Have you ever thought about a project or move (both figuratively & literally) or a to do list item that just makes you sweat to think about? We get it, really. The thing is though, it sticks around until it is tackled. This week’s guest may have just the right story to spark the flame to get you started. Jessica Rambo (yes, her last name says it all ;-)) is a former Marine having served in active duty for 10 years, momma of two awesome kids, artist, business owner and as of most recently can add bus conversion guru to her already admirable list of accomplishments and mountains she has worked to climb & conquer. Jessica’s interview with The Red Bra Project is packed with energy, inspiration and every bit of motivation you may be needing to conquer your own mountain(s)! In our opinion, Jessica is truly a powerhouse, learning along the way and empowering others.
Immediately evident from our conversation with Jessica is that she has chosen to be a warrior, even when that meant trying and trying again…she has gained her admirable mental strength through her own life experiences and is courageously sharing her story. With a family of military members, including her mom & dad, Jessica was very familiar with the military lifestyle and careers. She knew she wanted to make an impact as a Marine and through research found the perfect fit for her enlisting to become a Combat Cameraman. After boot camp & training, Jessica was stationed at Camp Smith, Marine Corps Pacific, Hawaii where she honed in on her skills. From there, Jessica was promoted and sent to Marine Corps Base Quantico where she continued to gain experience, expand her creativity and gain valuable leadership training.
One Sunday morning on her way to Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, Jessica was in a terrible car accident in which she rolled her car 550’ across the highway – thankfully her kids were not with her. In a split second on that very morning her life path changed, forever. Jessica candidly shares about her personal challenges when healing from her tragic accident, drug & alcohol abuse right alongside transitioning and working to find a purpose in civilian life again. Through all of Jessica’s ups, downs & struggles is what has taught her the exact coping mechanisms & strategies she needed to learn to navigate to lead her to her purpose.
After leaving the military on medical leave, Jessica kept following her creative side and applied to and was accepted to Art School at The University of North Carolina. About halfway through Art school while she was still working through her own physical & mental healing Jessica couldn’t ignore the voice that kept telling her she wanted to do something MORE, to give back, to show up in more ways than the expected. Jessica was led to buy a 1997 Blue Bird bus. Why not, right?! The Blue Bird previously belonged to a high school marching band in New Jersey, but was now The Rambo’s family project, in which at the moment Jessica thought when she was buying it that it would be converted into the family’s tiny home – it actually became part of a larger plan once she got started.
Jessica dove in and converted the retired bus from the floorboards up to the ceiling, including all house systems (ie: electrical, water, plumbing, etc) and a (well deserved, in our opinion) 4′ tub as well (gotta have a lil’ something for herself ;-)!) transforming this ol’ high school marching band bus into not only a tiny home for her family, but the Painted Buffalo Traveling Studio. Working on the conversion in – between classes and on the weekend became extremely therapeutic, especially after detoxing from extremely addictive pain meds, opiods, anxiety & mood stabilizers…soon, it became that an answer to a bad day for Jessica was working on the bus. Through all of the therapy she was seeking & medication, she found her own way, a way that worked for her through creating that ultimately led to her purpose.
After two years of converting, the retired marching band bus from New Jersey was transformed into The Painted Buffalo. Melding the concepts of art & community engagement, The Painted Buffalo Traveling Studio was born.
Jessica and her family now travel the country helping to teach Veterans how to tell their stories through art and begin to heal from their trauma in the Painted Buffalo bringing the Traveling Studio to communities nationwide.
“I wanted to do something wild. I wanted to prove to myself that when I set my mind to something I complete it. I felt like I didn’t complete my mission in the Marine Corps, I was struggling to get through art school, and I wanted to show myself and my children that just because you fail at something that is important to you, you can dust yourself off and try again,” Jessica shared.
The American Tour is set up for the Painted Buffalo & Team to meet up with 150 veterans, nationwide. The combination of working off of Jessica’s personal list of places she wants her and her kids to see and talking with other veteran artists she has asked them to provide her where they live and to share with other veteran artists is building their route. Speaking with curious people Jessica & fam meet while traveling is also working to spread the mission through simply having a conversation and passing it along. Yassss, sharing is caring and little by little helping others.
The American Tour schedule is posted here. If you are or know of any veterans who would like to request a stop, reach out to Jessica to let her know! She wants to hear from you.
While some veterans are able to meet in the designated event areas on The American Tour with the Painted Buffalo Traveling Studio Jessica also loves the idea that she has the opportunity to pull right up in the veteran’s driveway if they cannot physically get out to meet up for the course. Which is something she wouldn’t be able to do with a brick & mortar based business.
“Saving lives with art supplies – ultimately my goal is just to give veterans an outlet that doesn’t include self harm,” Jessica shared.
Jessica does share more about the renovation project as a single mom with a retired school bus and credits a ton of video watching & learning from YouTube University 😉 Jessica gutted the entire bus, insulated and custom built every single piece of furniture in the bus including: dinette, couch, bathtub (yessss, even a 4’ bathtub!), bunk beds, counters, the list goes on and on. Literally project to project & paycheck to paycheck Jessica chipped away at completing this skoolie conversion. Jessica’s kids have really come around to embracing “bus life” and the adventure(s) up ahead on the road, literally!
We did have a Red Bra first with Jessica’s son, Liam making a guest appearance in the background even supporting & wearing one of his Mom’s custom made Painted Buffalo t-shirts. See if you can spot him and leave a hello in the replay! 😉 Jessica shares the behind the scenes story with us about she settled on Painted Buffalo as her bus name.
Making a difference with each purchase, The Buffalo Shop has custom made unique t’s, sweatshirts and paintings for purchase. Proceeds go to veteran art supply needs and supporting Painted Buffalo Traveling Studio in it’s ever so important mission of helping our veterans.
Jessica offers many ways to get involved in supporting veterans from hosting to sponsorship to an Amazon Wishlist. Learn more here>
Jessica’s Red Bra Moment: Our children are always watching, even if you don’t see it. Some of my biggest heart filled moments are when someone asked who built your bus? Or is your husband in the military? And my kids are like my personal body guards. They have learned to use their voice and stick up for me, each other and the people around them. They make me one proud Momma.
“I got over the other stuff and did something that truly made me happy. If I can inspire others to do that too, then it’s all well worth it,” shared Jessica.
We looove how Jessica explains that ultimately you have to build your own “care package” so to speak to heal and move forward. Sometimes it takes taking a tool from here, adding a new strategy, learning a new method, opening your heart in a slightly different way then putting it all together to make it work and fit for you.
Thank you Jessica for sharing your unique story, it has so many parts of it that people can learn and be inspired from. Thank you so much for doing all you do to support our veterans, give back and make the world a little bit of a better place for everyone!
Make sure to hit PLAY on Jessica’s episode for all of the details of her inspiring story and of course a sneak peek of The Painted Buffalo!
We will see you there! Thank you for being here and sharing / tagging someone who could really use Jessica’s story in their life right now. We appreciate you so much.
Here’s where to connect with the ah – MAZING Jessica Rambo:
@paintedbuffalotravelingstudio on IG and FB
Thanks for stopping by, you are so appreciated! We hope this story inspired you or someone you know on some level. We know it did us, please share away. Always wear that red bra underneath it all and make sure to join the party over @theredbraproject!
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Xx,
The Red Bra Project
