Chalk'd was founded in 2023 by Kara Vaughn with a mission to create positive community impact through art, mental health awareness, and anti-bullying advocacy.
 

After completing the 2023 school year teaching art at Hutchinson Middle School, Kara began experimenting with sidewalk chalk as a creative medium during the summer of 2023. Inspired by the joy her students found in creating chalk murals, she started practicing new techniques and sharing videos of her artwork online.
 

What began as simple chalk drawings outside her apartment quickly gained attention on TikTok, where followers encouraged her creativity and requested new artwork. However, after a misunderstanding with her landlord’s wife, who viewed the washable chalk art negatively, Kara was asked to remove the drawings. She documented the experience online, and the story unexpectedly resonated with millions of people. Support poured in from viewers encouraging her to stand up for herself and continue creating art that brought joy to others.
 

One comment from the conversation with the landlord's wife stayed with her: “I don’t see any chalk art through town.” Rather than responding with negativity, Kara chose to turn the experience into something positive. She organized a community event called “Chalk the Town,” inviting people to fill sidewalks with encouraging messages and artwork.
 

The overwhelming support from the community inspired Kara to think bigger. She realized art could be a powerful tool to bring people together, spark kindness, and create conversations around mental health and bullying prevention. From that idea, Chalk'd was born.
 

Today, Chalk'd continues to use art, creativity, and community engagement to spread positivity and make a lasting difference.