Hi friends.

I am so lucky to have so many friends to have supported me emotionally through the years, through being homeless and some other dark things in my past.  I need help again, but just of a different sort.  I need your help to follow my heart and my passion.  At some point I had an epiphany experience and realized my calling was to work with kids (especially those that society misunderstands) and nothing makes me feel alive like creating art.  Working with kids, and creating art got me through several dark years of being homeless, and other tough situations.  Now, I am desperately working towards getting my life to a place where I am again pursuing the two things that I love.  

I have been given an opportunity to work at Anishanbe Academy, an amazing school focused on Indiginous youth.  If I take this job, I will be taking a huge cut in pay and hours.  The silver lining is that I could kickstart some of the art business ideas I've been dreaming of, but haven't had time for.  Most specifically, I am hoping to start a henna business.  

In order to do this I need time to create and photograph my work, to market myself, to create a website and get clients.  It will be a little while before this is a viable income.

In the meantime, I am care giving for my mom, who is very sick.  She is so sick that she couldn't handle a move right now, and so I pay half her rent every month since I've moved out, so that she can stay there (she couldn't afford the place on her own). At some point I hope to buy a duplex, and have her move in with me.  This would save me so much expense, and I could care for her better if she were just upstairs from me.

In the meantime, this is what I have to do. We do what we need to do for family. Years ago, my mom and I were homeless, and incurred a lot of credit card debt staying in hotels (we stayed in shelters the first time we were homeless, but were able to stay in hotels the second time, which was really a blessing with my mom's declining health). While my mom is a wizard with finances and we've found a way to pay the initial charges off, we've had to put other things on the cards to keep a float.  We are still trying to get ahead. I feel trapped in a job that is keeping me from my passions and goals because of money.  I need help.  If I could have help covering rent and bills for the next 2 months, I could get my henna business off the ground, and start sustaining, without having to say no to the amazing opportunity at Anishanabe Academy. In turn, I could save for a downpayment on a house, and move my mom in with me.  You have no idea how life changing this would be.  Thank you thank you thank you for considering.