March 20, 2025 • 27 mins
In a world filled with negativity and division, it's refreshing to hear an inspiring story about kindness and connection. This episode features Jennifer Hunsinger, the founder of Project Happiness LSMO, who has dedicated herself to spreading joy through uplifting signs in her neighborhood. Faced with the challenges of social discord, Jennifer and her community replaced political signs with messages of positivity. Their grassroots campaign captures how small actions can create significant ripples of joy, ultimately fostering connection and happiness.
Throughout the conversation, we explore how Jennifer's vision transformed into a movement that not only united neighbors but also sparked curiosity and positivity throughout their community. Her journey illustrates the power of one idea and the importance of engaging with those around us, especially during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic, when interactions are crucial yet often limited.
Jennifer's insights serve as motivational fuel, encouraging listeners to recognize the potential within themselves to bring about change and inspire kindness. This episode ultimately reinforces that even in moments when we may feel powerless or uncertain, there's always an opportunity to spread joy. Tune in to uncover the heartwarming impact of community-driven kindness and how you, too, can embark on your own journey to create a wave of positivity. Don't miss out—share this episode and connect with your loved ones to create a brighter tomorrow! You can connect with Project Happiness LSMO on Facebook and Instagram
This podcast is a proud member of the Mayday Media Network. If you have an idea for a podcast and need some production assistance or have a podcast and are looking for a supportive network to join, check out maydaymedianetwork.com.
Like what you hear on the podcast? Follow our social media for more uplifting, inspirational and feel-good content.
It's one thing to highlight the kindness that we see in the world, but it's another to, as I put in many of my social media posts, #bethechange. I am donating all of my royalties from the sale of my book, Change A World; In Order to Change The World to local and national non-profits. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, hello there and welcome.
You are listening to theKindness Matters podcast and I
am your host, mike Rathbun.
What is this podcast all about?
It's about kindness.
It's a pushback againsteverything negative that we see
in the news and on social mediatoday, and it's a way to
(00:20):
highlight people, organizations,that are simply striving to
make their little corner of theworld a little better place.
If you want to join in on theconversation, feel free, Go
ahead and follow us on all ofyour social media feeds.
We're on Facebook, instagram,tiktok.
We're even on LinkedIn underMike Rathbun.
(00:42):
Check us out.
We're even on LinkedIn underMike Rathbun.
Check us out and, in themeantime, so sit back, relax,
enjoy and we'll get into theKindness Matters podcast.
Hey, hello and welcome everybodyto the show.
Thank you so much for joiningin, thank you for taking the
time to listen.
(01:02):
If you hear anything in thisshow that is motivational or
inspirational or uplifting, I dohope that you will share it
with your friends and familymaybe some work colleagues,
whatever the case may be andspread the happiness, spread the
(01:25):
love, spread the joy, spreadall the good things, because the
world needs it more than everright now.
Right, let's get into the showtoday.
Have you ever looked around,particularly in the last nine
years or so, and just whetherit's your city or your town or
(01:48):
even your neighborhood, justkind of looked at it and thought
, gosh, we're all so divided,we're all so angry.
I really wish there wassomething we could do about it.
Well, my guest today had thesame thought and decided to do
something about it.
Jennifer Hunsinger is the.
What do you call?
Speaker 2 (02:09):
yourself the CEO.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
The founder.
The founder I like that thefounder of Project Happiness
L-S-M-O.
I had to enunciate there andit's a 501c3 nonprofit and
welcome to the show, jennifer.
Thank you so much for beinghere.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Oh gosh, it's so great.
And this whole group, thiswhole organization.
It just started withfrustration for you.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Yeah, just concern.
Concern, I would say concernabout okay but when we started
back in 2016, it was we were inthe middle of a real heated
presidential election and I justwas very concerned I would
begin to see divide in theneighborhood that I had really
invested in I mean my home whereI was raising my children and I
didn't.
I didn't want to see that, so Ithought I'd um, put a movement,
(03:05):
you know, start a happiness,kindness movement yeah, and, and
now you have a a connection toanother one of my guests.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Uh, you're both from the same area, um yeah, karen
Hou is my neighbor.
Karen Houck from Alyssa'sWishes.
Yeah, wow, so much kindness inone little tiny town, one small
town.
Yeah, it's really fun, she'sjust a couple streets over, so
people come visit us and thencome visit her, or vice versa.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
So they get a big burst of joy in their day when
they enter into our neighborhood.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Yeah, so what was your first thought?
Speaker 2 (03:49):
How did you see combating this negativity
process best and well, withthere being an election upcoming
, I knew that signs would belike political signs would be
placed in people's yards, likethey would put a sign I'm for
him, I'm for her.
And I just knew that really Inever had a time in my life
(04:10):
where I didn't feel like I couldspeak to people, even loved
ones, about politics.
I felt like there was suchdivide, and I'd never
experienced that in my lifebefore, and so I certainly
didn't want signs showing up inpeople's yards, because then you
would automatically think, oh,they have different views or
they're different than me, theybelieve different things,
they're on the opposite side, ifyou will.
(04:32):
And I thought that is horrible,and I was the mom that always
had block parties and alwayscreated connection, and so I
thought why don't we put signsin people's yards that just say
happy sayings, like be kind, youknow, smile, have the best day
ever, things like that?
And so I had this idea and Itook it to my family and they
(04:54):
thought it was really neat.
So I went to the neighbors andthey were all about it.
So it got started with signs inpeople's yards to replace the,
maybe the negativity of whatpolitical signs would bring.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Right For sure.
Now was this just like posterboard and some sticks, or how
did you go about?
