Comedy Edutainment
Program
Comedy is a form of Cultural Arts
Comedy and onstage performances have provided an unparalleled magnetism for metro Atlanta youth, motivating them toward STEAM education, where little or no interest existed before.
Our Impact
A large body of neuroscience research confirms that humor systematically activates the brain’s dopamine reward system (Journals.physiology.org, 2017), and cognitive studies show that dopamine is important for both goal-oriented motivation and long-term memory (National Library of Medicine, 2017). Why this matters? Correctly used humor can be an effective intervention to improve academic retention in students from kindergarten through college.
Also, the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) surveyed high school students nationwide in 2018 on how to increase student interest, understanding, and performance in math and STEM subjects. The results of the study showed that over half of responding students want teachers to be more creative in the classroom.
While adjusting curriculums to add creativity may be a challenge for the K-12 educational system, this is not the case for community-based organizations, like K.E.E.P. We were established to correct imbalances in education attainment, and we understand that real-world relevance mixed with humor are the two ingredients needed to do that. We are also a nimble organization with the creative latitude to actualize our goals. As a result, our out-of-the-box comedic teaching methods, we have increased STEAM engagement and interest among thousands of disadvantaged youths in Atlanta since 2019.
Note: STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and STEAM are often used interchangeable.
All Star "BigHead" Cortez Macklin
Cortez Macklin is a young stand-up comedian and actor from Chicago. He revealed in an interview with “DJ Small Eyez” that he was adopted as a child due to his biological parents being drug addicts. He’s been doing stand-up comedy for seven years now, hitting the stage for the first time at age 14. Comedy became a passion after Cortez joined a youth program called “Phat Kids Comedy”, which was run by Tyler Perry’s very own Quincy Bonds of K.E.E.P. Inc.
From there, Cortez learned how to better develop his writing and improv skills. After graduating from the program, he’s since known that comedy is his life’s passion. In February 2019, he starred in a online series titled The Real Dumbass World, which is available on the Zeus Network.
Comedy is a form of Cultural Arts with universal attraction.
Comedy is a form of Cultural Arts with universal attraction. For this reason, the power of comedy and onstage performances has provided an unparalleled magnetism for metro Atlanta youth, motivating them toward STEAM education, where little or no interest existed before. The whole idea behind this cultural arts program is to use comedy entertainment as a gateway to STEAM for disadvantaged youth; helping them apply real-world relevance underscored by humor to increase academic engagement while making learning fun.
We understand that we’re dealing with a generation of streetwise, tech and social media-savvy kids, so teaching and engagement has to involve much more than simply imparting knowledge. Imparting lasting knowledge involves creating a welcoming space and connecting with kids in meaningful and memorable ways, so they retain information, build on it, and use what they’ve learned to move forward in school, careers, and life.
help fuel innovation, and efforts to expand educational opportunities∗
K.E.E.P. - Kids - Education - Entertainment - Program
Humor FAQ's
Here’s how humor benefit young people:
- Humor improves student performance by attracting and sustaining attention, reducing anxiety, enhancing participation, and increasing students’ motivation for learning (Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI APA study, 2018).
- Having a sense of humor plays an important role in developing self-esteem, learning to problem solve, and honing social skills (Kidskingdom.ca, 2019).
- Humor helps kids develop resilience, protecting them from mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.
- Humor activates the brain’s dopamine reward system, stimulating goal-oriented motivation and long-term memory, which means that humor can improve retention in students of all ages (Edutopia.org, 2015).
- When we laugh, our brain activates its ventromedial prefrontal cortex, and we get to enjoy these health benefits regardless of our age, race, or cultural demographic:
- Reduced stress, anxiety, and depression
- Improved sleep.
- Prevent heart disease
- Released endorphins—also known as the feel-good hormones.
Humor and laughter are also beneficial to our physical health.
- Reduced stress hormones
- Lowered blood pressure and blood sugar levels
- Improved circulation
- Increased oxygen intake
- Re-energized body
- Relaxed muscles
- Massaged abdominal organs and improved functioning
- Improved digestion
- Strengthened immune system
- Increased tolerance to pain
- Increased smiling—which also triggers a part of our brain that boosts our moods.
Summer Camp
S.T.E.A.M
Science. Technology. Engineering. Arts. & Mathematics.
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Our Social Media
Follow us on social media and see us liven up learning using comedy, arts and science to increase literacy, communication, and critical thinking skills that will aid youth in becoming empowered creators of tomorrow.
