Hey y'all, my name is Cam. Some know me as Collage. I'm a writer, musician, sound engineer, and contract-based freelancer based in Chicago, IL

These last couple of years have been especially tough, and although I've had a solid community around me and was leaning on them, I wasn’t asking for the support I needed. Some major familial and financial losses spiraled and things began to pile up. It has been too much to get out from under alone. I’ve exhausted all of the city programs and grants available to me–while I’m in the process of trying for one last assistance application, but it wouldn’t cover all of my needs.

I'm unfortunately behind on shared bills, rent and expenses for the collective house I was living in for the past five years, and I want to ensure I'm able to make my transition on to a new chapter without leaving my housemates holding the bag. I’m hoping to sustain living in a new space, pay off some of my car debt, and get back on my feet. This fundraiser would directly contribute to my financial needs, but also it would mean my former housemates–which include queer, trans, and formerly incarcerated community members– would be able to pay all our house bills, but more importantly be safe and taken care of.

A bit about me, for some who know me and don’t, I come from a loving but highly independent family. I’ve had plenty of assistance in different areas of my life but many of my milestones were completed by me taking initiative and control of my own circumstances. I’m a person who looks at life with a lot of passion and has an “anything’s possible” attitude about most things I’d like to accomplish in life. In the past, reaching out for help like this has felt extremely shameful. I’m used to being the one who prioritizes others and takes care of their needs, while dismissing my needs because reaching out felt foreign to me. This time around, with a hopeful heart, I am deciding to hold a different outlook on my needs and reach out for help. So I am doing my best to ask you, my community, for a little help in any way you are able. I love to create music and sound design and am aspiring to get my audio career off the ground by building stronger and longer lasting connections. I am looking to hone my skills to a more professional level so that I can pass on my craft through teaching it to others and making it more accessible to anyone who’s interested in this type of work.

In the meantime, if you want to collaborate or hire me, I’m always looking for new projects and opportunities to share my skills. You can get in touch with me through the GFM contact form.

Thanks for reading and for your support!