In the fall of 2016, I was in a meeting at a new corporate banking job. I asked a question and was promptly shushed by my supervisor who was sitting next to me. She actually turned to me as I asked the question and loudly said, “Shh!” Being at the table in a boardroom does not give one the right to speak, apparently. If someone was going to Shh me for asking a question - and I was a grown woman with multiple degrees and 20 years of experience - then others were definitely being silenced all over the place. And those people, young people in particular, may not have the tools to bounce back easily. To turn this negative experience into a tool for learning, The Adventures of Shh! unfolded as the first project of OlioEd.

 

“Shh” is a sound we all know. It is used to soothe a child who is upset, to help quiet someone who is making noise that isn’t appropriate for the space or time or to help not ruin a surprise. The gesture of holding a finger in front of one’s lips is well known for meaning “Shh” and is ironically, a silent mechanism to silence. Using “Shh” in these ways can be helpful or a tool for learning.

 

However, there are times when “Shh” can be hurtful - when it is used disrespectfully or as a mechanism for control. When “Shh” is used in a domineering way or used to put others in their place, it can be particularly damaging to creative expression, personal truths and self-esteem. In such instances, “Shh” can take on other forms like an eye-roll, a heavy sigh, or an interruption, and is often used to dismiss people whose ideas you dislike or disagree with.

 

“The Adventures of Shh!” follows Tasha and Tarek, an investigative team that sets out to find various forms of “Shh” in everyday life, highlights scenarios when “Shh” can helpful and hurtful, and reveals empowering ways to regroup, regain your mojo and respond with dignity.