It all began quite innocently. A neighbor shared a snapshot of a handwritten sign she spotted in our town, tagging me with a note saying, “Lisa, I thought you’d appreciate this! Maybe you could create something similar!” The sign proclaimed:
In This House, We Believe:
- Black Lives Matter
- Women’s Rights are Human Rights
- No Human is Illegal
- Science is Real
- Love is Love
- Kindness is Everything
I adored the straightforwardness of these messages. Their collective power didn’t diminish their individual importance; instead, they echoed a sentiment many of us have been feeling: the urgent need to advocate for humanity, decency, and kindness.
Being in the publishing world, I’m lucky to know a ton of talented artists and designers. On a whim, I tossed the original sign up on my Facebook, asking if anyone would be keen on doing a pro bono design. My friend, former colleague, and current globe-trotter Molly Davis from 123 Designs jumped at the opportunity and had a stunning image ready in no time.
Another friend, Sarah Lee, stepped up to help figure out production and spreading the word. Just to clarify: this wasn’t my wording or my idea. I merely reached out to some amazing people and asked for a little support. I’m a busy mom with a full-time job and commitments to various nonprofits. I wasn’t searching for a project, nor could I manage all the work alone. None of us could! We all pitched in what we could and made it happen.
Almost immediately after posting the image to our community group and sharing it across our personal pages, things exploded. One of our images got over 30,000 shares! Our inboxes were inundated with requests from folks wanting signs in their neighborhoods.
In making our project public, we discovered the sign’s original creator, another inspiring mom from Madison named Rachel Smith. We sought her blessing to continue promoting her messages for a good cause, and she graciously allowed us to proceed. Every step of the way, we ensured she was aware that we would never profit from her words; we were committed to using them for positive change.
Before we launched, Molly, Sarah, and I agreed that this sign needed to be more than just a trendy slogan. We aimed to generate actual financial support for organizations that uphold the values expressed in those slogans. To date, we’ve raised over $7,000 for the ACLU through the sales of yard signs in and around Madison and the Upper Midwest. Groups across the country have adopted our model, including a cozy café in Denver that gave away signs to customers. A community in Northern California even raised nearly $2,000 for the ACLU!
A quick search on Instagram for #kindnessiseverything reveals signs popping up from coast to coast, from LA to Miami, and St. Paul to San Antonio. Musician Eric Johnson shared a photo on Facebook of the sign in his parents’ yard, giving us all the feels. One woman in Grand Rapids posted that someone left her a pound of coffee with a note saying, “Your yard sign made me happy and gave me hope!”
After a couple of months of dedicating four to six hours daily just to manage inquiries about the design, we were all feeling pretty worn out. So, we decided to gift the design to an organization that could continue its mission while letting us reclaim our lives. We chose to donate it to the Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health, knowing that women’s health is vital for our community’s overall well-being. They’ve since raised $4,000 from the designs, with many people purchasing signs and shirts for the women’s marches.
I share this story repeatedly because it highlights an important truth: we are just four women. Three of us are moms juggling full-time jobs. Yet, united by a common purpose, we’ve been able to achieve far more collectively than we could have alone.
We’ve received numerous requests to expand the messages on the signs addressing various issues, from environmental concerns to religious tolerance. That’s the beauty of this initiative; it encourages people to think: How can we broaden our reach? How can we include those who have been marginalized or overlooked?
These signs challenge us all to embrace the “and.” They inspire us to utilize our skills, talents, and yes, our time, to not just strive for improvement but to actively foster goodness.
For those interested in joining the kindness revolution, check out the sign project on Facebook at Kindness is Everything. To support the cause (with proceeds going to charity), visit www.makeamom.com/artificial-insemination-kit/impregnator-at-home-insemination-kit.
Summary:
This article recounts how a group of moms came together to promote kindness through impactful messaging. With a simple sign, they began a movement that has garnered national attention and raised funds for the ACLU. They emphasize that collective efforts can lead to significant changes, encouraging everyone to contribute their talents for the greater good.