Speaker 2 (05:15):
that it started out with poster board and sticks and
we quickly realized that if itrained, our signs would be gone
and so we just put.
It was really kind of crazy.
We put packing tape.
We just stripped packing tapeover these poster board signs to
make them sturdy.
I kept a few of them in mygarage just for nostalgia, that
(05:38):
first year that we put the signsout in 2016,.
They were those old fashionsigns and then that sign
campaign was a huge hit.
Once we put those signs inpeople's yards, we started with
just a few, just our block, andyou wouldn't believe cars were
stopping saying what is this?
Why are you?
You doing this?
(05:58):
They were amazed that someonewould go to such lengths to make
people smile, I mean yeah itwas crazy and the news stations
came out and we were in thenewspaper.
People couldn't believe what wedid with these small 36 signs
that neighbors made to makeother people smile wow, wow.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
So you got like the news and the newspapers come out
and cover it.
How amazing.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
It was so amazing because the signs impacted
people's day so positively.
We live on a main street, likea thoroughfare, you know, so a
lot of traffic.
It's a really heavily drivenarea and so we were creating
kindness.
But then also we connected ourlittle community because people
once they heard of the idea theywanted to help make signs, so
we had neighbors making signsand so really the grassroots
(06:53):
effort to create kindness, Imean it just really worked.
I mean it was just firing onall cylinders.
Everyone was thrilled about itand just shocked that we were
able to pull it off.
It was really worked.
I mean it was just firing onall cylinders, everyone was
thrilled about it and justshocked that we were able to
pull it off.
It was really cool.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Did you?
I mean, this probably wentbeyond your wildest dreams,
right?
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Yeah, it was pretty big.
I mean, we were shocked.
People were letting us knowthat the news story was airing
in other cities.
You know, sister news stationswere picking it up and it was
really cool.
We realized it was reallyneeded and so we didn't it
didn't.
I mean, it wasn't just aone-time thing.
We thought we'd do it thatelection season in 2016 and then
(07:29):
people really just wanted thesigns to continue.
So we we decided to continuedoing it.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
I.
I was going to ask so what wasthe initial reaction from the
neighbors when you startedputting up these signs?
You said the neighbors were inon it.
Is that right?
Speaker 2 (07:46):
They were in on it.
Because you can't just put asign in someone's yard.
Just because I want a happysign in your yard, I can't come
to your yard and put a signthere.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Don't put a happy sign in my yard.
There's always that guy.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
It's true, we had to go door to door to ask the
neighbors if they wanted thesigns, and everyone wanted a
sign, and so we were able, whichreally, I think, helped the
impact of the project, becauseit wasn't just one sign here or
there.
They were literally in everyhome on the block.
So in one block there was 37signs, and so that was huge.
(08:24):
And then we decided to continuedoing it, and so we did it
twice a year for several yearsuntil COVID hit.
And then when COVID hit the needfor the signs and we, you know
we weren't supposed to beconnecting during COVID.
You know distancing and um, andthat was put a wrench in things
(08:48):
as well, cause our whole pointwas to connect people and then
hear everyone saying don'tconnect distance, stay away from
people, and that that threw awrench in things for a minute.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
Oh boy, yeah, I'll bet.
So I mean, were you gettingtogether to make the signs?
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Yeah, so some of our neighbors.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
So you'd have like sign making parties.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Yes, yeah, we did so, we'd have them.
It started just in my house andthen, once it grew, churches
would donate spaces for us tocome to use their area, their
big um commons area, to help,and so we had neighbors that
were really good at making thesigns and we graduated from the
(09:29):
cardboard sign with the woodenstakes to coroplast and good
heavy duty sharpies and someh-frame metal stakes, and so we
we got a nice.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
Now you're in the, and so we got a little smarter
Nice.
Now you're in the big leagues.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Yeah, we got a little smarter with the signs, so they
uphold the weather and peoplecan keep them out longer, which
is really nice.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
That's fantastic, and so so you were just twice a
year.
Did you say you were puttingthese out?
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Yeah, twice a year, until COVID hit.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Until.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
And then, when COVID hit, we realized we can't go to
these people's doors becausepeople wouldn't answer the door.
It was just, everyone wasscared.
I mean, we didn't know what washappening in the world.
And so I decided to put acooler at the end of my driveway
with signs Me and my twoteenage daughters well, at that
time, yeah, they were teenagersMe and my two teenage daughters
(10:17):
and my husband were home.
You know, they sent everyonehome.
We were at home with a lot oftime on our hands, a lot, and so
we decided just to make thesigns, put them at the end of
the driveway and anyone whowanted to come get them could
come get them.
And that summer, mike, we made 1, made 1500 signs out of our
(10:37):
living room, people just keptcoming to get the signs and the
street filled up with signs,neighborhoods around us,
different cities outside of ourcity filled up with signs.
People just were craving thatpositivity, the messages of
kindness, encouragement, hope.
They just wanted it.
Positivity, the messages ofkindness, encouragement, hope.
(10:58):
They just wanted it.
And it was incredible.
And people started donating,giving us money for the signs,
and so we were able to.
We had become a 501c3 in 2019,but in 2020, we had a huge year
because people wanted to helpout and they wanted to continue
with our mission of spreadingthose messages, and it was
something all I mean.
(11:18):
Just I'll always look back onthat year with our family as
just a very unique moment intime where we were able to
really create something awesomeand do it together as a family.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
Yeah, okay, and that's a whole other thing too,
because this was something thatyou could all do together as a
family, and it was positive andit was upbeat and these days, of
course, they're talking abouthow everybody's noses are in
their phones or their tablets.
