If you’ve ever seen improv comedy, you know it’s about quick thinking, collaboration, and embracing the unexpected. For Ardsley Park resident Bess Ratsimbaharison, those same principles are helping at-risk youth in Savannah learn important life skills through an innovative program called Front Porch A.C.T.S.

Bess has been a facilitator with Front Porch A.C.T.S. for the past two years. With her background in both theater and working with youth, the program was a perfect fit from the start. “We get to be fun and silly with kids while also teaching meaningful life skills,” she shares. “At a time when young people are facing increasing levels of stress and anxiety, it’s incredibly rewarding to give them tools they can use to navigate challenges, build resilience, and connect with others in healthy ways.”

A collaboration between Front Porch Improv and Brightside Advocacy, Front Porch A.C.T.S. is a trauma-informed, evidence-based program designed to help youth strengthen skills like managing big emotions, working through conflicts, bouncing back from setbacks, and communicating effectively. Using improv games, role-play, and creative collaboration, the program delivers serious life lessons in a fun, low-pressure environment.

Bess’s whole family has gotten in on the mission. Her husband and children have pitched in at various fundraisers, including the annual Wing-a-Thon at Starland Yard. Her 10-year-old son is already training for the 2026 competition, determined to beat the current record of 41 wings!

Ardsley Park neighbors can support Front Porch A.C.T.S. in a few ways—by volunteering as an instructor, joining a fundraiser, or bravely competing in the Wing-a-Thon themselves. “We’re always looking for passionate people who want to work with youth and support mental health,” Bess says. “And if teaching isn’t your thing, we’d love to see you at our events.”

For Bess, her work with Front Porch A.C.T.S. ties directly into what she loves most about Savannah—its sense of connection. “Every time I drive down Washington Avenue, I feel so lucky to live here,” she says. “It’s beautiful, and it’s a place where people truly look out for one another.”