Johns Hopkins Bloomberg American Health Initiative Grant - Improv Teacher and Student Program

Funder: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg American Health Initiative (Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health)

A one-time research grant supporting BCP's improv program, which uses improvisational techniques as life and problem-solving skills in the classroom and in Restorative Practices.

Program Background

In summer 2023, Todd Wade (Director of Restorative Practices at City Springs Elementary/Middle) partnered with Ego Nwodim (actor from Saturday Night Live) to develop an improv program that complements BCP's Restorative Practices model—a community-centered, collaborative problem-solving approach BCP pioneered nearly 30 years ago.

Grant Purpose

The grant funds a year-long evaluation study to:

• Assess how BCP educators incorporate improv techniques into lesson plans and classroom activities
• Conduct in-person interviews and digital surveys with participating faculty
• Interview students in the Improv Club about social and emotional learning benefits
• Generate evaluation data to inform potential scaling to Baltimore City Schools and other districts

Improv Club Details

• Launch: 2024-2025 school year at City Springs Elementary/Middle
• Participants: 20 students from 4th-7th grade (after-school program)
• Activities: Improv circles evolving into scene work
• Goal: Student performance in front of faculty and students by end of year
• Expansion Plans: Goal to add Improv Clubs to other BCP schools

Research Leadership

• Principal Investigator: Beth Marshall, DrPH., MPH, Associate Practice Professor, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health and Center for Adolescent Health
• Co-Investigator: Todd Wade, Director of Restorative Practices, City Springs Elementary/Middle

Award Focus Areas

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg American Health Initiative has five focus areas; this grant falls under adolescent health.

Program Impact & Benefits

Expected outcomes include:

• Increased student engagement, confidence, and communication skills
• Improved interpersonal skills
• Enhanced social and emotional learning
• Greater joy and connection in classrooms
• Potential broader implementation across school systems

Geographic Scope: Maryland (Baltimore) - BCP schools

Grant Award Process

• Grant Type: Mid-year grant award
• Application: Grant application written by Todd Wade and Beth Marshall
• Award Announcement: Winter 2024-2025
• Award Date: Funded as of February 2025

Note: This was a competitive mid-year grant from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg American Health Initiative. Specific application procedures for future grants would need to be obtained from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.