​Maria Parrella-Ilaria is the Developer/Coordinator of the ArtSpeaks Project. Maria’s idea for the initiative began during her 7-year run as owner/operator of the Fireball Cafe, a barber shop turned espresso art bar in downtown Sault Ste. Marie, that has etched its way into local lore.

The ArtSpeaks Project​ offers adults & youth impacted by trauma non-clinical art-as-therapy experiences via free-access community-based art-making.​ Self-expression through the arts offers a non-threatening way for folks to give voice to their lived experiences and conversely, make sense of often difficult and/or frightening emotions. 

​Creative engagement helps to reduce cortisol (stress hormone) levels in the body while also helping to foster new perspectives through the exploration of one’s symbolic mark-making process. Thus, by reducing stress and increasing self-knowledge, one experiences greater personal resilience and wellness.