Our Vision?
To create a thriving network of comedians and citizens trained in the art of using comedy to change the world, who actively use humor to address the issues of our time. 
The Problem
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 districted 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).
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The truth is, facts alone aren’t cutting through the noise anymore. To reach hearts and minds, we need something sharper, faster, and funnier.
The Solution? Comedy Catalyst.
The Comedy Catalyst Course is the pilot program that kicks off a new era of comedic advocacy. This isn’t just a class. It’s a movement-building lab where humor meets purpose. By merging Grassroots Comedy’s experience producing cause-driven comedy with Rising Organizers’ expertise in advocacy and community organizing, the course gives participants the tools to transform jokes into action.
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Each week blends comedy technique with organizing fundamentals, from joke-writing and performance to strategy, relationship building, and taking action. The result: original comedic pieces that don’t just entertain but mobilize.
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The Power of Comedy
​Comedy has always been a truth-telling superpower and a way to make people feel something before they change something.
Research backs it up:
  • Viewers of satirical news like The Daily Show report higher political efficacy - meaning they believe they can influence change - than non-viewers.
  • Exposure to political comedy is positively associated with civic participation, even among audiences who otherwise tune out politics.
  • A 2025 AP report found that climate-focused comedy increased awareness and engagement while reducing anxiety about climate change.
From John Oliver helping pressure the FCC on net neutrality, to Samantha Bee elevating women’s voices in politics, to Hannah Gadsby redefining what comedy can do - laughter drives impact.
Okay, but what is it?
This 5-week, hands-on training helps comedians (and those who’ve always wanted to try) harness the power of laughter to advocate for causes that matter. Produced by Grassroots Comedy in partnership with Rising Organizers, it blends comedic craft and advocacy strategy to empower participants to make people laugh and think.
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While stand-up is the primary focus, the program also welcomes sketch writers, improvisers, comedic action-makers, and storytellers - anyone ready to find their comedic voice in service of something bigger than themselves.
Each cohort explores urgent, participant-driven themes, from climate justice to immigrant rights, reproductive freedom, and democracy itself, and is guided by professional comedians, advocacy trainers, and community organizers. Participants develop original comedic material inspired by real-world issues, and will leave the course with a refined "comedy catalyst product" (whether it be a funny stand-up set, a sketch, a song, a story, etc.), fine-tuned to cut through the noise and address what matters while making people laugh. 
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At the end of the course, participants will perform their advocacy-focused comedy in front of a real audience and leave with a professionally recorded video of their set, ready to hit the ground running with getting stage time and building ongoing comedic advocacy content.

And this course is just the beginning. The Comedy Catalyst Program will also include:
  • Comedy Catalyst Workshop: a 2-hour crash course introducing humor for impact.
  • Comedy Catalyst Bootcamp: a 2-day intensive for advocates, nonprofits, and comics eager to learn fast.
  • Future advanced labs and collaborations expanding the reach of comedy as a tool for change.

Special Guest Facilitators
The pilot course of the Comedy Catalyst Course included guest facilitation from Elizabeth Booker Houston, Walter Masterson, Suzanne Lambert, and we'll have another lineup of impressive guests for the 2nd! All standout leaders and influencers at the intersection of comedy, culture, and advocacy. Participants will also learn directly from expert trainers from the Grassroots Comedy and Rising Organizers teams, combining comedy craft with real-world organizing tools.

Cohort 2 Dates & Location
Course Schedule: (all from 6:30-9pm)Tue, June 2 – Class 1 | Tue, June 9 – Class 2 | Tue, June 16 – Class 3 | Tue, June 23 – Class 4 | Tue, June 30 – Class 5
Showcase: Sat, July 11, 6:30pm happy hour, 7:30pm showtime
Location: All programming for Cohort 2 will take place at The Festival Center in Washington, DC.
Tuition & Accessibility
Tuition for the Comedy Catalyst Course is $300 for the full 5-week program. We are actively fundraising to help reduce the cost of future cohorts. For our pilot cohort, need-based discounts of up to $200 off will be available for select participants who are currently experiencing financial hardship and plan to share their lived experiences through comedy.

Grassroots Comedy and Rising Organizers are committed to making this program accessible while ensuring we can fairly compensate our facilitators and produce a high-quality learning experience. Discount requests can be indicated directly in the application.
Help Us Build The Course
Your support helps us pay facilitators and speakers, secure performance and workshop space, and cover technical materials that make this program possible. Because if we can’t save the world…we can at least make it laugh on its way to redemption.
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Donate or sign up today - and help turn laughter into lasting change.

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