PozCast is a podcast from TMJ4 News and Positively Milwaukee, hosted by Shannon Sims.
PozCast focuses on everyday individuals creating opportunity, overcoming adversity and improving lives. They're not seeking the spotlight. They're seeking change that's Positively Milwaukee.
Episode 12: At First Stage, one of their guiding principles is learning life skills through stage skills.
For the past 32 years, this nonprofit theater has provided a platform for youth to unleash their creativity through the First Stage Theater Academy.
To ensure accessibility for families, they are offering this enriching experience at five locations this year. Recently, Academy Director J.T. Backes joined host Shannon Sims on The Positively Milwaukee Pozcast to discuss the vital role that creative arts play in participants' development.
He highlighted one of their many programs, Next Steps, that gives children on the autism spectrum the opportunity to perform on stage and discover their creative voices in theater.
Listen to our candid conversation in the video player below:
You can also stream the PozCast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Listen to previous episodes of the PozCast:
Episode 1: Advocate, author, and survivor Nancy Yarbrough
Episode 2: Ed Zamora and Johnny Wade, Pride Rides Wisconsin
Episode 3: Katina Shaw, Milwaukee Brewers VP of Community Relations
Episode 4: Dionne Grayson, children's book author
Episode 5: Natalie Anderson, Founder and Executive Director of Fostering Community
Episode 6: Rochelle Gamauf, Founder and Executive Director of Friends with Food
Episode 7: Gregory Wesley, CEO of Greater Milwaukee Foundation
Episode 8: Giles Patterson, MPS apprenticeship program administrator
Episode 9: Ashley Thomas, CEO of Hope Street Ministries
Episode 10: Caleb Niedfeldt, Fishing for the Heart
Episode 11: Nicole Goins, Pretty Girls Are Educated
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