| The World Peace Billboard Project An Interview with Jodi Hiland by Angie Bailey Feeling helpless about contributing to world peace in these turbulent times? Need inspiration to feel connected to each living being on earth? Meet Jodi Hiland, a 32-year old woman from Newport, Minn., with a generous heart, huge dreams and great faith. A few years ago, Jodi was many times afraid to speak her truth and share her liberal opinions for fear that she may lose a friend or create uncomfortable debate. Today, Jodi's dream of giant billboards inspiring world peace is a reality that has certainly proven that she is no longer fearful of stepping forward with her strong beliefs and motivating others to contribute to a more peaceful world. According to Jodi's World Peace Billboard Project website [www.worldpeacebillboard.org], the project, begun in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota is a "grassroots effort to provide local residents with messages of world peace along area motorways. Our goal is to raise money through donations from individuals and organizations to produce as many World Peace billboards as people would like to see." During my recent conversation with Jodi, here's what she had to say about the project. What was your inspiration for the project? Jodi Hiland: After September 11, I noticed that everywhere, over highways, there were signs supporting America. America was just bombed and it made sense to see such support. Early after the attacks, people asked, 'Why did the assault happen?" Experts said it was partly the Taliban's reaction to American foreign policy around the world. America became more educated about foreign policy. So I kept waiting for World Peace signs to go up; I thought that some group would have the money and motivation to being doing it. Still, there weren't any. I thought I could make something myself. I'd need markers - it would have to be waterproof. It seemed too difficult. About a year after September 11, I was talking with a friend again about the idea of World Peace signs. She mentioned she had an inexpensive vinyl banner created for her business. It sounded like a good idea. I could ask people to donate to the creation of these banners and my early goal was to have signs over five major highways in the Twin Cities. There was no movement on the project until I went to Washington DC for the recent Peace March. During the trip, the shape of the project changed. I was sitting on the bus to DC, next to a woman I just met, telling her about the project. She suggested I share the idea with rest of the bus. So I stood up and spoke into the bus microphone, describing my dream to the people on the bus. I let them know I would accept donations for the project. Immediately I received overwhelming support. So how did the vinyl sign turn into a billboard? Hiland: It made sense all along. I thought that other folks in the Twin Cities would like to see messages focused on peace - not just messages about American pain and military response. American flags were up for a lot of reasons. In the beginning they were to support the New York firefighters and police officers and represented respect for those who lost their lives. After a little while the signs were a little more of a nationalist focus and bumper stickers showed military response as an answer. I had a sense that there were others that were like me and were wondering, "What's the next step if we want to see change? What does it look like?" On the bus, I was told that placing signs over highways is illegal. And I thought, even if the banner only lasts a day or two, hundreds of commuters would see them and I at least would have made some sort of difference. The support from the bus became huge. I received suggestions for people who could build a web page, someone who could make a sign, others that could help with promotion. I thought, "If this is the response I'm getting from 47 people on this bus, think of the hundreds of people in the Twin Cities that could rally as well!" This could really take off. As I sat there and meditated on it, I was open and ideas were coming to me. The web address came. The idea of the billboard with the web address on it came to me. Because I felt so supported, the billboard idea felt completely feasible. So your faith stepped forward? Hiland: I knew it could happen. Buoyed by the whole experience of the trip, I was inspired by people who wanted to bring about peace. And I respected their opinions. What do you want people to do when they see the billboards? Hiland: By seeing the image of the Earth and the peace sign, I hope they think, "Wow! Somebody cared enough to do this. Maybe it's something I should think about." The image of the Earth is from space. We all live on this planet together. We cannot sustain ourselves if we don't live cooperatively. I chose to not use words on the billboard and let the image speak for itself. I want to put something into peoples' minds. Remember, we're interdependent on one another on this planet. With technology and our capitalist society, we've become detached from one other. But the truth is, what affects one affects us all. I also want the billboard to stimulate conversation. If a child sees the image and asks the parent, that's good. Sometimes we go about our daily lives not thinking. I want people to start thinking and talking. Some people may see the image and think, "We need to go to war to fight for peace." I'd like them to go to the site and get the alternative message, and then possibly donate. This is a people's project. This whole thing is not about me. I couldn't have done it without many people's involvement. In your opinion, how do we approach World Peace from a spiritual perspective? Hiland: If you want peace, be peace. It begins with one-on-one conversations with others. It's our actions and intentions with being gentler to the environment. It's our interactions with our family, neighbors and co-workers. Hold them in your heart, even if their behavior is upsetting. Try to come to peaceful solutions and compromises. Especially with things as they are now, with our nation's leaders trying to go to war, we can try to be more courageous and talk to others about peace. You don't have to go to a protest or march. Keep remembering we're all connected as human beings. Holding someone in your heart and interacting at that level just makes you feel peaceful. Friends for a Nonviolent World is the fiscal sponsor for this project. How did that come about? Hiland: In the beginning I received support in many ways, but I knew in order to receive donations for the project, it would be better to have non-profit status. I didn't want to create that just for my project so the Minnesota Council for Nonprofits suggested I secure a fiscal sponsor and they suggested Friends for a Nonviolent World. Friends for a Non-Violent World is a Quaker-founded non-profit with over 20 years of service in the Twin Cities. Its mission is to provide reliable, well-researched information on issues involving violence to the public, media and policy makers, and to empower organizations and individuals to build a world where people can speak truth to power, practice alternatives to violence, gain strength from community, and act in a spirit of cooperation to work for peace and justice. Phil Steger, executive director of FNVW, wholeheartedly jumped on the project and said it matched their mission perfectly. For more on FNVW, go to www.fnvw.org. The public can make a tax-deductible donation payable to "FNVW - Billboard Project" to: Friends for a Nonviolent World, 1050 Selby Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104. You can also call in a credit-card donation Mon, Wed, or Fri from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at (651) 917-0838. Donation information and more about the project can be found at www.worldpeacebillboard.org. Angie Bailey is director of Enlightened Parenting, a local organization dedicated to honoring the spirituality of children. She teaches workshops and writes on the topic of spiritual parenting. For more information about Enlightened Parenting and learn about upcoming events, please see www.enlightenedparenting.com or call (612) 581-7664. Copyright (c) 2003 Angie Bailey |
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