A quality shared by artists, business owners, and community leaders is the internal drive to bring an idea in their head to life. This month, I interviewed a woman business owner whose belief in the mind/body connection, desire to deeply understand the way things work, and profound need to tame the chaos, led the development of her business for the past ten years. Inquire how Hilery Avritt’s unwillingness to live life in constant pain, turned into the pursuit for a sustainable business and an inspired community.

April Surgent’s work looks like a photographic painting from afar. Upon getting closer, the work is glass in a 2-D sculptural form. She uses a traditional carving process called cameo engraving to discuss contemporary issues…