Meet Brian Ford

Community Theatre of Greensboro

Brian Ford from Community Theatre of Greensboro gives his pitch for Future Fund 10 Live. https://chshousing.org/ https://futurefundgso.org/

Watch Brian Ford’s pitch, then read more about his organization.

Describe your organization and its mission:

CTG is proud to be Guilford County's oldest arts organization. We are dedicated to serving, educating, and inspiring our community through work that advances our mission – bringing our diverse community together to learn about, celebrate, and experience the joys of theatre.

We have seen first-hand what performing and visual arts have to offer every generation, collectively and individually. We lean on a connection to the arts in all that we do as we strive to expand our outreach to everyone, everywhere.

Why do you love working for your organization?

I wholeheartedly believe in the mission and vision of the Community Theatre of Greensboro. I am a volunteer/performer/donor turned full-time staff member. I felt led to step away from a ten-year career in higher education to raise money and awareness for CTG full-time because of what theatre has done for me.

Some perceive art as "a bonus", an "add-on," so to speak. I (and countless others) would attempt to shift that perspective by identifying art as a necessity. Employers in the 21st century seek employees who think critically, communicate clearly, solve problems quickly, and possess the confidence to take initiative and move audiences. All of these skills (and more) can be learned through theatre classes, workshops, and performances.

I love this organization because our staff, board, and volunteers recognize the importance of the arts. The CTG family is committed to educating businesses, families and individuals in our community on the inevitable positive impact(s) from which we all benefit as a result of living in an area as rich in the arts as ours.

What does being a member of the Future Fund Class of 2020 mean to your organization?

The opportunity to participate in the FF Class of 2020 will help our organization continue to widely share our mission and think creatively about how to serve our community. We strive to educate Greensboro and surrounding communities on the benefits of the arts, and inspire talented local artists to continue to share what they love with the world. Our expanded network through bring a part of FF10 will serve as a launching pad to ensure we reach more people, raise more awareness, and be a better partner to our peers and colleagues.

What do you expect to gain from the Future Fund 10 experience?

As a small non-profit we are always looking for ways to expand our reach, advance our mission, and change lives for good! Building my personal and professional network is the best way to let others know who we are, what we do, and why we do it!

What are you most nervous about with the FF 10 process?

The time limit. I (and I imagine all other finalists) care so deeply about this particular cause that I could speak about it for hours. Trimming the amount of love and passion I have for this into three minutes will be fun, challenging, and nerve-wracking!

When you're not working, where could we find you?

You would probably find me one of four places: onstage, on my yoga mat, at the gym, or cuddling on the couch with my four-legged babies (pictures available upon request!). Outside of raising money and awareness for CTG, I love performing. I am happy to say, I will be back onstage this spring myself and can't wait. I am also a yoga instructor, a former college athlete, and a dog dad of two!