Being a survivor of child abuse myself, I felt it would be helpful to have an interactive survivor/activist web site where people that had been victimized could regain their power by publishing their works of art and writing. The web site is in 49 countries at this time. I also have created 'activist art'. This art has brought attention to atrocities against our most vulnerable, our children. From Darfur to Cambodia to Nepal and many more, these works of art have been exhibited and published for awareness sake. I am a participant in the RAINN (Rape and Incest National Network) Public Speakers Bureau.

Commission hand painted art of pets, children and adults. Even though I am primarily a portrait artist I enjoy and have sold many landscape paintings.

Partnering with Kids Plaster Zone in Franklin Massachusetts, to bring adult fine art evening classes to this wonderful space. I have been doing commissioned pet portraits for over two decades and now I will be instructing adults on how to paint their own pet on canvas.

Beyond the Diagnosis is an art exhibit like none other.This exhibit was born from a need to bring awareness to the rare disease population that is so isolated and often invisible.Given the blessing of the caregivers/parents, a picture of their child with a rare disease has or will be painted by empathetic volunteer artists from around the globe. These magnificent paintings make their way to medical schools to raise awareness to our future doctors and to the community at large. The first exhibit took place at Brown Universities Alpert School of Medicine. The second exhibit, even bigger with 40 works of art, began on November 12th, 2015 at Harvard School of Medicine. From Harvard the exhibit will continue to grow in size and move on to the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland for a partial showing and a full showing in February 2016 the month of Rare Disease Day.

As the Advocacy Coordinator/Creative Director for the RDUF I work directly with the Founder and Executive Director and had been essential in growing the RDUF. Some of my responsibilities included; promoting the rare disease community to local and national legislators, event and annual fundraising, networking with colleagues, peers and others in the rare disease community, rare disease support group facilitating, writing articles and press releases, creating logos, flyers, and posters.As an artist myself, realizing the power of art and healing, I founded the 'World Rare Art Exhibit" at the Massachusetts State House February 24th through February 28th, 2013. Collecting over 30 works of art from around the globe ~ bringing much needed attention to the rare disease community that are so invisible. This exhibit garnered support from local legislators as well as U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Senator Edward Markey with their submission of video clips declaring their support of the rare disease community.

Teaching the special needs population at the Attleboro Arts Museum was a wonderful experience. From ages 6 to 60 I always knew that the students coming through the door to class were real. No pretenses and so much talent. Once diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, October ('12), realizing the damage I was doing to my body was irreversible, I resigned with a heavy heart.

As a Systems Integrator my responsibilities included site surveys, topography, technical writing, over site installations, engineering of high capacity high speed digital microwave and fiber optic packet switching networks, Oversaw on a supervisory and hands on capacity, the installation of the largest packet switch pilot network in the world at the time....from Phoenix to Windsor Canada and 6 other major cities.