OUR STORY
As an arts organization, we are dedicated to inspiring, dreaming, and investing in students to help them overcome challenges through the power of the arts. Our focus is on students utilizing their artistic talents to navigate and overcome life's challenges, with a specific focus on the seven forms of art, including Architecture, Film, Literature, Music, Sculpture, Performance, and Painting. This is a space to share more about our mission, the team behind our organization, and the unique approach we take to make a difference in the lives of students through the arts.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to empower students through the transformative power of art, providing a safe and supportive space where they can explore, express, and grow.
We aim to help them navigate challenges, build resilience, and unlock their full potential, fostering creativity and personal development along the way.
OUR VISSION
Our vision is to equip students with the resources and opportunities to harness the power of the arts in building resilience, confidence, and a strong sense of purpose.
Through creative expression, we strive to inspire young individuals to discover their inner strength and reach their fullest potential, both in and out of the classroom.
FOUNDER
Melissa Jackson Hurd
Is the founder of If Wounds Could Bloom, an art therapy-based program that empowers young people through creative expression. After a career as an international flight attendant, Melissa’s life changed when a neurological condition made her medically disabled after the birth of her son in 2019.
Melissa’s childhood was marked by instability, living in foster care and later experiencing abuse in her adopted family. Throughout these challenges, she found refuge in the arts—whether it was singing with her brothers, writing poetry, or losing herself in books. It was through these creative outlets that she discovered the power of art to heal and transform.
With a passion to give back, Melissa founded If Wounds Could Bloom to provide students a safe space to express themselves and overcome their challenges through art. Her mission is to help children find strength, resilience, and healing through creative expression, believing that art has the power to bloom even from personal wounds.
Melissa is dedicated to expanding the program throughout Bay County and beyond, and she is grateful for the support that helps bring her vision to life.
