Meet Kyle.

Growing up, Kyle was taught that being loved meant being useful. He often stepped in to care for friends and mediate conflict within his family. By the age of 12, he made a promise to himself that he would never want or feel anything again—believing it was the only way to avoid being a burden or inconvenience. The silence and invisibility surrounding his experiences left him feeling both too much and not enough.

Today, Kyle has shifted from simply surviving to deeply understanding patterns in his life, using curiosity as a tool to support others. In 2022, he founded Tiger Tea Zine, a storytelling platform for the Asian community. In 2024, he became a peer support specialist and is currently on the path to becoming a social worker—with the hope of empowering others by honoring their stories and creating spaces where people can be seen and cared for as they are.

“In a world where countless voices and systems tell us who to be and how to be, it's liberating and in some ways an act of resistance to express yourself, what you care about, and to co-create meaning with others who care just as much,” Kyle said.

Kyle’s journey with Painted Brain began through peer support services with Project New Start. From there, he explored creative groups and found a community that values him for who he is, helping him rediscover parts of himself. Through this experience, he learned to create with a focus on connection and joy, rather than the pressure of output or fear of failure.

“Creativity and art have always been ways for me to translate experiences that feel too big, abstract and complex. To design, write or turn something that might be overwhelming into something tangible and understandable has helped me feel empowered and less alone,” Kyle said.

Kyle is wearing the Active Minds Rugby Polo Shirt, Pre-sale available now.