Our founder Tiffani Sierra began her journey in 1995 when she transferred to an Arts High School. The arts, specifically Improvisation, had been incredibly freeing for her.

As the survivor of a childhood trauma as well as the survivor of a rare heart disease (which lead to her have heart surgery to replace her Aorta and save her life) she is no stranger to adversity. Tiffani found a home and safety in the arts as a way to express her emotions and discover resilience.

After attending City College in San Francisco and finding a home in the theatre she moved to New York City to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. In 2001, when she attended the Neighborhood Playhouse in NY, She lived on the East Side of Harlem. Kids would come to her stoop on Sundays and rap, tell stories and essentially Improvise. They used the art of storytelling to relieve stress and feel free, which she connected with doing the same. It became clear to her that this art form was more than an expression for actors but also a healing way for people to express their emotions, tell their stories, and unlock the power that was holding them back.

After her time in NYC she made it a part of her mission to bring arts programs to underserved areas so young people could experience the healing affects of the arts. For over 19 years Tiffani has worked for several arts organizations bringing arts programs to underserved youth. She has also worked in Juvenile Halls across California using Improv, Theatre, and Playwriting as a way for young people to express themselves and often heal.

In 2006 while attending The Second City Training Center in Hollywood Tiffani’s mother passed away tragically. Improv became like therapy for her and her way to express herself in a safe environment with people she could trust. She realized that Improv was really a powerful way to freely express yourself, share your personal stories, step into your power, and be without fear of judgement.

Now, drawing on her life experiences, education, and self-development she created Improv It Up in 2016 as a way for people to unlock their true potential, step into their power, break through what is holding them back,  and often find their purpose.

We’re proud to call Improv It Up a Social Enterprise.

Part of what we do involves working with corporations and businesses and the other part is working with Schools.  We are dedicated to positively impacting and transforming the lives of the people we work with. It’s our guiding philosophy that any person who discovers creative self-expression will lead a happier, more successful life. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to positively impact lives with the power of improv.

We are especially dedicated to working with underserved youth and communities. Through the use of Improvisation, writing and Social and Emotional learning, we help young people discover genuine creative expression (often for the first time) and all the life-long benefits that come with it.

We are passionate about teaching people that it’s absolutely, 100% okay to be themselves. Improv makes this possible by peeling away fears of judgment and allowing people to express themselves clearly and concisely. When you own your self-confidence, and believe you have real purpose in this world, your existence, ideas, abilities, and offerings can positively impact your communities.

How does it work?

Our program uses the principles of improv, improv tools, and experiential games and exercises to help students and teams develop into better versions of themselves. Improv It Up’s activities physicalize learning, making it tangible and actionable. It’s great for spatial, kinesthetic, and interpersonal learners because it transforms learning into an exercise of all the senses. Our games are specifically designed to help people see the world from new perspectives, speak from their hearts, take big risks, and value the ideas of others.