This was something that youguys could get around the
(11:53):
kitchen table or what have youand just have fun and make up
signs and connect withyourselves, and it probably
helped your family as much ormore than it did the
neighborhood, right.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
I have always thought that these messages that we put
on these signs are as much forme, just affirmations, and as
much messages that I need.
When I'm making the signs, Ithink about what does Jennifer
need to hear today?
What messages do I need to hearwhen my girls make them?
It's the same thing.
So the message uplift us beforethey even head out into the
community.
And then to know, that they goout there and they uplift other
(12:26):
people and we hear thedifference they make.
It's huge and it's beenfabulous for my girls to see
that if you have an idea, youcan go out into the world and
make a difference.
I mean, one person with oneidea can go out and make an
impact.
And I loved showing that to mydaughters because I think a lot
of people think, well, there'snothing I can do and
(12:47):
everything's out of whack.
Well, that's not true.
If you have an idea and youhave intention and you're
willing to let the rubber meetthe road, you can change things.
And it might be on a very smallscale, but it makes me feel
better to know that I've made adifference and I've shown my
girls that they can make adifference.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
Yeah, for sure, and I think you're absolutely right.
People oftentimes they lookaround and they look and they
see these things and they go.
I'm just one person.
What can I do?
And you are living, breathing,walking proof that one idea can
(13:27):
make a positive difference inthe world and that is such an
important takeaway from thisepisode?
I think so.
Okay, I lost my train ofthought.
It left the station without me,jennifer, so why?
Why decide to become anonprofit?
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Well, people were giving us money for the signs
and I didn't feel comfortablejust taking the money and you
know, just my family going outto eat, or you know I didn't
feel like yeah, I didn't feelcomfortable putting in my own
bank account per se.
I thought this money can giveback and so we started the 501c3
we.
I did not know what I was doingwhen I started oh my gosh, I've
(14:12):
heard that such a horrible,terrifying venture.
There's a lot that goes into it.
It's not just okay now I'm acharity, it's okay.
You have to have bylaws, youneed a board of directors, you
have some reporting to dothere's a lot that goes into it.
I just wanted to spreadkindness, and so I had to really
(14:33):
figure out how do I do this andstay legal and use this money
for good.
I knew what I wanted to use themoney for.
There's so much need in ourcommunity, right here in our own
community, that I knew we couldhelp, and so I had to find some
great people to circle aroundme that understood the nonprofit
world, and I have.
We've been really blessed, andso we've been able to do quite a
(14:54):
bit with the funds that we getfrom the, from our supporters.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Wow, yeah, and people are just like throwing money at
you.
Make more signs.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
Make more signs and continue to connect the
community.
We have fun.
We plan fun events.
Now we even have a scholarshipprogram for high school seniors
that are interested in givingback to the community and that's
been so fun to hear from ouryouth in this world that is
trying to make a differencethemselves and love serving, and
so we're able to help supportthem and I really love hearing
(15:28):
their stories on theirscholarship applications as to
how they want to make adifference.
I mean, sometimes you canlisten to the news and think
this world is going all wrongand you may have to look a
little bit, but you can realizequickly that's not the truth.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
Yeah, and we often hear the whole thing about.
You know, gen Zers, and theymight be lazy or they might be
this or that, and if there's aproblem in the country then it's
partly their fault, whatever.
But that's not the case, is it?
They really do care and theyreally do want to make a
difference.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Yes, one of my favorite events that we do is
coming up this week where we goto work with the National Honor
Society at a local high schoolwhere all the kids gather and
they make signs.
And they're making signs touplift the kids that are coming
into their school.
So, like the feeder schools,the elementariesaries and the
middle schools that will begintesting this spring, they'll
(16:24):
make fun signs to uplift themand then they take the signs to
those feeder schools and putthem out.
So they'll create 100 signs andthey'll go to different
elementaries and differentmiddle schools in our community.
And I don't make the signs.
The kids make the signs.
They come up with their ownwords, their own encouraging
phrases and, like you said,they're not on their phones.
They're sitting in a big artroom with their fellow students
(16:47):
with big markers and they'retrying to think of fun sayings
and they're really connecting.
It's really so great to seethem lay their screens down and
just connect.
I love that so much.
I love just how inclusive thisproject has become because
people from all ages can createthe signs.
(17:08):
We work with Girl Scouts, wework in nursing homes, I mean
it's just a wide range.
It really includes everyone anddoes like you said, they get to
unplug for a bit and connectwith other people and create
something awesome.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Wow, that's so cool.
So nursing homes, huh.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Yes, john, knox Village is a retirement
community, not a nursing home,but a retirement community
around here and they.
We have a little pocket of bigsupporters there that love what
we do and they're kind of ourbiggest cheerleaders.
They're really fun people andthey love it and I love that.
It can be all the way.
You know all opposite ends ofthe spectrum, you know all
different people can really getbehind this grassroots effort to
(17:51):
create kindness.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
That's so cool.
So now different organizationsor groups heard about your signs
and they're like we want in onthat.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
Yes, yeah, oh.
You know we have worked withdifferent organizations who want
some kind of something like ateam building activity for their
staff, and so we've helped withteam building for staffs, which
is really fun, yeah.
And then we work with the GirlScouts and, like I said, the
local high school.
Yes, it's been reallyeye-opening to me.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
I had no idea you had such a reach.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Yeah, I mean, right here in our little area it's
really.
I mean, we get, I guess we getthe message out through social
media and we have a website, sopeople hear about us and just
word of mouth.
I think a lot of people alsojust see the signs out and about
and are curious what's this allabout?
Speaker 1 (18:42):
Yeah, for sure.
Oh, that is so cool, so, but doyou do other things in the
community?
Speaker 2 (18:52):
I mean, what type of Well, we help our Downtown Lee
Summit.
