Smiling Through the Hard Days: Akella Clore on Hope, Healing, and Helping Others

In this episode, we sit down with community mentor and advocate Akella Clore to talk about foster care, creativity, connection, and what it really looks like to support others while carrying your own challenges.Akella shares her journey as a mother of nine, a former foster parent, and the founder of Colorful Creations, a program built around confidence, art, and youth empowerment. We explore her passion for working with teens, the emotional realities of caregiving, and the quiet strength behind the smile she’s known for.The conversation opens up into emotional masking, burnout, the importance of healthy boundaries, and why community plays such a vital role in recovery. Akella also reflects on the experiences that shaped her, the kids who changed her life, and how creativity helps young people find their voice.This is a warm and honest discussion about resilience, belonging, and the power of showing up for one another through both the easy and the messy parts of life. It’s a reminder that healing grows stronger in community.🔗 Learn more about Akella or your contact via emailFor more information about the Green Phoenix or if you'd like to join me as a guest on a future episode  please don't hesitate to shoot me an email.⁠Contact Us⁠.