I'm Playing It Forward for the NCTC Middle School Play Festival and I hope you will join me by making a donation today! For over two decades, one of the highlights of my year was when I would bring my Martin Middle School Drama Production students to the NCTC Middle School Play Festival. Each year, I saw our students grow as performing artists, as arts advocates, as leaders, and as individuals with broader perspectives, through their experiences with NCTC. For thirteen years, I served on the NCTC Board of Directors and was able to participate in the thought, care, time, commitment, and creative work that go into providing amazing opportunities for our students. I am hoping that you will join me in donating to help NCTC continue to provide opportunities such as play festivals, scholarships, audition and job postings, college auditions and interviews, program recognition, and state-wide professional networking. One of my favorite quotes is by the late U.S. Representative Barbara Jordan, who expressed so well the importance of the arts within our society: “The arts are not a frill.... Art has the potential to unify. It can speak in many languages without a translator. The arts do not discriminate. The arts lift us up.” When you make a donation to the NCTC Middle School Play Festival, you are playing a part in helping to create and maintain experiences that will help students to grow in many ways as artists, as advocates, and as leaders. Thank you!