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The Walk My name is BJ Hill and between March 1st 2008 to January 18th of 2009 I walked (yes, walked) 4250 miles across America. I carried a notebook with me and asked the people I met along the way to write a personal message to our soon-to-be-elected president. By the time I finished in Boston, after ten and a half months on the road, I had collected three books, containing thousands of messages from nurses and teachers, farmers and single Moms, veterans and college students, nine-year-olds and ninety-year-olds, small business owners and the homeless. The issues on people's minds were varied: the war in Iraq, the cost of health insurance, an idea for sustainable energy, a story of a deported loved one, a simple note of congratulations. Unedited and uncensored, in their own words and handwriting, these messages are the voice of the American people. |
The Now I
am currently trying to arrange a meeting with President Obama to pass
on these messages as a gift from the American people. I realize the
President is
a very busy man, so I am asking only five minutes of his time to ensure
that these books are delivered into his hands and that they don't get
lost along the
way. I am also organizing my notes, pictures, qik.com videos
and tweets to create a complete account of my trek. Besides
this,
I am living in Leicester, MA, working part-time in IT, doing
volunteer work, trying to stay skinny, spending
time with family and friends, and dating a wicked cute girl
named
Jen.
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The Plan In addition to the exciting stories of the day-to-day adventures of traveling across our country on foot, I believe it is necessary for us to understand our fellow Americans. In times like these, it's important for farmers in Iowa, for example, to know what families in Connecticut are thinking and for office workers in New Jersey to appreciate what's on the minds of miners in Nevada. I've learned that for all our differences, there is much, much more that unites our nation. That said, I am seeking someone within the publishing industry interested working with me to help tell the stories from my walk and to copy these messages for the public. After I give these books to the President, I hope to continue a long and successful life of teaching what I've learned, consulting with those who want to follow, and helping others who also have a dream to change the world. |