They have events like theirFourth Friday Art Walk and we
attend those.
And we have our downtown LeeSummit.
They have events like theirFourth Friday Art Walk and we
attend those.
And we have not just signsthere, we'll do other fun crafts
to create, you know, just toget people together.
Oh, we do stuff like that.
So mainly we do sign events, wedo a parade, we do a
(19:16):
neighborhood parade just toconnect people.
So you know, we just kind ofplay it by ear.
If something fun comes up, itsounds like it's our cup of tea
and it has to do with thecommunity, then we're all about
it.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
That's fantastic, it's.
It's just so cool because whenand we've already talked about
that but how you were able to,nine years ago, look at the
world and go, dang, this sucks,we need to do better.
(19:50):
And then you made it happen.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
Yeah, it's really fun .
It's just every day that we getto do it and that people
support us and keep us going isjust a real gift, so I love it.
I'll do it as long as we havesupporters, as long as there's a
need out there, and I feel likethat's going to be ongoing.
Every year, I feel like, oh, weneed this more than we did the
last year.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Has it changed?
You know, have you ever seenyears where you go oh, I, we're
making a difference.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
And then in other years you go not so much so
maybe not necessarily years, butthere are seasons where you can
get in your own head and feellike, well, maybe I'm doing this
and it isn't making adifference and that's just
really what you know.
I have to get out of my ownhead about it.
I do notice, probably, onething as the years have
progressed We've always been adoor-to-door.
(20:42):
We go door-to-door to askpeople if they want the signs
when we put the signs up in thewhole neighborhood and I did
notice this past fall maybe Ihave noticed the past couple of
falls people opening the doorless to us or just being inside
and not coming to the door.
I have noticed that and thatcan be a little discouraging,
but I think it's just the timewe live in.
(21:03):
I'm not certain anybody, youknow, I think people are just
more cautious, you know, and soI haven't noticed that and that
is sad to me Because I'm justreal personable and I really I
really crave connection and sothat makes me sad, but I but I
know that there's more peoplethat do open the door and more
(21:23):
people that want to participate,and so I have to just focus on
the good, and I have to focus onthe positive and not get
discouraged.
It is it's always easy to lookat the negativity around and let
that get to you, so you have tohave a piece of you that's
always willing to look on thebright side, and that's how I
was raised, you know, that's howmy parents raised me, and so
that's something that I'veinstilled in my kids.
(21:45):
And it's always important whenyou start to get down and feel
like maybe you're not making adifference, to really um all the
good you've done, and look atum how you can keep going and
continue making a difference.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
And you are making such an amazing difference,
Jennifer, you and the wholegroup there at Project Happiness
LSMO.
Is that the actual LSMO thatstands for Lee's Summit,
Missouri, right?
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Yes, yeah, lee's Summit Missouri.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
Okay, so that's yeah.
I suppose you probably couldn'tgo just Project Happiness,
because maybe somebody's alreadytaken that one.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Yeah there's another, Project Happiness, and so maybe
when picking the name we couldhave done something a little bit
easier, but Project HappinessLSM.
We're proud of the town we livein and we love Lee's Summit,
Missouri, so I like that they'reconnected with us in the name
and that they allow us to dosome work with them.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
Yeah, for sure, and it perfectly.
That's a perfect descriptor ofwho you guys are.
Project Happiness, lead SummitMissouri.
Yes, that's so fantastic and Ithink you guys are doing such an
amazing job, jennifer.
You guys are, in fact, making apositive difference in the
world, in fact making a positivedifference in the world.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Because somebody in Australia could hear about you
and go oh, I need to do that.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
That was a horrible Australian accent, but you know
what I meant, right?
Speaker 2 (23:13):
Yes, absolutely.
We've talked to people indifferent cities that have tried
to do sign campaigns or havedone sign campaigns successfully
with their groups and theirneighborhoods and it's been so
fun.
I've never heard that they'rekind of an ongoing thing, but
I've heard it's been like a onetime let's get together and
let's do this and I have enjoyedhearing that.
I love when it gets back to methat it is been duplicated
(23:34):
somewhere else, that is.
I think that's really great.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
That's fantastic, and our listeners can follow you
guys on social media, right?
You're on Facebook, you're onInstagram.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
Yep Project Happiness LSMO, and then we have a
website, projecthappinesslsmoorg, and you can we have fun
t-shirts on there.
We have a really fun have thebest day ever t-shirt.
That's kind of my favoritephrase.
It's really, really cute and Iwork at a school so a lot of
teachers have it and you canjust you can watch news stories.
It's really fun.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
It's fantastic and and bless you guys, bless your
hearts for in a non-Southernkind of way, bless your hearts
really seriously for everythingyou do.
You um again, I, I, I, I justam amazed.
And if my listeners, I'll haveall of um, all of Jennifer's and
(24:31):
project happiness is links inthe show notes.
Go and check them out.
I hope you're inspired.
You know what?
Start a campaign in your ownneighborhood.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
And if you need any help, I'm sure if you reach out
to Jennifer she'll probably giveyou a hand too.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
Yeah, that would be awesome.
I would love it.
And thanks for taking time totalk to me just to learn about
our project, because I enjoy.
I just love to see what it'sdone and I love to see you know
that it's going to go further.
And thanks for spreading theword.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
You're absolutely welcome, very welcome.
Thank you for taking some timeto be on with me today.
I appreciate it from the bottomof my heart.
You take care and we will talkagain soon, thank you.
I want to thank you for takingthis time to listen to this
episode with my guest, jenniferHunsinger from Project Happiness
(25:26):
LSMO.
I had to get it all in there.
