To shed light on my background, I grew up experiencing many hardships. As a child, I was raised in an abusive environment and was held back in school, forced to take special education courses and speech therapy until 6th grade. When I was a teenager, my family used the police as a means of punishment, rather than using 911 for its purpose. I was abandoned and left homeless at 17, with $20 in my pocket. I have been a victim of gun violence on numerous occasions. The last time, I nearly lost my life when I was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint. I endured a painfully long recovery, and still suffer from migraines, occasional seizures, and some memory loss. As an adult, my wife and I were pushed to bankruptcy following the medical expenses from the birth of our children. Many times, I have been forced to choose between self-care or putting food on the table. I can empathize with many people who have gone through similar situations, which inspired this new endeavor with a focus in Artistic Activism. This blog will serve to share my experiences and hopefully inspire some readers.