I guide people through creative process—using nature to inspire unexpected solutions, helping them design new approaches together, and building relationships that last beyond the project.

That’s the heart of what I do, whether I’m facilitating a multi-stakeholder collaboration, producing a corporate campaign, managing a complex program, mentoring someone launching a new organization, or teaching.

Here’s how it works:

For 25 years, I’ve been helping people move ideas into action across wildly different contexts—not-for-profits, Fortune 500 companies, universities, advocacy organizations, and individuals working through creative blocks. What’s unusual about how I work? I draw on production, facilitation, program management, conflict resolution, and teaching—shifting between these as the work demands.

Why does that matter? Because creative process is messy. Whether you’re launching an ad campaign, building a new organization, convening diverse stakeholders, or creating an event—you need someone who can keep people engaged, connect unexpected dots, and design solutions that work in the real world.

My background reflects this range:

I hold a BA in Art History from Smith College and an MS in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution from Columbia University, where I was an Earth Institute Fellow at the Advanced Consortium for Conflict, Cooperation, and Complexity. I’ve worked in corporate advertising production, grassroots organizing as a community gardener, university teaching and advising, and served on boards including Kids Creative, Prime Produce Apprentice Cooperative, NYC Health + Hospital, and the Rosa Parks Condominium.

I show up as:

  • Facilitator – bringing groups together to solve complex problems collaboratively

  • Integrated Producer – managing creative projects from concept to completion

  • Program Manager – overseeing multi-faceted initiatives that need strategic coordination

  • Mentor – guiding individuals to move their ideas into action (whether that’s building an organization, creating an event, or working through a creative block)

  • Teacher/Advisor – currently at Columbia University, formerly Adjunct Faculty at The New School

Want to work together?

If you’re navigating a creative challenge—whether it’s a collaboration that needs facilitation, a project or an event that needs producing, a program that needs managing, or an idea that needs to become real—let’s talk.

Organizations and Affiliations

Michelle V. Jackson Consulting

2005 – Present

How I got here:

In 2005, after a decade at major advertising agencies, I launched Snap Indigo—a freelance art production business that evolved into the creative facilitation work I do today.

What drives this work:

I create collaborative processes that people actually enjoy—ones that lead to meaningful environmental and social outcomes. Whether that’s building community resilience, protecting natural resources, advancing equity, or designing sustainable solutions with the people most affected, the goal is always the same: results that meet or exceed expectations while honoring the humans involved.

How I approach projects:

I work across sectors on complex creative challenges—from global photography shoots for international brands to grassroots organizing, illustration projects to multi-stakeholder collaborations. My approach is inclusive and collaborative, drawing on different organizational structures and ways of working. But no matter the scale or context, I keep the human element at the center of getting great work done.

Seeds to Soil

2011 – 2023

Seeds to Soil:

I founded Seeds to Soil, a not-for-profit collective that brought people together around social and environmental engagement. We created training sessions, participatory design workshops, and events—always focusing on hands-on learning and community connection.

Seeds to Soil partnered with organizations on urban agriculture and ecology initiatives, including citizen science projects, oral history work, and field research. Our projects centered on participatory art process and well-being, like:

  • “Tiny Plots” – a distributed milkcrate community garden that brought growing into unexpected spaces

  • “Pollinators Bench” – a sidewalk garden with seating where people can rest and connect with nature

Board Work

2008 – Current

Board Work & Community Leadership:

I’ve served on advisory and executive boards since 2008, bringing my skills to organizations working for social impact. Early on, I learned how critical it is to be at the table—to voice perspectives that might not otherwise be heard when decisions get made.

My board work has included fundraising, systems design, conflict management, consensus building, content production, and sustainability initiatives (like piloting composting and recycling programs in my own building—because if we’re going to talk about sustainability, we need to practice it).

I’ve worked with:

  • 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 – community green space

  • Prime Produce Apprentice Cooperative – a social impact cooperative

  • Rosa Parks Condominium – resident governance and community building

Contact Michelle