I hope you're able to takesomething positive from the time
that you spent with us.
Maybe you'll be inspired, maybeyou'll be motivated, maybe
you'll be moved.
If you experienced any of thosepositive feelings, please
consider sharing this podcastwith your friends and family.
I'm always striving to offeryou a better podcast, so give me
(25:49):
some feedback.
Let me know how you think I'mdoing.
Email me, leave me a message onsocials.
It would mean the world.
Also feel free to follow us onour socials like Facebook,
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You've been listening to theKindness Matters podcast.
I am your host, mike Rathbun.
Have a fantastic week.
Well, hello there and welcome.
You are listening to theKindness Matters podcast and I
am your host, mike Rathbun.
What is this podcast all about?
It's about kindness.
It's a pushback againsteverything negative that we see
in the news and on social mediatoday, and it's a way to
(00:20):
highlight people, organizations,that are simply striving to
make their little corner of theworld a little better place.
If you want to join in on theconversation, feel free, Go
ahead and follow us on all ofyour social media feeds.
We're on Facebook, instagram,tiktok.
We're even on LinkedIn underMike Rathbun.
(00:42):
Check us out.
We're even on LinkedIn underMike Rathbun.
Check us out and, in themeantime, so sit back, relax,
enjoy and we'll get into theKindness Matters podcast.
Hey, hello and welcome everybodyto the show.
Thank you so much for joiningin, thank you for taking the
time to listen.
(01:02):
If you hear anything in thisshow that is motivational or
inspirational or uplifting, I dohope that you will share it
with your friends and familymaybe some work colleagues,
whatever the case may be andspread the happiness, spread the
(01:25):
love, spread the joy, spreadall the good things, because the
world needs it more than everright now.
Right, let's get into the showtoday.
Have you ever looked around,particularly in the last nine
years or so, and just whetherit's your city or your town or
(01:48):
even your neighborhood, justkind of looked at it and thought
, gosh, we're all so divided,we're all so angry.
I really wish there wassomething we could do about it.
Well, my guest today had thesame thought and decided to do
something about it.
Jennifer Hunsinger is the.
What do you call?
Speaker 2 (02:09):
yourself the CEO.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
The founder.
The founder I like that thefounder of Project Happiness
L-S-M-O.
I had to enunciate there andit's a 501c3 nonprofit and
welcome to the show, jennifer.
Thank you so much for beinghere.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Oh gosh, it's so great.
And this whole group, thiswhole organization.
It just started withfrustration for you.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Yeah, just concern.
Concern, I would say concernabout okay but when we started
back in 2016, it was we were inthe middle of a real heated
presidential election and I justwas very concerned I would
begin to see divide in theneighborhood that I had really
invested in I mean my home whereI was raising my children and I
didn't.
I didn't want to see that, so Ithought I'd um, put a movement,
(03:05):
you know, start a happiness,kindness movement yeah, and, and
now you have a a connection toanother one of my guests.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Uh, you're both from the same area, um yeah, karen
Hou is my neighbor.
Karen Houck from Alyssa'sWishes.
Yeah, wow, so much kindness inone little tiny town, one small
town.
Yeah, it's really fun, she'sjust a couple streets over, so
people come visit us and thencome visit her, or vice versa.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
So they get a big burst of joy in their day when
they enter into our neighborhood.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Yeah, so what was your first thought?
Speaker 2 (03:49):
How did you see combating this negativity
process best and well, withthere being an election upcoming
, I knew that signs would belike political signs would be
placed in people's yards, likethey would put a sign I'm for
him, I'm for her.
And I just knew that really Inever had a time in my life
(04:10):
where I didn't feel like I couldspeak to people, even loved
ones, about politics.
I felt like there was suchdivide, and I'd never
experienced that in my lifebefore, and so I certainly
didn't want signs showing up inpeople's yards, because then you
would automatically think, oh,they have different views or
they're different than me, theybelieve different things,
they're on the opposite side, ifyou will.
(04:32):
And I thought that is horrible,and I was the mom that always
had block parties and alwayscreated connection, and so I
thought why don't we put signsin people's yards that just say
happy sayings, like be kind, youknow, smile, have the best day
ever, things like that?
And so I had this idea and Itook it to my family and they
(04:54):
thought it was really neat.
So I went to the neighbors andthey were all about it.
So it got started with signs inpeople's yards to replace the,
maybe the negativity of whatpolitical signs would bring.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Right For sure.
Now was this just like posterboard and some sticks, or how
did you go about?
Speaker 2 (05:15):
that it started out with poster board and sticks and
we quickly realized that if itrained, our signs would be gone
and so we just put.
It was really kind of crazy.
We put packing tape.
We just stripped packing tapeover these poster board signs to
make them sturdy.
I kept a few of them in mygarage just for nostalgia, that
(05:38):
first year that we put the signsout in 2016,.
They were those old fashionsigns and then that sign
campaign was a huge hit.
Once we put those signs inpeople's yards, we started with
just a few, just our block, andyou wouldn't believe cars were
stopping saying what is this?
Why are you?
You doing this?
(05:58):
They were amazed that someonewould go to such lengths to make
people smile, I mean yeah itwas crazy and the news stations
came out and we were in thenewspaper.
People couldn't believe what wedid with these small 36 signs
that neighbors made to makeother people smile wow, wow.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
So you got like the news and the newspapers come out
and cover it.
How amazing.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
It was so amazing because the signs impacted
people's day so positively.
We live on a main street, likea thoroughfare, you know, so a
lot of traffic.
It's a really heavily drivenarea and so we were creating
kindness.
