This week's Unusual Creature is the epitome of how art and creativity can change lives. Monique Carter is a dancer, ex-model and former actress specializing in the gift of Middle Eastern and Arabic dance. But most importantly she is a fierce and loving mother to two young sons who through their artistic expression are finding ways to thrive. Monique is a single California mom raising Sol and Micah and life has been an uneasy road for this family, as both boys were born with Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD. Recently they've been given a MASSIVE opportunity that we felt deserved to shown given a spotlight. So we had to invite her on for a chat.

Monique grew up loving all genres of music. Her grandma would have her AM radio blaring Aretha, The Stones, Otis and Al Green. Monique had a young mother so she’d bop around to Madonna, Wham!, The Culture Club, and Tears for Fear. Her mom’s older brother was also a DJ, so he mixed everything from Michael Jackson, Earth, Wind and Fire to The Go-Go’s and the Beastie Boys… as she says... she was born at a time when real rap was coming on the scene.

After she fell in love with a boy of Arabic descent she learned and became inspired by Arabic music. She found something that truly moved her and wanted more. So she went to her local community college to sign up for a class. The instructor had a traveling dance ensemble that she immediately became a part of. They toured the country, and throughout Egypt, performing folk dances from countries such as India to Iran. Upon return from Egypt she packed her car and traveled East… to New York to be exact. Lived, worked, performed and traveled with another dance company until she got knocked up by a musician five years later.

She gave birth to the twins and moved back home to California. By age two her kids were receiving intervention services and by five they were officially diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other diagnoses. She has given her children the gift of appreciation for music and a love for the arts. Her youngest son taught himself piano and the violin. He recently auditioned for a youth orchestra in which he landed second chair. The orchestra will be playing in Spain this coming June. She will do everything in her power to continue to nurture the beautiful gift he possesses, because she can’t wait to see where it will continue to take him. Please, find out more on his Indiegogo page “Oh, the Places Sol Will Go!" 

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/oh-the-places-sol-will-go?fbclid=IwAR3620jUvbbxEjsdzl86FXL2NApeC0VBDvrSI-_3fRa6v2IKPaEuFkX8xYA#/

Music has the power to heal and empower. So please take a listen to this extraordinary story. If you can spare a penny, a dollar, twenty and so on, it would be greatly appreciated. If all you can do is listen and share this episode and send good vibes that is amazing as well. Let's get this family to Spain. But also take in this particular show and truly discover how art and creativity can make a significant difference for everyone. 

#OhtheplacesSolwillgo #LetsgoSol #TheUnusualCreatures