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Our Story
Built on the Belief That Healing Can Begin Simply
Healing Through Creativity Foundation was founded by Michelle Lee from a deeply personal belief that meaningful change can begin with a quiet moment, a creative practice, and an accessible place to reflect. Through personal experience and community observation, Michelle recognized that many people were never taught the importance of mindfulness—especially the importance of becoming aware of the thoughts they repeatedly carry.
Thoughts can influence emotions. Emotions can shape choices, and choices help shape experiences. Yet many individuals facing trauma, chronic stress, recovery challenges, or difficult life transitions were never given practical tools to slow down, notice these patterns, and respond with greater awareness. This is not a personal failure; it is often an educational and support gap.
Healing Through Creativity Foundation was established to help bridge that gap. Through accessible, creative emotional-wellness education, we help people practice mindfulness, recognize unhelpful thought patterns, and develop healthier, more compassionate ways of thinking about themselves. By understanding how thoughts can influence emotions, choices, and experiences, individuals can begin building healthier patterns over time. By teaching children these skills early, we hope to break cycles before they are passed from one generation to the next—helping children grow with greater self-awareness, self-worth, emotional resilience, compassion, and hope.
Compassion
Integrity
Inclusivity
Accessibility
Creative Expression
Ethical Leadership
Our Mission
Healing Through Creativity Foundation provides free, accessible educational emotional-wellness resources that combine mindfulness, guided reflection, coloring, journaling, affirmations, and creative expression. We serve individuals and communities navigating adversity, recovery and reentry, chronic stress, difficult transitions, and limited access to supportive wellness resources. Our programs build emotional awareness, resilience, coping skills, and hope; they do not provide therapy, diagnosis, or clinical treatment.
Our Vision
A world where creativity, mindfulness, and self-reflection are recognized as practical, accessible pathways to emotional awareness, resilience, recovery, and lasting well-being.
Our Leadership
Meet Our Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors provides strategic leadership, governance oversight, financial stewardship, and mission-centered guidance. Board members bring experience across education, community service, nonprofit operations, finance, outreach, organizational development, and wellness-centered programming, united by a commitment to expanding access to practical emotional-wellness resources.
DW
David Wiggins
Chair
JF
James Fields
Vice Chair
MM
Melanie Mayes
Secretary
LM
Lisa McSwain
Treasurer
SG
Summer Gibson
Program Oversight
MC
Michele Cobb
Academic & Clinical Advisor
LH
Lori Henson
Program Coordinator
ML
Michelle Lee
Founder & Executive Director
Our Values
The Principles That Guide Our Work
At Healing Through Creativity Foundation, our values shape every program, partnership, and community initiative. These principles guide how we serve others, steward resources, build relationships, and carry out our mission to expand access to emotional wellness and creative healing resources.
Compassion
We lead with empathy, dignity, and respect for lived experiences. We are committed to creating emotionally safe, trauma-informed, and supportive environments that encourage healing, resilience, and hope.
Accessibility
We believe emotional wellness resources should be accessible to everyone, regardless of income, background, or circumstance. Our programs are designed to be inclusive, low-barrier, and community-centered.
Integrity
We uphold transparency, accountability, and ethical stewardship in all organizational decisions, partnerships, and financial practices. We are committed to honoring the trust placed in us by our communities, supporters, and partners.
Inclusivity
We strive to create welcoming and respectful spaces where individuals of all backgrounds, identities, abilities, and life experiences feel seen, valued, and supported.
Creative Expression
We believe creativity, mindfulness, and self-reflection can serve as powerful tools for emotional healing, personal growth, and resilience. We encourage self-expression without judgment, pressure, or expectation.
Community Impact
We are committed to building meaningful partnerships and sustainable programs that strengthen individuals, families, and underserved communities through accessible emotional wellness support.
Ethical Leadership
We believe responsible governance, collaboration, and mission-centered leadership are essential to creating lasting and measurable community impact.