WASHINGTON — Amid the backdrop of rising social challenges, a small but determined group of comedians in Washington, D.C. has found a unique way to drive impact: through laughter. Since its inception in late 2016, Grassroots Comedy has raised over $65,000 for various local charities, leveraging humor as their weapon of choice against adversity.
Co-Founder and Executive Director of Grassroots Comedy Chris Blackwood and Creator and Director of the "You Belong On Stage" incubator program Dana Fleitman sat down with WUSA to talk about what role humor plays in shining a light on social injustice.
Blackwood, a DMV native originally from Arlington, explained that his interest in comedy brings him all the way back to Kindergarten, where he recalls a specific memory.
"I was on the playground, and up until that point I had been a troublesome little kid," Blackwood said. "I had ADHD, I would run around, I would be a menace. I would knock down other kids' block towers. I was pretty much always in trouble, and I think it was because I wanted the attention. And I remember this moment I was on the playground, and I said or did something that made everyone laugh. And for the first time ever, everyone was paying attention to me, but I wasn't in trouble."
The comedian said from this moment on, he was always trying to tell jokes and make others laugh. Humor became a part of his identity. But it wasn't until 2007 that Blackwood first got on stage to perform.
Blackwood said he got his start at a bar he frequented on Wednesdays for happy hour that hosted an open mic.
“So many people on this list of open mic performers were just so bad and I thought to myself, 'Oh I could be one of these bad people and I could probably be less bad than a lot of them.'"
It was a sentiment many people can probably relate to.
From that point on, Blackwood started performing regularly and eventually co-founded what is now known as Grassroots Comedy.
Blackwood describes Grassroots as a nonprofit that sits an the intersection of comedy and advocacy.
"We use comedy as a tool to educate, engage, and involve the public on various causes in need," he said.
He explains the causes the nonprofit supports aren't necessarily fun issues to talk about, which is where comedy comes in.
"I don't know if anyone is really excited to talk about school shootings and gun violence prevention or to talk about abortion rights or the current state of affairs in the country," Blackwood said. "These are not fun and sexy things to talk about, but if they are packaged in a joke. Even if it is a joke that even tangential touches on a subject. That's an entry point."
He says when people start laughing, it helps open up the door for a conversation about these touchy subjects.
"When we hear an argument that we disagree with, we shut down," Blackwood said. "Walls come up in our head and we just wait to respond and explain why that person is wrong. Or we just check out of the conversation all together. But if that same information is shared in a joke, those defenses stay down. And instead you are just trying to understand the joke."
He says that opens things up to having a dialogue.
Grassroots Board Member Haywood Turnipseed Jr. said when the group first came together, he was more than excited to get involved.
"First off, they are funny people," Turnipseed said. "And you want funny people to be like 'you want to come to my party?' hell yes."
Turnipseed explained it was a no brainer to join as this was the audience he already enjoyed speaking with.
"Let's have a party, let's make this fun," he said.
Grassroots was inspired by the 2016 presidential election.
"There was a national election that we all hoped was a dream, and then it wasn't," Blackwood said. "And we were like 'there's not enough Xanax to go around to cope with this, what do we do?' And we were like let's do what we know which is comedy."
Grassroots kicked off with a bang—an uproarious comedy show for Planned Parenthood just before the 2017 Women's March. It sold out in 24 hours. Soon after, the group came together again and did a show for immigrant rights, then for Black Lives Matter, and then for climate action—all sold-out successes. Fast forward to now, Grassroots has raised about $65,000 and counting for various causes.
Blackwood said his dream for the future of Grassroots is to see it expand and become self-sufficient. As a new nonprofit established in 2023 (the ultimate D.C. flex), he emphasizes the organization's need for support to grow and this includes it's incubator program launched just about a year ago.
Blackwood says the "You Belong on Stage" incubator program is a great way to get started in comedy and is currently run by Dana Fleitman.
Fleitman clarifies that the program welcomes women and nonbinary individuals who are comedy newcomers, offering them a launching pad. She describes the incubator program as a class with occasional lectures, but is mostly about getting your hands dirty in the workshop.
"The idea is that you're leaving with a strong set. That you are leaving with friends that you can keep doing comedy with and go out to mics. As well as a good video of you doing comedy, a comedy bio, and connections to some more experienced folks," Fleitman said.
While comedy classes have long been an option, Fleitman stresses her incubator program's unique importance. She pointed out that despite the DMV's vibrant comedy scene and a diverse array of talented comedians, most open mics still feature a sea of white guys. Her program is about bringing more diversity and perspectives to the stage.
"It's intimidating to start standup. It's intimating for anyone," said Fleitman. Adding that this may resonate particularly with those who are underrepresented.
One student involved in the first cohort of the incubator program, Rosalie Rubio, echoed this sentiment. Rubio said she always wanted to do stand up and was involved in the scene as an audience member for a long time before ever taking the stage.
"I was afraid to try comedy," Rubio said. "I didn't know where to start. I was afraid to go to an open mic on my own."
Rubio said she was drawn to the incubator program after learning about it through Grassroots' Instagram. She said her experience with the program was incredible and she enjoyed the sense of community it gave her.
"I never felt like I was trying something so vulnerable by myself," Rubio said.
Fleitman highlights how daunting it is for women to take the stage when they don't see others like them up there. That's why diversity matters.
When asked if she has ever felt personally ostracized, she giggled and replied, "yeah...it's pretty wild just being not a dude in comedy. I think that if you talk to any woman or nonbinary comic they are going to have stories that can range from 'this is kinda an awkward moment I didn't love' all the way up to sexual violence. No one is experiencing none of that."
Fleitman then reflected on her comedic beginnings, noting how audiences often mistook her for someone's plus-one instead of the main act. She vividly remembers a show where she stood out as the lone woman in a lineup of men. The host, attempting to address the lack of diversity, awkwardly proclaimed something along the lines of, "We need more women comedians, regardless of appearance!" Without hesitation, she launched her set with a fearless quip poking fun at the host and her own situation.
During our interview, Fleitman also points out that as a minority, you're automatically the spokesperson for your entire category, which is all women in comedy. So, without being asked she was charged with representing the whole.
Fleitman shared that she's heard countless heartbreaking comments from other women, like those who compliment her show and then add that they don't usually find women funny. She finds it sad because these women have internalized some seriously negative ideas about who can be funny. Adding, that it's obvious that they also just haven't seen enough women and nonbinary people on stage because there are so many funny people.
Her goal with the incubator program is to get more women and nonbinary people on stage. Anyone who would like to join can do so by filling out an application that includes sending in a video of yourself either doing comedy, telling a story, or generally doing something that represents yourself. Fleitman says no previous stage experience is required and you can also nominate a friend.
Out of the applications submitted, 10 will be selected per cohort in order to keep class sizes small.
When asked about the future of the incubator program, Fleitman said she would like to see it grow beyond herself. She said she realizes she is not always the right person to be leading, and emphasized the need for other diverse perspectives to take charge. She sees future spinoffs for more targeted groups in the future.
To learn more about Grassroots Comedy and their "You Belong on Stage" incubator program, visit GrassrootsComedy.org or connect with them on social media:
Instagram: @grassrootscomedydc
Facebook: @grassrootscomedydc
X, formerly known as Twitter: @grassrootsfunny
YouTube: @grassrootscomedy1909
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