On December 22, one of my closest friends, Alyssa Aviles, miraculously survived a near-death car accident. This resulted in a total loss of her vehicle.

In a time of celebration, as we all rushed to get ready for the holiday, Alyssa was driving to her studio to continue work on her upcoming deadlines. It was heavily raining in the morning and the road was wet. As she made her way down a freeway on-ramp, her vehicle hydroplaned and flipped over completely onto the side of the road. Trapped inside and unable to free herself, she came incredibly close to death. But the universe had other plans that day. Fellow drivers stopped the oncoming traffic and climbed into the wreckage to safely remove her. If she had made contact with another vehicle, a tree, or a light pole, she very likely wouldn’t be here with us today, and this message would be a very different one. Alyssa being alive is nothing short of a miracle.

If this situation wasn’t stressful enough, Alyssa has just begun a rigorous master's program at Stanford University. She is experiencing a major financial setback with only one week before classes resume in January.

As the organizer of this campaign on Alyssa’s behalf, I am asking for an immediate $8000 to assist with replacing her vehicle, which must be dependable enough to get her through the next two years of commuting daily from San Francisco to Palo Alto.

The program is a demanding two years, and she has only just started the journey. We are so thankful Alyssa is alive after this traumatic event, but this setback has added tremendous stress to an already traumatic situation, as she cannot complete her degree without access to a dependable vehicle. She had just purchased her car in September and insurance offered no payout for the vehicle damage. She has a long commute from San Francisco and a heavy workload which keeps her out past commuting hours for public transportation. Without a car, she cannot reliably access the facilities that provide both her education and income.

I’ve personally known Alyssa for over a decade. We share similar art styles, constantly inspiring one another. But our deep love for our friends and community is what truly bonds us. Sharing resources and caring for our village is a core value to us both. Years ago, when I found myself in a scary and confusing domestic situation, Alyssa was a guiding light and a voice of reason, always offering a soft place to land. I know my experience is not unique; she is selfless with so many around her.

Alyssa connects to her community through her creative work and teaching practice. She started her own business, Suavecita Press, to offer accessible community printmaking workshops for youth and adults in the Bay Area. Ask anyone that’s taken her classes and they will recall her warmth, attention, and patience with everyone in the room. Completing her degree at Stanford is important to achieve her dream of providing arts education to her community.

Alyssa deserves the love and comfort of her community now more than ever. I come to you today, in one of her greatest hours of need. The way she has answered so many of our calls, it’s our turn to answer for her.

I will be offering tattoo time, fine art, jewelry, baked goods, and more from artists in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Portland. I will highlight those details and the artist list in an “update” shortly.