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About Alissa
Alissa Janchenko is a 20-plus year veteran of library service and coach of Quarried Away Improv. She, together with her partner, founded Limestone Stage Community Theatre in 2014. Alissa uses her unique skill combination of public service and performance to build training sessions designed to empower, inform and entertain.
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She has presented at the Illinois Youth Services Institute (2023), Illinois Library Association Annual Conference (2024) and has been published in Careers in Library and Information Services: First-Hand Accounts from Working Professionals from Bloomsbury Press.
Let's talk!
Why improv?
1
Team Communication
The basic skills learned in improv training help people feel more confident in their verbal and nonverbal communication.
2
Comfort with the Unknown
The concept of "yes, and" helps to empower staff to tackle situations of any nature that might come up in daily work and life.
3
Team Engagement
It's scientifically proven that laughing together strengthens social bonds. Using improv ice breakers boosts team engagement and fosters collaboration.
Trainings We Provide
Improv for Customer Service
Working with the public is a daily exercise in improv! From storytime mishaps to patron complaints, Yes& can provide tools that help empower frontline staff to give their best customer service!
Team Building
& Belonging
At Yes&, we believe team building is critical to the success of organizations of all sizes! We offer exercises and games that can be tailored to your team's size, needs and abilities. From not-your-average ice breakers to thought activities that spur collaboration, we can build YOUR team building.
Tackling Tough Topics
Fear of the unknown can ripple through teams even in the best of times. The current social climate adds to the unease - by utilizing specific skills learned through improv training, staff are more empowered to have difficult conversations with patrons - and each other.
Joy As an Act of Resilience
Public servants are facing increasing pressure, and burnout is happening faster than ever. Using improv games and skills to build a basis for daily laughter helps to weaponize whimsy!
Custom Trainings
Not sure where to start on the training journey? Do you have specific issues to address or goals to accomplish? Reach out for a personalized consultation.
Client Testimonials
"The presentation and hands-on training provided by Alissa was the highlight of our Staff Engagement Day. Alissa's engaging communication style and readiness to adapt to what our library needed made the whole staff feel included. I have seen staff members using the techniques we learned that day to improve communication and diffuse tense situations."
Kara DeCarlo, Orland Park Public Library
"I have had the opportunity to collaborate with Alissa both on the improv stage and in professional presentations focused on integrating improv techniques into the workplace. Her dedication to her craft is impressive, but it is surpassed by her exceptional commitment to supporting and engaging the participants in her workshops."
Adam Woodworth, Executive Director
The Children's Museum in Oak Lawn
“I attended Alissa’s improv training session at ILA, it was fun and very informative. Her improv lessons are a great tool for staff who often have to think on their feet when navigating tricky customer interactions.”
Ellen Fitzgerald, Library Manager
Naperville Public Library