Origin

“A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering flax He will not snuff out.”
Isaiah 42:3 · Matthew 12:20

The faintly burning wick has a name.

FlaxCo comes from the biblical image of smoldering flax: something bruised, fragile, and barely alight, yet neither abandoned nor extinguished. The community exists to recognize and nurture the creative flame in a person before it goes dark.

Backstory

The seed began around 1998 at Big Idea Productions, when Chris Meidl walked a Chicago studio and saw artists motivated by a mission but waiting for a place to make their own work. He determined then to advocate for those personal visions.

Following the days at Big Idea, a handful of artists gathered on a church lawn in Wheaton and imagined Freaky Kids Co-op: not a club, academy, or program, but a cooperative where people contribute what they have, receive what they need, and belong because they are known.

That dream traveled to Franklin. Years later, a conversation at Good Cup with Will McGinniss—and a long-held partnership with John Boyd—gave the co-op a new biblical language. The Broken Vessel became smoldering flax. The three sat down. FlaxCo was born.

“FlaxCo is built to be a place to fan flames of what is already there.”
Chris Meidl

Founders

Three people. One burden.

“We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”
2 Corinthians 4:7

Founder

Chris Meidl

Chris is an enterprise strategist and catalytic leader who has spent decades advocating for artists, the abused, and people living with mental and behavioral health challenges. His path includes worship leadership, nonprofit and entertainment founding, public policy, and law. The seed of FlaxCo began at Big Idea Productions in the late 1990s, when he first determined to protect the personal creative dreams of working artists.

“A young creative’s path is shaped in key moments. We exist to meet them there with our toolbox and battle scars in hand.”

Founder

John Boyd

With 25 years in music and design, John brings a balance of artistry and execution across brands, live events, spaces, and video. His work as a creative director aligns with FlaxCo and The Odeon: experiences where aesthetics and performance move people, not merely impress them. Creativity matters most when it creates genuine human-to-human connection.

“We are building a community, not a company.”

Founder

Will McGinniss

A founding member of the Grammy Award-winning band Audio Adrenaline, Will often says music saved his life. That conviction fuels his work to create a safe, inspiring space for young artists. Beyond the stage he has led mission-driven work through Hands & Feet Project and other ventures supporting artists and artisans. He serves FlaxCo so young creatives in Franklin have a place to be seen, supported, and formed.

“I just love seeing good happen.”