Meet the Team
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, thrifting and spending time with her cat Tumi.
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."
Natalie Pacheco
Program Assistant
Natalie Pacheco is the daughter to Maria who was born in Guanajuato, Mexico. Natalie is Mexican-American (also known as a Chicana). Born in San Antonio, Tx and raised in Denver Metro area. She is the mother of 3 boys Benji, Andres, and Anthony. Natalie has always worked with different communities and is dedicated to the work she does. In 2017 she faced multiple surgeries after two brain aneurysms were discovered. She then decided to pick up a paint brush and has not set it down since. She has found recovery through Art. She believes Art is healing and therapeutic and would recommend it to anyone going through challenges in life.
Cole Buran
Program Assistant
Cole is a self-taught painter and engineering student whose art is deeply inspired by his journey through recovery and mental health. Based in Colorado, Cole is an active member of the local artists in recovery community, channeling his personal experiences into vibrant works.
Cole embraces risks and challenges both in his creative pursuits and academic endeavors. Whether through his striking paintings or his contributions to the recovery community, Cole's work reflects his resilience and unwavering spirit.
Becks
Marketing Assistant
Becks has a background in film photography, graphic design, and visual art. Her recovery has been shaped by humor, creative expression, and the ongoing struggle to better herself as she navigates the messy, imperfect path of healing. Outside of work, she finds joy and grounding in the everyday moments shared with her partner and their wonderfully goofy doggo, Bubz.
Meet the Board
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
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.