Most Inspirational Mississippian 2019 {Life}

Happy Tuesday Y’all!
Today we wanted to share a truly inspirational story with all of you. Stacy Underwood was named Most Inspirational Mississippian in our most recent issue for a very good reason! Her sacrifices, determination, and creativity have made the Jackson community a better place. Stacy is a light in so many people’s lives and we hope her story inspires y’all just as much as it inspired us. Keep reading for more on Stacy Underwood and the incredible organization she founded, HeARTworks.

     Stacy Underwood understands the power of artistic expression. A creative from a young age, Stacy’s own creative ventures changed in nature as she grew older. “I have always loved art, creating things with my hands has always satisfied my soul.  As a child, I loved all things crafty. As a teen, I poured over Martha Stewart magazines for homemade gift ideas. As a college student, I was intrigued by graphic design and now, I am thrilled by the fine arts,” smiles Stacy. Stacy founded HeARTworks eleven years ago. HeARTworks is a program that aims to place the power of creative expression into the hands of individuals who otherwise might not have the opportunity to express themselves through an artistic medium.

     HeARTworks was brought forth from Stacy Underwood’s desire to combine her own passion into a meaningful ministry.  I had been searching for a way to give back and nothing was really inspiring me.  I wanted to create, and I also wanted to help, but just couldn’t get excited about anything until I read Ron Hall’s Same Kind of Different as Me.  After completing that book, God woke me up to a lightning bolt of an idea to start an art program for the homeless.  It just seemed to answer all my questions; I could give back using my passion, art!” says Stacy.

    Almost every Tuesday morning for the past eleven years, the old cafeteria at Stewpot Community Services in downtown Jackson transforms into an art studio. HeARTworks volunteers walk with members of the Stewpot community through the creative process. Stacy, now a faithful volunteer, is there for almost every meeting, and helps the director of  HeARTworks, Mac Brown, run the program smoothly. “ These meetings provide a non intimidating setting for getting to know someone you might not otherwise get to know, in that way HeARTworks is a connector of people. Tuesday morning classes inherently foster deep understandings, empathy, and friendships among all those involved. Aesthetically beautiful art, while exciting when it happens, is not necessarily the ultimate goal of Tuesday mornings,” says Stacy.

     The benefits of the program extend beyond the regular Tuesday morning meetings. The artwork HeARTworks participants create during this time are collected and put on display in the annual HeARTworks Art Show. At the show, members of the Jackson metro area at large are encouraged to come view the hard work of the artists and purchase the pieces that speak to them. Eighty percent of the  proceeds from the sale of the artwork are given directly to the artist and the remaining twenty percent is collected by Stewpot Community Services. The annual show serves to give agency to the artists and educate the greater community about the program.

    The importance of programs like HeARTworks cannot be understated.  Programs that provide disadvantaged individuals in our community the opportunity to gain the resources and knowledge that allow them to recognize their potential as an artist or otherwise, strengthen our entire community from the inside out. It is the sacrifices of individuals like Stacy Underwood and all the HeARTworks volunteers that make the Jackson community a better place. “The old saying, ‘it is better to give than receive,’ may be trite, but it has proven true time and time again in my experience downtown. As a community, we are only as strong as our weakest neighborhood. It seems to me that by that definition, there can be no suburb without the urb. If the heart of our state, Jackson, is not well, the rest of our state suffers, no matter how pretty we paint our buildings,” says Stacy.

    There are many ways to support the mission of HeARTworks. If you feel led to volunteer with program, you are encouraged to help with a Tuesday morning class; all are welcome to join no matter the level of artistic experience. Additionally, the program benefits from donations of acrylic paints, art paper, paint brushes, and other art supplies. Finally, monetary donations are always appreciated. To find out more about the HeARtworks program, please head over to their website www.heartworksms.com or follow them on Instagram @heartworks.

Photography by Christina Foto 
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