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was heralded as one of Tajiri’s greatest “Show Stoppers,” as it was our longest run production. We performed in Sanford at
several venues: the world-renowned Star Theater in Goldsboro, Sanford Civic Center, and at Seminole High School. We also

did shows at Molette Middle School in Bruswick, Georgia, which was sponsored by Grace United Methodist Church. We were

also honored to perform at the Boca Raton Resort and Club Hotel in Boca Raton, Florida, which was generously sponsored
by the National Bar Association Convention. The NBA paid for props, travel expenses, and food for the cast. The nationally

acclaimed Attorney Willie Gary also hosted a reception for the Tajiri Arts students in his hotel suite. I am forever thankful for

Attorney Evett Simmons and her sister, Attorney Sara Simmons, who were responsible for the NBA extending us the invitation
to perform.

An All-Expense Paid Production ― We performed a poetic documentary, Finding Beauty in the Whirlwind, in honor of
Pulitzer Prize Winner, Gwendolyn Brooks. The evening was filled with selections from the body of work written by Ms. Brooks

as portrayed by Gracia Miller (a Guidance Counselor at Midway Elementary), Elder Beverly Jenkins (the Receptionist for Tajiri
Arts), and me. The Young Performers of Tajiri Arts gave “a magical performance,” Ms. Brooks said after watching our

rendition of her children’s book The Tiger Who Wore White Gloves. For this production, Seminole Community College paid

all expenses.

Funds from Political Organizations ― Democrats and Republicans contributed financially to the success of Tajiri Arts.

National Recognition – I received a call from the National Education Association, headquartered in Washington, D.C. My

first thought was how did they find us? After all, Tajiri Arts was not in the big City of Orlando or in world-famous Daytona
Beach – we were in lil’ old Sanford. Despite that, we performed for two consecutive days at the National Education Association

Conference before 30,000 administrators, supervisors, and teachers who came to the Orange County Civic Center, a world-

class facility for conferences and conventions located in Orlando. They paid for our two-day room and board at the popular