When I was in Portland last summer for Portland Ad. Federation‘s COLAB internship-crazy-awesomeness, I started noticing these Oregon-shaped stickers with a green heart within. For the next few months, I took a picture each time I came across one of these stickers and subsequently wrote a post or two about my discoveries.
Fast forward through the details, and I wind up connecting with the founder/brains behind this movement, Chris Bucci – we exchange a few emails as my curiosity and love for this idea grows…Chris sends me a few stickers, which makes my love for this movement even greater. (=
So as I think we all know at this point, I am in Austin. One of the first things I noticed about Texans is hands down their love and pride of being Texan. I was lucky to meet a handful of wonderful Texans with overwhelming Texas pride, and who were willing and excited to include/share that with me (which I thought was incredibly gracious on their end, and made me feel good about settling here)
Anyway, Chris and I connected again – me telling him how much I am impressed with the Texas/Southern hospitality, BUT at the same time, saying how much more pride I have for where I am from now that I am no longer there. So…a few more conversations happen, a handful more stickers come (of Texas AND Oregon now!) and a project between Chris and me evolves!
We’ll see how this project goes, but as you can tell from the Heart in Oregon website, storytelling is HUGE. I love hearing people’s stories and I love that each and every one of us has such a unique and tailored…anthology, really. Also pretty enthused to combine this with a similar project Ashly and I have been brainstorming…
Last night I interviewed my first person – a now friend who I actually (this sounds sketch) met courtesy of Craigslist (NOT missed connections, although I wish! haha) I bought some furniture from him, we became friends, I found his story interesting and voilà!
Not sure the format or how these storytelling pieces will manifest, but regardless, I am extremely excited to see what’s to come! (and equally excited for my new slew of Oregon/Texas heart stickers!)
This is awesome Kim, I can’t wait to read more about the evolution of your project! On a side note, the #COLABpdx interns present their pitches to Columbia this morning – it brings back memories. Sounds like Austin is treating you well, great to hear!
That really does blow my mind! I can’t believe it was just a year ago we were COLABers in PDX preparing to give our Sameunderneath pitches! Time flies and it sure is crazy. Hope all is well with you, courtesy of Twitter, seems like you/Anvil has been great! (=
I am excited to hear the story about your new friend and any more that you run into. I question I often ask folks is what is Texas favorite thing about you.
Bucci