But then also we connected ourlittle community because people
once they heard of the idea theywanted to help make signs, so
we had neighbors making signsand so really the grassroots
(06:53):
effort to create kindness, Imean it just really worked.
I mean it was just firing onall cylinders.
Everyone was thrilled about itand just shocked that we were
able to pull it off.
It was really worked.
I mean it was just firing onall cylinders, everyone was
thrilled about it and justshocked that we were able to
pull it off.
It was really cool.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Did you?
I mean, this probably wentbeyond your wildest dreams,
right?
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Yeah, it was pretty big.
I mean, we were shocked.
People were letting us knowthat the news story was airing
in other cities.
You know, sister news stationswere picking it up and it was
really cool.
We realized it was reallyneeded and so we didn't it
didn't.
I mean, it wasn't just aone-time thing.
We thought we'd do it thatelection season in 2016 and then
(07:29):
people really just wanted thesigns to continue.
So we we decided to continuedoing it.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
I.
I was going to ask so what wasthe initial reaction from the
neighbors when you startedputting up these signs?
You said the neighbors were inon it.
Is that right?
Speaker 2 (07:46):
They were in on it.
Because you can't just put asign in someone's yard.
Just because I want a happysign in your yard, I can't come
to your yard and put a signthere.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Don't put a happy sign in my yard.
There's always that guy.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
It's true, we had to go door to door to ask the
neighbors if they wanted thesigns, and everyone wanted a
sign, and so we were able, whichreally, I think, helped the
impact of the project, becauseit wasn't just one sign here or
there.
They were literally in everyhome on the block.
So in one block there was 37signs, and so that was huge.
(08:24):
And then we decided to continuedoing it, and so we did it
twice a year for several yearsuntil COVID hit.
And then when COVID hit the needfor the signs and we, you know
we weren't supposed to beconnecting during COVID.
You know distancing and um, andthat was put a wrench in things
(08:48):
as well, cause our whole pointwas to connect people and then
hear everyone saying don'tconnect distance, stay away from
people, and that that threw awrench in things for a minute.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
Oh boy, yeah, I'll bet.
So I mean, were you gettingtogether to make the signs?
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Yeah, so some of our neighbors.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
So you'd have like sign making parties.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Yes, yeah, we did so, we'd have them.
It started just in my house andthen, once it grew, churches
would donate spaces for us tocome to use their area, their
big um commons area, to help,and so we had neighbors that
were really good at making thesigns and we graduated from the
(09:29):
cardboard sign with the woodenstakes to coroplast and good
heavy duty sharpies and someh-frame metal stakes, and so we
we got a nice.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
Now you're in the, and so we got a little smarter
Nice.
Now you're in the big leagues.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Yeah, we got a little smarter with the signs, so they
uphold the weather and peoplecan keep them out longer, which
is really nice.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
That's fantastic, and so so you were just twice a
year.
Did you say you were puttingthese out?
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Yeah, twice a year, until COVID hit.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Until.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
And then, when COVID hit, we realized we can't go to
these people's doors becausepeople wouldn't answer the door.
It was just, everyone wasscared.
I mean, we didn't know what washappening in the world.
And so I decided to put acooler at the end of my driveway
with signs Me and my twoteenage daughters well, at that
time, yeah, they were teenagersMe and my two teenage daughters
(10:17):
and my husband were home.
You know, they sent everyonehome.
We were at home with a lot oftime on our hands, a lot, and so
we decided just to make thesigns, put them at the end of
the driveway and anyone whowanted to come get them could
come get them.
And that summer, mike, we made 1, made 1500 signs out of our
(10:37):
living room, people just keptcoming to get the signs and the
street filled up with signs,neighborhoods around us,
different cities outside of ourcity filled up with signs.
People just were craving thatpositivity, the messages of
kindness, encouragement, hope.
They just wanted it.
Positivity, the messages ofkindness, encouragement, hope.
(10:58):
They just wanted it.
And it was incredible.
And people started donating,giving us money for the signs,
and so we were able to.
We had become a 501c3 in 2019,but in 2020, we had a huge year
because people wanted to helpout and they wanted to continue
with our mission of spreadingthose messages, and it was
something all I mean.
(11:18):
Just I'll always look back onthat year with our family as
just a very unique moment intime where we were able to
really create something awesomeand do it together as a family.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
Yeah, okay, and that's a whole other thing too,
because this was something thatyou could all do together as a
family, and it was positive andit was upbeat and these days, of
course, they're talking abouthow everybody's noses are in
their phones or their tablets.
This was something that youguys could get around the
(11:53):
kitchen table or what have youand just have fun and make up
signs and connect withyourselves, and it probably
helped your family as much ormore than it did the
neighborhood, right.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
I have always thought that these messages that we put
on these signs are as much forme, just affirmations, and as
much messages that I need.
When I'm making the signs, Ithink about what does Jennifer
need to hear today?
What messages do I need to hearwhen my girls make them?
It's the same thing.
So the message uplift us beforethey even head out into the
community.
And then to know, that they goout there and they uplift other
(12:26):
people and we hear thedifference they make.
It's huge and it's beenfabulous for my girls to see
that if you have an idea, youcan go out into the world and
make a difference.
I mean, one person with oneidea can go out and make an
impact.
And I loved showing that to mydaughters because I think a lot
of people think, well, there'snothing I can do and
(12:47):
everything's out of whack.
Well, that's not true.
If you have an idea and youhave intention and you're
willing to let the rubber meetthe road, you can change things.
And it might be on a very smallscale, but it makes me feel
better to know that I've made adifference and I've shown my
girls that they can make adifference.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
Yeah, for sure, and I think you're absolutely right.
People oftentimes they lookaround and they look and they
see these things and they go.
