Lead Facilitator: Saya Jenks

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Saya Jenks (she/her) is an arts educator, facilitator, and researcher based in Seattle, WA. She designs and facilitates workshops for people looking to strengthen their communication, collaboration, and innovation.

As a lead facilitator with On Deck Workshops, Saya has led workshops for clients including Bloomberg, Google, Flatiron Health, Covington & Burling, Moloco Ads, the d.school at Stanford University, the UC Berkeley School of Journalism, and more. Saya also works with the Miranda Fellows at The Public Theater to train early-career theatre professionals from historically underrepresented backgrounds. She has taught theatre in PreK-12 classrooms, at the undergraduate and graduate level at New York University, and in many community settings, from after-school programs to adult education classes.

Saya is currently working on her dissertation as a PhD student in NYU’s Program in Educational Theatre. Her research explores culturally responsive theatre pedagogy in Asian American communities. Her work has been published in Teaching Artist Journal and ArtsPraxis. Saya has worked as a research assistant on projects exploring the use of theatre as a way to prevent discrimination in healthcare, a means of promoting democratic civil discourse, and as a way to investigate nonprofit organizations’ impact.

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Saya cares about strengthening social infrastructure, developing culturally responsive and arts-infused education practices, and saying hi to every dog she sees.

Learn more at sayajenks.com

Assistant Facilitator: Abbie Brasch

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Abbie took their first improv class at iO theater in Chicago in 2023 hoping it would help with their anxiety and ended up falling in love with it and completing the entire long-form improv program at iO.

Improv has helped Abbie find her voice, trust herself and connect with others on a deeper level. She believes that the healing power of improv can save the world. They are excited to facilitate IRL alongside Saya and help others to get out of their comfort zone, access their inner child and make new friends through improv.

Outside of improv, Abbie is a massage therapist, astrologer, and cat mom who moved to Seattle with her husband earlier this year.

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Community Partner: UHeights Center

The University Heights Center, located in the heart of the U-District, promotes life-long learning, creativity, culture, community activism, and the preservation of their historic building.

UHeights Center offers community services ranging from free classes like Zumba and creative writing, to services for unhoused residents living in their vehicles, to reduced-cost rental space for community-serving organizations.

IRL Improv is honored to partner with UHeights Center to present our Summer 2025 workshops!

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Get in touch

Interested in bringing IRL to your community? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly.

Or, send an email to irlimprov@gmail.com.

Can’t wait to hear from you!