T R A I L B L A Z E R S Partnership The Naples Players continues to grow and nurture community partnerships, which not only strengthens our programs, but also supports our partners’ programs. One such partnership is with the Foundation for the Developmentally Disabled (FDD). FDD works to provide adults with special needs an opportunity for structured, daily vocational training at various job locations, fitness and recreational activities, nutrition education, and independent living skills. In fulfilling this mission, FDD works with various employers to provide professional volunteer opportunities to its participants. This helps them prepare themselves as they work toward the ultimate goal of meaningful employment and independent living. The Naples Players participates by working with members of FDD as they assist with functions crucial to running the theatre. Each individual chooses what area they want to volunteer in once a week at The Naples Players. In addition to participating in FDD’s existing volunteer program, The Naples Players helps pioneer new programs in partnership with FDD. In 2017, The Naples Players started a class for adults with special needs to help strengthen their professional interview skills through improv. After all, what is an interview if not highstakes improv? By building these skills through a fun, positive environment in the theatre, the program is able to remove much of the stress often associated with the interview process. Craig Price, The Naples Players Education Director, runs the improv class and says that seeing these adults flourish and have fun while learning valuable skills is incredibly rewarding. On an average afternoon, participants might answer an interview question three times, while acting it out in a different emotion with each iteration. Or you might catch the group using movement and warmup exercises to build teamwork and underline the importance of working together, more skills necessary for professional success. In the program’s first run, 14 FDD members participated. Craig expects that when the program restarts in the fall, all 14 will return, along with some new participants. In the future, Craig would like to grow the improv program to include another class for children that focuses on areas of relaxed team building. 64
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