Newest Ambassadors Spread the MTW Story!

Esther Saks and Judy Cottle are the newest members of the MTW Ambassador Ensemble, a group dedicated to building MTW’s support base and visibility in the community.  Esther and Judy plan to spread the word when they host a house party for MTW on April 30.

Esther learned about MTW when she attended a reception for the company hosted by Richard Driehaus, founder of the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation.  She was particularly moved by a performance about a female gang member whose baby brother becomes the innocent victim of a drive-by shooting.

Saks was so enthusiastic about MTW’s program that she brought it to the Young Women’s Leadership Charter School (YWLCS), where she serves as a board member.  The YWLCS students became aware of their own issues as they told their stories and wove them into three girl-centered musicals. Esther said, “This program helps young women find their voices and gain the courage to express their hopes and fears, all the while understanding the whole process of putting on a production. I believe in MTW’s work and I want others to know about it.”

The first time MTW applied for a grant from the Chicago Foundation for Women (CFW), Judy Cottle was a member of the Allocations Committee.  During a site visit to MTW’s offices, Artistic Director Meade Palidofsky invited Judy to a Fabulous Females performance at the Cook County Temporary Juvenile Detention Center. Judy said, “I am impressed with the way MTW helps girls to be expressive, to feel comfortable about telling their thoughts and feelings. Each girl understands she is not alone. Watching the process of developing a performance is very exciting. I wish everyone could see this happen.”