Paula C. Dirkes, Vintage Improvisation Detroit
http://www.vintageimprovisationdetroit.com
Biography
Paula Dirkes designs and delivers online or offline programs that get results! She spent 25 years in health education and corporate wellness and the last 15 years as an entrepreneur. Paula combines her unique background as an improvisational theater actor and facilitator, with her Masters Degree in Adult Instruction and Human Performance Improvement to deliver innovative programs that POP for your audience. She is a member of the Applied Improvisation Network – a global group of business owners, practitioners and educators who apply the principles of improvisational theater to build connection and address challenges.
Paula’s adult instruction path includes: Health Promotion & Wellness trainer at both General Motors and Chrysler Motors and Speakers Bureau presenter for William Beaumont Hospital in metro Detroit. She designed and developed two powerful experiential learning programs entitled Into Aging Simulation (to teach empathy for older adult patients and customers) and also The First 90 Days: Walking in a New Hire’s Shoes (to teach empathy for new nurses and reduce turnover in a hospital system).
As a social entrepreneur, Paula is the author of three books to help attract adults to the youth mentoring cause. She inspired public groups and motivated volunteer mentor groups over an 11-year period while mentoring three girls herself.
In 2019 Paula launched Vintage Improvisation Detroit to share ‘smart thinking’ skills and joy with older adults through improvisational theater games. Her specialty is adapting short ‘Whose Line’ TV show- type improvisation games to meet the diverse needs of seniors in independent living, assisted living, memory care and rehabilitation facilities. Paula is a graduate of the Second City Improvisation Theatre Conservatory and local actor and facilitator.
Whether your goal is employee engagement, stress management, addressing compassion fatigue, volunteer motivation, team building, meaningful connection or old-fashioned FUN, Paula has a diverse ‘toolbox’ from which to pull ideas for your next program experience.
Paula cannot wait to create an unforgettable experience for you, your residents and/or your team! The world is changing – let’s improvise!
Our Vision is:
To set the standard for positive, engaging events that help communities thrive.
At Improvisation Detroit,
Our Mission is:
To build joyful connection, community and collaboration wherever we work employing the power of improvisation theater.