Monique

Monique is a fierce advocate, talented artist, and a creative person. Throughout her life, she has proven that she is capable and not to be underestimated. At the age of 16, Monique’s foster care ended due to her caregiver getting sick, and it was determined by the state that Monique could live independently. However, no one believed in her and many expected her to fail out of the program. She proved them all wrong and showed that she could care for herself by living independently, and graduated with her high school diploma.

Her perseverance never faltered. At 18 years old, Monique started attending a day program for art. Prior to the day program, Monique never created art. But after she began taking art classes and watching historical videos on past artists, Monique was enchanted. She quickly determined that Paul Gauguin, a French painter and printmaker, was her favorite and he inspired her earlier artworks. What Monique appreciated about Gauguin was the representation of her body size in his work. It made her feel a deeper level of connection.

Once the door to the world of art was opened to Monique, she dived in and became experienced in multiple art mediums. She can paint, draw, quilt, etch on glass, wire work, tie-dye, sew, and more. There is no art medium that is not accessible to Monique, because even if she doesn’t know how to do or create something at first, she always figures it out. She is self-taught in every artform she creates.

For instance, at the height of the pandemic, Monique was gifted a sewing machine. Her current day program, Strategies to Empower People (STEP), asked her if she could sew face masks for clients and families. Monique had just begun her sewing journey, but she learned quickly and would make 100s of face masks every day, donating them to those in need.

Art and giving back coincide for Monique. She has made blankets to donate to an animal rescue facility. She designed and made over 40 pairs of earrings and donated them for children at the American Cancer Society. Monique even writes poetry and has read them at protests for the Lanterman Coalition, California Community Living Network, and Medical for All.

In addition to giving back, Monique also sells her artwork. But her primary joy in creating art is because it provides her relief from her anxiety and she enjoys seeing the happy faces people have when she gifts them a piece of her art.

As an African American and disabled woman, Monique is no stranger to discrimination and racism. She mentioned that growing up and living in the Yuba City region has not always been easy but has experienced some improvements. She is brave and is sure of who she is and feels pride in her ancestry. Many of her artworks pay homage to her ancestral roots. Black History Month is very important to Monique, and she avidly states that all are equal.

The proudest moment in Monique’s life was when she married her husband in 2015. Their nuptials took place at California Community Living Network conference, which was fitting for the advocacy work Monique does. Her husband, who had unfortunately passed away, was deaf, and so Monique signed all her vows for him. Monique perseveres because her husband admired her and she admired him. She wants to continue making him proud.

Every day is a new opportunity for Monique to learn, grow, and achieve whatever she sets her mind on. She is a strong person, and has earned the respect, admiration, love, and support of her peers because of her honest and generous personality. With over 30 years of experience as an artist, Monique will continue surpassing previous expectations and finding new ways to create

Occasionally Monique sells her artwork. But her primary joy comes from seeing the happy faces when she provides her art as a gift. Creating art also provides anxiety relief and Monique recommends that everyone should try to find their own art style.

She mentioned that growing up and living in the Yuba City region has not always been easy, but she has experienced some improvements. She is brave and is sure of who she is and feels pride in her ancestry. Many of her artworks pay homage to her ancestral roots. Black History Month is very important to Monique, and she avidly states that all are equal.

The proudest moment in Monique’s life was when she married her husband in 2015. Their nuptials took place at California Community Living Network conference, which was fitting for the advocacy work Monique does. Her husband, who had unfortunately passed away, was deaf, and so Monique signed all her vows for him. Monique perseveres because her husband admired her and she admired him. She wants to continue making him proud.

Every day is a new opportunity for Monique to learn, grow, and achieve whatever she sets her mind on. She is a strong person, and has earned the respect, admiration, love, and support of her peers because of her honest and generous personality. With over 30 years of experience as an artist, Monique will continue surpassing previous expectations and finding new ways to create.