Yaya Por Vida is a local nonprofit that uses art to connect the community in the areas of overdose prevention, awareness, substance use recovery, and harm reduction.
Yaritza Rollan (05/28/1993-12/28/2019) was a young, vibrant tattoo artist, painter, ceramics sculptor, illustrator, muralist, and cosmetologist that dedicated her short life to the arts. She participated in local gallery events right out of high school, got herself into tattoo apprenticing all on her own, and paved her own path to what was a bright career in the arts.
Yaritza Rollan (05/28/1993 -12/28/2019) was a young, vibrant tattoo artist, painter, ceramics sculptor, illustrator, muralist, and cosmetologist that dedicated her short life to the arts. She participated in local gallery events right out of high school, got herself into tattoo apprenticing all on her own, and paved her own path to what was a bright career in the arts.
OUR STORY
My sister, Yaritza Rollan (better known as Yaya ) dedicated her entire life to the arts. She tattooed, painted, drew, created murals, and even got into Cosmetology. She began participating in local gallery events right out of high school, got herself into tattoo apprenticing all on her own, and paved her own path to what would have been a bright future in the art world. Sadly, she immediately met and became influenced by the darker figures of this profession and began a slow decline into opiate addiction. Nevertheless, she always held on tight to her art, still tattooed, and still worked hard to stay on the path of her dreams regardless of her struggles. Sadly, the ten year battle with drug addiction claimed her life on December 28, 2019. That was the day another shining light in an otherwise grim world ceased to shimmer.
MISSION STATEMENT
Yaya Por Vida improves the quality of life of people who use drugs and those who suffer from substance use disorder, by providing education and access to resources with the stroke of a paintbrush.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
The CDC has released the overdose data for the year ending June 2021. For the year ending June 2021, there were 101,263 lives lost to overdose. In 12 months over 101,000 people lost their lives to overdose.
For the year June 2020 through June 2021, there was an increase of 17,771 overdose deaths. This is a 20.6% increase in overdose deaths over the deaths ending in June 2020.