top of page

Meet the Team

Darin Valdez

Founder, Executive Director

​

Darin tree of life.JPG
Linnea - Art Show June 2021 First Friday_edited_edited.jpg

Linnea Brutlag

Operations / Program Manager

Linnea loves working for Colorado Artists in Recovery.  She is honored to be working for CAiR and to be a part of others' recovery journeys.  Linnea is in long term recovery and her sober date is 4/4/2015.  Creating and helping others find their own creative gifts brings Linnea joy.  When not working, Linnea enjoys painting, reading a good book, playing Scrabble and spending time with Tumi, her kitten.

Nat Stiles

Program Coordinator for Northern CO​

Nat Stiles is very grateful to be apart of Colorado Artists in Recovery team as the Program Coordinator. Based in Loveland, Nat is thrilled that they have the opportunity to bring CAiR events to the Northern Colorado area. Nat is in long term recovery and their sober date is 6/7/2022. When not working with CAiR, Nat spends their time helping others as a Personal Trainer & Water Safety Instructor. Nat's motto is "you don't have to be good at something to have fun."

Nat Stiles.jpg

Meet the Board

Rashad playing piano at art show.jpeg

Board President, Partnership Committee 

Rashad Sutton

Hailing originally from West Philadelphia where he was born and raised. Rashad Spent most of his days out on the playground. Ultimately while out shooting a game of basketball, outside of the school, a couple of no good guys began to pick a fight with him causing him to move with his auntie and uncle here in Denver.

 

Wait… No, that's the fresh prince.

 

Rashad is a Denver native and Graduate of Denver East High School. Rashad works full-time at Aspen Ridge Recovery Center managing community outreach as well as overseeing their alumni program. Rashad has been playing piano since he can remember both at church and in the local Denver R&B scene. As a musician Rashad has witnessed and benefited from the healing power of art.  As a person in sustained recovery Rashad has seen first hand how connection and community can be instrumental in attaining and sustaining meaningful recovery.

Instructors

Quana Madison Head Shot-10-2020.jpg

Quana Madison

Instructor

Quána Madison is a multi-disciplinary African-American Queer artist with disabilities, a healing arts facilitator, and a well-being advocate. She dived into the world of arts and research-based wellness topics to support her holistic  well-being journey, after a life-changing near-death experience from cancer previvor treatments and the sudden onset of chronic illnesses.  Quána has lived with chronic pain since childhood. Quána strives to inspire, educate, empower, and uplift people through her artwork, consulting services, and community engagement. She collaborates with Habitat for Humanity, the National Pain Advocacy Center, the National Institutes of Health - HEAL Initiative, Colorado Artists in Recovery, and LBGTQIA+ organizations. A graduate of New York University and Colorado College, Quána holds an MA in Education and a BA in Philosophy.

More information is available at www.quanamadison.com and www.linktr.ee/quanamadison.

bottom of page