History
June 2020, three and a half months after Covid had spread all over the world
When was the GPB founded?
“Historically, pandemics have forced humans to break with the past and imagine their world anew. This one is no different. It is a portal, a gateway between one world and the next. We can choose to walk through it, dragging the carcasses of our prejudice and hatred, our avarice, our data banks and dead ideas, our dead rivers and smoky skies behind us. Or we can walk through lightly, with little luggage, ready to imagine another world. And ready to fight for it.” by Arundhati Roy, April 2021
What powerful essay inspired and defined the GPB when we started?
We use play across borders to build community and connection, creating new possibilities for social change.
What is the GPB Mission Statement?
Heart and Power (Mental Health), Playtelligence (Education) and to-be-named Grassroots Activism
What are the themes of GPB’s global gatherings for 2024?
About 15,000 from 99
How many people from how many countries have participated in GPB workshops since we began?
Our first collectively improvised poem, with participation by Brigadiers from Bangladesh, Nicaragua, France, the Philippines, South Africa, Morocco, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Germany, China, Australia, New Zealand, India, Turkey, Nepal, Mexico, Nigeria, Israel, Japan, Bosnia, Brazil, Tanzania, Canada, Pakistan
What is the Ode to Frontline Workers?
The East Side Institute (ESI), the Applied Improvisation Network (AIN), Performance of a Lifetime (POAL), Performing the World (PTW), Play, Perform, Learn, Grow (PPLG)
Which organizations and communities provided most of the early activists with the Global Play Brigade?
She’s the founder and visionary of The Street Project Foundation in Nigeria, an author, a Nelson Mandela fellow, a creative culturalist and communications expert.
Who is Rita Ezenwa-Okoro?
In 2021, the GPB raised $3000 and provided regular emotional support groups on zoom and WhatsApp in support of these youth activists fighting against police brutality.
How did the GPB support young people in Nigeria?
576
How many GPB free workshops have we offered as of today?
To support our fellow human beings to grow and develop through the Covid crisis as we all dealt with fear, isolation, grief, anger, and confusion
Why was the Global Play Brigade formed?
75 play activists, educators, therapists, clowns, coaches, dancers, musicians and actors from 35 countries
Who and how many people co-founded the Global Play Brigade?
One Asia (Japan, China, India, Australia), Latin America (Brazil, Nicaragua, Mexico), the US, about to be Africa (Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa)
Where are the regional hubs of the Global Play Brigade?
The workshop Embracing Uncertainty, along with YAHE, the Yes And Higher Education Network in January, 2024.
What did the GPB Educator Salon co-present at the Learning Planet Festival?
Almost 200 people, from 23 countries joined this GPB event in early 2024
How many people attended the Heart and Power playshops from how many countries?
The founder of the Global Play Brigade, CEO Emerita of Performance of a Lifetime, performance activist, author, executive coach, actor, singer, improviser and social entrepreneur.
Who is Cathy Salit?
The grassroots and academic project utilizing play in community, educational and political engagement in Sao Paolo, Brazil inspired by the Global Play Brigade.
What are the Brincadas?
One of our important partner organizations with the mission that includes “to reinitiate development & growth in persons suffering from mental illness, rehabilitate them socially & economically, fight against the stigma prevalent in society & also help to fight for their human rights.”
What is Turning Point?
¿Puedes jugar con ser un matón? (Can you play with being a bully?)
What was one of the exercises led by GPB Latin America in their playshop for men?
Current events: This Nigerian newspaper recently covered a Global Play Brigade Africa launch meeting of almost 50 people from Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda.
What is Brandtimes?
In January of 2020, he requested that Cathy Salit and Marian Rich provide improvisation sessions online for people in China in lockdown, in what would become an inspiration for launching GPB
Who is Cheng Zeng?
Making history: We have been invited by this high-profile organization to present at an upcoming global conference in Portugal.
Who is the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (the UNAOC)?
A new group that is made up of people who contribute between $2500 - $25,000 US to the Global Play Brigade.
What is the GPB Circle of Friends?
Behind the scenes: A group that is responsible for innovating and brainstorming about GPB activities, including the upcoming Play Generator.
What is The Imagination Team?
About 125 Brigadiers
How many people are currently active volunteers with the Global Play Brigade?