Save Carlos Valenzuela's Home and Art Studio

My name is Carlos Valenzuela. I have been working with at risk youth since the early 1990s. I specialize in designing creating and installing large scale ceramic murals as a means for youth to participate in activities that are positive and that can forge a path for escaping abuse, living on the street and overcoming adiction.

My home in Tucson is also my art studio, where many taechers and youth social workers send kids and young adults to work with me creating large scale community art. I have been working this way sinnce the late 80s

Recently I have been dealing with an illness that has caused me to cut back dramaticaly on my work and contracts. This pause and the inactivity has caused me to fall behind on my contracts, reducing my usual flow of income. I also acumulated at least two huge hospital bills which I can not aford to pay. Worst of all, because of all this I have fallen behind on my mortgage payments. This is devastating for two reasons, my home has been my workshot since the year 2000. it has fallen into disreapair as well.

But my biggest concern is holding on to my house.. Not only is my workshop my source of income and servival, it is the place where court reffered youth are often sent to me to work on these murals .My home has also been my livelyhood. I do not want to loose my house. This is why, out of desperation I have come here to seek help to rescue my home and workshop from foreclosure

This has been more than my job, way beyond just being my livelyhood. It has been the means to reachout to at risk youth to offer them a path not only to recovery but to a brighter future.

If you took the time to read through all of this , I thank you and I apreciate you wheather you deside to assist me or not.