Michelle brings 25 years of domestic and international experience producing creative projects and tackling complex problems using a rare yet effective combination of project management, production, facilitation, and conflict resolution techniques. Michelle focuses on positive social and environmental impact. She facilitates collaboration across not-for-profit organizations, Fortune 500 corporations, universities, and advocacy organizations. Over the years, Michelle has served on the boards of several social and environmental impact-focused organizations, including Kids Creative, Prime Produce Apprentice Cooperative, NYC Health + Hospital | Gotham Health | Sydenham Family Health Center, and the Rosa Parks Condominium. She holds a BA in Art History from Smith College and an MS in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution from Columbia University, where she was an Earth Institute Fellow at the Advanced Consortium for Conflict, Cooperation, and Complexity.
Organizations and Affiliations
Michelle V. Jackson Consulting
2005 – Present
In 2005, after a decade of working for major advertising agencies, Michelle started her freelance art production business, Snap Indigo, which has morphed into the collaboration services consultancy she operates today. As a production expert for domestic and off-shore productions, she facilitates an enjoyable collaborative process that leads to creative and business outcomes that meet or exceed client expectations related to their creative vision, budget, deadlines, and production. Michelle manages an inclusive, collaborative process, drawing upon her knowledge of a wide range of organizational structures and ways of working. She works across sectors on multiple complex creative projects ranging from global photography shoots for large international brands to illustration and design projects.
Seeds to Soil
2011 – Current
Michelle founded Seeds to Soil, a not-for-profit collective of individuals encouraging social and environmental engagement. Seeds to Soil provides training sessions, participatory design workshops, and events. Additionally, Seeds to Soil partners with other organizations on existing urban agriculture and ecology initiatives that include citizen science projects, oral history, and field research. Projects have focused on participatory art process and health well-being including:
"Tiny Plots," a distributed milkcrate community garden;
"Pollinators Bench," a sidewalk garden with a place for people to sit and take a break.
Board Work
2008 – Current
Always looking for new ways to engage her skills towards social impact, Michelle dove into Advisory Boards and Executive Boards in 2008. She quickly learned the importance of being at the table to voice opinions that may not otherwise be heard in decision-making processes. Projects have included: fundraising, systems design, conflict management, consensus building, content production, and sustainability initiatives, including piloting NYC composting and recycling programs in her building. Organizations have included Sydenham, NYC Health + Hospitals | Gotham, a public health clinic; Ms. Steph’s Science Club, STEAM after-school programming; Kids Creative, teaching peace-building through the arts; Carrie McCracken TRUCE Community Garden; Prime Produce Apprentice Cooperative, a social impact cooperative, and the Rosa Parks Condominium.
