your curiosity! Here’s what’s gonna happen;
1. You will change your Name on Zoom with your first name and country
2. We will tell you about the event
3. We will explain what Global Play Brigade really is
4. We will introduce a lineup of the workshops ready for you
5. You will choose which workshop to join
6. You will join the breakout room for the workshop you’ve chosen
7. You will participate in the workshop for 50 minutes
8. You will come back to the mainroom after the workshop is over
9. We will have a reflection session as a whole
10. We will inform you about next GPB workshop and more events
How to Use Zoom
1. Oh wow…so much to happen!!!!! By the way, How can I change my name on Zoom?
You can hover above your picture until you see the three dots. Click the three dots and you should see the option to rename yourself. If you’re still having trouble, just drop your name and country in the chat.
2. Okay, I think I can do that, thanks. Hmm…How can I join a Breakout Room?
Don’t worry, it’s quite simple. First, please check the descriptions of each workshop above. Once you decide which workshop you’d like to take, you can rename yourself with the number of the breakout room you’d like to join.
Or, if you’re fairly comfortable with Zoom, you can just join the breakout like you usually do.
Here is a video that tells you how to join a breakout room
on zoom. Check it out!
Wonderful! Now I think I am ready. Oh, one more thing! Do you have any language support during the workshop?
Currently we do not have any translation system that supports non-English speaking friends unfortunately…But our facilitators are all globally talented and they can support you in languages like Japanese, Chinese, and Spanish! We hope to purchase an AI translation tool in the future but we need your help to do that. Let us explain more in the workshop!
Help! Where is my join link?
These workshops are virtual and you will need a Zoom link to join.
You will receive the join link in your email after registering on Eventbrite or Zoom.
