Believe ;)

Believe ;)

A Father & Child Collaboration for “Unmasking Stigma”

This year, I was invited to participate in Unmasking Stigma: A Hope and Healing Benefit, supporting the Valeo Foundation and their work in mental-health awareness. I decided to include my oldest, Miles, in the making of our mask.

Our mask — Believe ;) — is a true collaboration. Miles created the tiger design on the front: bold, intuitive, grounded. Inside, I painted a house silhouette reaching into the night sky beneath the moonlight — centered around one simple word: “Believe ;)”.

Inviting Miles to join me wasn’t just part of the project — it was the first step in the healing process. Because the hardest step toward wellness is often the simple act of asking for help.

Together we built something that lives between strength and vulnerability, darkness and light, home and horizon. It’s a reminder that belief can begin in our relationships, in shared moments, and in the quiet invitation to hope.

Artist Bios

Joey Embers
Systems administrator, artist, and writer based in Kansas. My work explores the spaces where resilience, identity, and healing intersect. Through art and storytelling, I transform personal experience into shared empathy and light.

Miles Embers
Miles works with horses at Lucky H Ranch, raises chickens, and tends both home and community gardens — building a simple, sustainable life rooted in care and balance. Their contribution — the tiger design — reflects strength drawn from patience, quiet focus, and connection with the natural world.

About the Event

Unmasking Stigma: A Hope and Healing Benefit
Hosted by The Valeo Foundation
Saturday, November 8, 2025 • 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Townsite Avenue Ballroom • 534 S. Kansas Avenue

Tickets & more information: givebutter.com/unmaskingstigma

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