In the face of some of the wicked societal problems of our time, it's more important than ever that students feel a sense of belonging and connection in their community engagement work. When students belong, they can feel more agency and hope in tackling systemic issues like polarization, climate change, and racial injustice. In this session, you’ll take part in a playful improv activity that you can use with students to laugh, connect, and break the ice. Then, the group will debrief the experience of collective play and its impact on our sense of comfort and belonging. We will wrap up the session with a collective knowledge harvest of best practices for incorporating play and joy in settings with students.