Meet the Co-Founders
Learn about the stories and goals behind SSC
Co-Founder & Co-CEO
Vanessa Lee
Vanessa Lee, a senior at Townsend Harris High School, has a strong passion for the arts and mental health advocacy. Her lifelong experience of using art as both a hobby and emotional outlet during health obstacles has led her to the founding of SoulSketch Collective. Through SSC, she aims to unite youth communities to form support systems, fostering a sense of stability and confidence through art.
Co-Founder & Co-CEO
Michelle Shi
Michelle Shi, a senior at Townsend Harris High School, upholds the belief that everyone deserves space to express and make meaning of their experiences—to collectively sketch for the soul. Her founding of SSC was sparked by a deep-rooted passion for socio-psychological research, art-making, and celebrating what makes us human. Together, she strives to help underserved youth develop practices for more confident, connected lives.