I'm just one person.
What can I do?
And you are living, breathing,walking proof that one idea can
(13:27):
make a positive difference inthe world and that is such an
important takeaway from thisepisode?
I think so.
Okay, I lost my train ofthought.
It left the station without me,jennifer, so why?
Why decide to become anonprofit?
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Well, people were giving us money for the signs
and I didn't feel comfortablejust taking the money and you
know, just my family going outto eat, or you know I didn't
feel like yeah, I didn't feelcomfortable putting in my own
bank account per se.
I thought this money can giveback and so we started the 501c3
we.
I did not know what I was doingwhen I started oh my gosh, I've
(14:12):
heard that such a horrible,terrifying venture.
There's a lot that goes into it.
It's not just okay now I'm acharity, it's okay.
You have to have bylaws, youneed a board of directors, you
have some reporting to dothere's a lot that goes into it.
I just wanted to spreadkindness, and so I had to really
(14:33):
figure out how do I do this andstay legal and use this money
for good.
I knew what I wanted to use themoney for.
There's so much need in ourcommunity, right here in our own
community, that I knew we couldhelp, and so I had to find some
great people to circle aroundme that understood the nonprofit
world, and I have.
We've been really blessed, andso we've been able to do quite a
(14:54):
bit with the funds that we getfrom the, from our supporters.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Wow, yeah, and people are just like throwing money at
you.
Make more signs.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
Make more signs and continue to connect the
community.
We have fun.
We plan fun events.
Now we even have a scholarshipprogram for high school seniors
that are interested in givingback to the community and that's
been so fun to hear from ouryouth in this world that is
trying to make a differencethemselves and love serving, and
so we're able to help supportthem and I really love hearing
(15:28):
their stories on theirscholarship applications as to
how they want to make adifference.
I mean, sometimes you canlisten to the news and think
this world is going all wrongand you may have to look a
little bit, but you can realizequickly that's not the truth.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
Yeah, and we often hear the whole thing about.
You know, gen Zers, and theymight be lazy or they might be
this or that, and if there's aproblem in the country then it's
partly their fault, whatever.
But that's not the case, is it?
They really do care and theyreally do want to make a
difference.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Yes, one of my favorite events that we do is
coming up this week where we goto work with the National Honor
Society at a local high schoolwhere all the kids gather and
they make signs.
And they're making signs touplift the kids that are coming
into their school.
So, like the feeder schools,the elementariesaries and the
middle schools that will begintesting this spring, they'll
(16:24):
make fun signs to uplift themand then they take the signs to
those feeder schools and putthem out.
So they'll create 100 signs andthey'll go to different
elementaries and differentmiddle schools in our community.
And I don't make the signs.
The kids make the signs.
They come up with their ownwords, their own encouraging
phrases and, like you said,they're not on their phones.
They're sitting in a big artroom with their fellow students
(16:47):
with big markers and they'retrying to think of fun sayings
and they're really connecting.
It's really so great to seethem lay their screens down and
just connect.
I love that so much.
I love just how inclusive thisproject has become because
people from all ages can createthe signs.
(17:08):
We work with Girl Scouts, wework in nursing homes, I mean
it's just a wide range.
It really includes everyone anddoes like you said, they get to
unplug for a bit and connectwith other people and create
something awesome.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Wow, that's so cool.
So nursing homes, huh.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Yes, john, knox Village is a retirement
community, not a nursing home,but a retirement community
around here and they.
We have a little pocket of bigsupporters there that love what
we do and they're kind of ourbiggest cheerleaders.
They're really fun people andthey love it and I love that.
It can be all the way.
You know all opposite ends ofthe spectrum, you know all
different people can really getbehind this grassroots effort to
(17:51):
create kindness.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
That's so cool.
So now different organizationsor groups heard about your signs
and they're like we want in onthat.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
Yes, yeah, oh.
You know we have worked withdifferent organizations who want
some kind of something like ateam building activity for their
staff, and so we've helped withteam building for staffs, which
is really fun, yeah.
And then we work with the GirlScouts and, like I said, the
local high school.
Yes, it's been reallyeye-opening to me.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
I had no idea you had such a reach.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Yeah, I mean, right here in our little area it's
really.
I mean, we get, I guess we getthe message out through social
media and we have a website, sopeople hear about us and just
word of mouth.
I think a lot of people alsojust see the signs out and about
and are curious what's this allabout?
Speaker 1 (18:42):
Yeah, for sure.
Oh, that is so cool, so, but doyou do other things in the
community?
Speaker 2 (18:52):
I mean, what type of Well, we help our Downtown Lee
Summit.
They have events like theirFourth Friday Art Walk and we
attend those.
And we have our downtown LeeSummit.
They have events like theirFourth Friday Art Walk and we
attend those.
And we have not just signsthere, we'll do other fun crafts
to create, you know, just toget people together.
Oh, we do stuff like that.
So mainly we do sign events, wedo a parade, we do a
(19:16):
neighborhood parade just toconnect people.
So you know, we just kind ofplay it by ear.
If something fun comes up, itsounds like it's our cup of tea
and it has to do with thecommunity, then we're all about
it.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
That's fantastic, it's.
It's just so cool because whenand we've already talked about
that but how you were able to,nine years ago, look at the
world and go, dang, this sucks,we need to do better.
(19:50):
And then you made it happen.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
Yeah, it's really fun .
It's just every day that we getto do it and that people
support us and keep us going isjust a real gift, so I love it.
I'll do it as long as we havesupporters, as long as there's a
need out there, and I feel likethat's going to be ongoing.
Every year, I feel like, oh, weneed this more than we did the
last year.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Has it changed?
