Founding Board Member

Carolina Ayala, the founder and executive director of The Happier Life Project leads the organization as a trauma-informed certified peer coach, facilitator, and advocate for the recovery community in Riverside County. Carolina’s unique approach combines her years of business administration experience with her direct experience as a justice-involved woman in long-term recovery.

Her insights into the recovery community and re-entry process have empowered her to improve the system for others and advocate on their behalf with empathy and compassion.

As living proof that recovery is possible, she has dedicated her life to The Happier Life Project’s mission and seeing through the positive change throughout her community.

Carolina lives happily in Riverside County and is a mother to a young son and daughter.

Founding Board Member

A founding board member with lived experience. As an early team member of Happier Life Project, Madeline is devoted to reducing stigma around Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Disorders and helping connect people in need to resources. While pursuing a degree in Psychology, she is a Certified Mindfulness Meditation teacher and is constantly exploring the intersection of nature and therapy though studying family constellation therapy, equine therapy, sustainable living practices, and permaculture. Madelina Collective is a network of women around the world who collaborate with the shared goal of bringing change, inspiration, and perspective to the world through art and innovation. She is actively engaged in fostering creativity and connection amongst women from diverse backgrounds in an effort to be a light for other seekers.

Founding Board Member

Leah is first and foremost a relationship builder who recognizes the significance of working in a collaborative and welcoming environment.
Leah is passionate about making people smile, connecting talent with great careers, and building fantastic teams.

Her experience in retail leadership, recruitment, and human resources has shaped her approach in helping others and serving as a guide throughout each point in individuals careers.

Leah is a full time Recruiter aspiring to gain her Masters in Social Work by 2024. The Happier Life Project is one of her passion projects and she thoroughly enjoys volunteering for an organization whose goal is to make a difference in our community.

In her free time, she enjoys good music, spending time outdoors, reading, having nice dinners with her Chef Husband, and exploring all hiking trails with her fur baby, Pipsqueak