Bringing Art, Community & Healing Together — Toil & Trouble
Toil & Trouble started with a simple but life-changing passion: art.
For me, creating has always been more than a hobby, it became a lifeline.
Like many, I’ve faced my share of struggles with mental health and addiction. Through some of my darkest times, teaching myself new artistic skills was what helped me stay focused, grounded, and moving forward. Each new medium I explored not only expanded my creativity but also taught me about resilience, self-expression, and healing.
But art alone wasn’t the full answer — community played just as big a role in my recovery. While traditional recovery spaces like AA can be helpful, it was the relationships, connections, and sense of belonging that truly kept me going. That’s why Toil & Trouble was born: to create a space where art, connection, and community come together to uplift and inspire.
With a background in event planning, marketing, and design from my time living out west and over 13 years in the cannabis industry where I’ve met incredible, creative, and passionate people — I’ve seen first-hand the power of community. When I moved back to Connecticut in 2021 and started helping with events at Angry Hair, I felt that spark reignite. I knew this was what I wanted to build: an art collective rooted in connection and creativity.
Toil & Trouble’s mission is simple:
To create space for artists, makers, and anyone looking for inspiration — whether they’re in recovery, navigating mental health struggles, or simply seeking more joy in life — to connect, create, and grow.
We host community events, workshops, and creative collaborations, and I plan to take this mission even further by becoming a certified Recovery Support Specialist. My goal is to lead art-focused groups in treatment centers and outpatient programs, and to offer creative workshops that help people rediscover their passion and purpose — whether they’re in recovery or just searching for a new spark.
This fundraiser will help me:
- Grow Toil & Trouble’s community outreach programs
- Host more creative and inclusive events
- Cover materials, supplies, and marketing for future workshops
- Support my training as a Recovery Support Specialist
I believe that creativity can heal, connection can empower, and community can change lives. Your support will help me continue building a space where all three come together.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