You know, have you ever seenyears where you go oh, I, we're
making a difference.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
And then in other years you go not so much so
maybe not necessarily years, butthere are seasons where you can
get in your own head and feellike, well, maybe I'm doing this
and it isn't making adifference and that's just
really what you know.
I have to get out of my ownhead about it.
I do notice, probably, onething as the years have
progressed We've always been adoor-to-door.
(20:42):
We go door-to-door to askpeople if they want the signs
when we put the signs up in thewhole neighborhood and I did
notice this past fall maybe Ihave noticed the past couple of
falls people opening the doorless to us or just being inside
and not coming to the door.
I have noticed that and thatcan be a little discouraging,
but I think it's just the timewe live in.
(21:03):
I'm not certain anybody, youknow, I think people are just
more cautious, you know, and soI haven't noticed that and that
is sad to me Because I'm justreal personable and I really I
really crave connection and sothat makes me sad, but I but I
know that there's more peoplethat do open the door and more
(21:23):
people that want to participate,and so I have to just focus on
the good, and I have to focus onthe positive and not get
discouraged.
It is it's always easy to lookat the negativity around and let
that get to you, so you have tohave a piece of you that's
always willing to look on thebright side, and that's how I
was raised, you know, that's howmy parents raised me, and so
that's something that I'veinstilled in my kids.
(21:45):
And it's always important whenyou start to get down and feel
like maybe you're not making adifference, to really um all the
good you've done, and look atum how you can keep going and
continue making a difference.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
And you are making such an amazing difference,
Jennifer, you and the wholegroup there at Project Happiness
LSMO.
Is that the actual LSMO thatstands for Lee's Summit,
Missouri, right?
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Yes, yeah, lee's Summit Missouri.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
Okay, so that's yeah.
I suppose you probably couldn'tgo just Project Happiness,
because maybe somebody's alreadytaken that one.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Yeah there's another, Project Happiness, and so maybe
when picking the name we couldhave done something a little bit
easier, but Project HappinessLSM.
We're proud of the town we livein and we love Lee's Summit,
Missouri, so I like that they'reconnected with us in the name
and that they allow us to dosome work with them.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
Yeah, for sure, and it perfectly.
That's a perfect descriptor ofwho you guys are.
Project Happiness, lead SummitMissouri.
Yes, that's so fantastic and Ithink you guys are doing such an
amazing job, jennifer.
You guys are, in fact, making apositive difference in the
world, in fact making a positivedifference in the world.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Because somebody in Australia could hear about you
and go oh, I need to do that.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
That was a horrible Australian accent, but you know
what I meant, right?
Speaker 2 (23:13):
Yes, absolutely.
We've talked to people indifferent cities that have tried
to do sign campaigns or havedone sign campaigns successfully
with their groups and theirneighborhoods and it's been so
fun.
I've never heard that they'rekind of an ongoing thing, but
I've heard it's been like a onetime let's get together and
let's do this and I have enjoyedhearing that.
I love when it gets back to methat it is been duplicated
(23:34):
somewhere else, that is.
I think that's really great.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
That's fantastic, and our listeners can follow you
guys on social media, right?
You're on Facebook, you're onInstagram.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
Yep Project Happiness LSMO, and then we have a
website, projecthappinesslsmoorg, and you can we have fun
t-shirts on there.
We have a really fun have thebest day ever t-shirt.
That's kind of my favoritephrase.
It's really, really cute and Iwork at a school so a lot of
teachers have it and you canjust you can watch news stories.
It's really fun.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
It's fantastic and and bless you guys, bless your
hearts for in a non-Southernkind of way, bless your hearts
really seriously for everythingyou do.
You um again, I, I, I, I justam amazed.
And if my listeners, I'll haveall of um, all of Jennifer's and
(24:31):
project happiness is links inthe show notes.
Go and check them out.
I hope you're inspired.
You know what?
Start a campaign in your ownneighborhood.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
And if you need any help, I'm sure if you reach out
to Jennifer she'll probably giveyou a hand too.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
Yeah, that would be awesome.
I would love it.
And thanks for taking time totalk to me just to learn about
our project, because I enjoy.
I just love to see what it'sdone and I love to see you know
that it's going to go further.
And thanks for spreading theword.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
You're absolutely welcome, very welcome.
Thank you for taking some timeto be on with me today.
I appreciate it from the bottomof my heart.
You take care and we will talkagain soon, thank you.
I want to thank you for takingthis time to listen to this
episode with my guest, jenniferHunsinger from Project Happiness
(25:26):
LSMO.
I had to get it all in there.
I hope you're able to takesomething positive from the time
that you spent with us.
Maybe you'll be inspired, maybeyou'll be motivated, maybe
you'll be moved.
If you experienced any of thosepositive feelings, please
consider sharing this podcastwith your friends and family.
I'm always striving to offeryou a better podcast, so give me
(25:49):
some feedback.
Let me know how you think I'mdoing.
Email me, leave me a message onsocials.
It would mean the world.
Also feel free to follow us onour socials like Facebook,
instagram, linkedin and TikTok.
This podcast is part of theMayday Media Network.
(26:10):
If you have an idea for apodcast and need some production
assistance, or if you have apodcast and are looking for a
supportive network to join,please check out
maydaymedediaNetworkcom andcheck out the many different
(26:39):
shows like Afrocentric Spoil, myMovie Generation Mixtape In a
Pickle Radio Show.
Wake Up and Dream withD'Anthony Palin, staxopax and
the Time Pals.
We'll be back again next weekwith a new episode and we would
be honored if you would join us.
You've been listening to theKindness Matters podcast.
I am your host, mike Rathbun.
Have a fantastic week.
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Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.