citizen times.

the article:

ASHEVILLE — Every morning over the past week, they’ve been on the overpass, holding their signs and getting their message out to thousands of passing motorists.

But they don’t have a political agenda, and they’re not trying to raise money. Chelsea Kouns and Leslie Fulp are simply trying to raise awareness, to make the drivers on Interstate 240 think a little on their way to work or wherever they’re heading.

This morning, Fulp, 24, held a sign that read, “Let’s face it together.” Kouns’ smaller aluminum placard read simply, “Open Arms.”

“We’re just trying to challenge people’s perceptions and trying to get people to look at their thought processes,” Fulp said this morning, standing on the Montford Avenue bridge as cars whizzed by below, a few honking as they passed.

Kouns said they’ve noticed a change in themselves the past week while they’ve been doing this. A few people flip them off and one made a choking gesture, she said, but most have been positive. Some have even gotten off the interstate to come talk to them.

“It’s caused a real shift in us,” said Kouns, 23. “I feel like we’re helping someone smile, making someone think about things a little more.”

Earlier this week one of their signs read, “Will Unhappiness be a trigger to change?”

“One lady who stopped by said, ‘I’m going to be thinking about that all day long,” Kouns said.

Kouns is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, and Fulp graduated from Appalachian State. They met while working at a group home for adolescents, a job they quit out of frustration with fighting bureaucracy and having their creativity squelched.

“For the first time I feel like I’m happy in what I’m doing,” Fulp said.

Fulp is looking for a job, and Kouns starts a new job in August as an assistant teacher at an elementary school.

The pair have been at it for about a week, working their signs from about 7:30-10:30 a.m. They’ve also started a blog: FREEwayfortunecookie.blogspot.com

They plan to keep at it, and to keep changing the message.

“What does it mean?” Fulp said. “It’s up to you.”


here are just a few of the responses:

_______________________________________________
"How the heck do they pay their bills/rent/living expenses if they do not have jobs? I guess it's easy to be idealistic when mommy & daddy are paying your way in life."

Comment left in response:
"They've been unemployed one week...it's called savings. Perhaps unlike you, they don't have car payments, large mortgages, credit card debt,.... YOu'd be amazed how little money you can actually live off of."
________________________________________________

"I hope the elementary school that hired Kouns sees this and rethinks the adverse effect an activist with an agenda will have on impressionable young children."

Comments left in response:
"??? Is making people think an activist agenda?
I thought that thinking was one of the goals of education."

"Open Arms, Let it Be, Discover You, Let's Face it Together,...
A truly dangerous agenda, someone stop these maniacs. Next thing you know, people will be hugging complete strangers!
I hope her boss does see this, these are amazing girls."
________________________________________________

"These young ladies are causing no harm (yet) to anyone but I do hope no accidents occur as a result of this. I'm certain they would feel terrible. I would like to see them out looking for jobs. If they were creative enough and impacted enough people, they could create a web site that would bring them some income. The first time I saw them from below, I definitely took my eyes off the road. My initial concern was jumpers? Then, I wondered if they were throwing things off the bridge at cars. Their signs were unreadable and I wasn't going to take the extra attention off the road there to try to figure them out."
________________________________________________

"Why are people so literal when they don't want to see the truth.

"They met while working at a group home for adolescents, a job they quit out of frustration with fighting bureaucracy and having their creativity squelched."

Translation extremely liberal women with personal agenda. They quit before being fired for violating the rules of the group home.

Now in their down time they are spreading the love, liberal left wing socialist crap. Then eventually both will take jobs where they can influence the young and immpressionable. Ms. Kouns has already secured a job working with the innocent children. You and the other left wing liberals consider it fine, and even that you are doing a great service, to imprint liberal values on children that aren't yours.

I have made an attempt to protect my Daughter by putting her in a private school. Public school has become nothing but an indoctrination camp. Even Her private school is weighted towards liberal values. The difference is I have the ability to demand the teacher keep her opinions to herself. Try that at public school and they tell you that they will do with your child as they wish. See sex education if you don't believe me."
_________________________________________________

"The man walked ... and that is a good thing.
I applaud these ladies for making people think ... it is a tough job and most let faux news do their thinking.
People on cell phones are causing more harm than these ladies ... please people get off your cell phones ... you are just not that important!"
_________________________________________________

just a little update since this morning.
its been an exciting day. for both of us.
we have both gotten jobs.
working with impressionable young children. ha.
where we will continue to see the individual beauty in every child in our community.
and continue to be advocates and teachers for helping them create their own dreams.
this is the generation for change.

we seem to be causing quite the stir...
we appreciate ALL the comments.
and appreciate ALL of you taking the time to speak YOUR voice.

WE WILL PERSEVERE!

p.s. we aren't living off "mommy and daddy".

day 6.

we received a hug today. it was great.

day 4. late.

sorry this is late.

its day 4.

not as active as the previous days.

but we did meet a really interesting man named michael.

he stopped to ask us what our sign meant today.

and ended up talking with us for about 20 mins and challenging us with questions as well.

he told us that he was an extremely passionate man.

but he agreed that this is not what we first think of people when we look at them.

we are molded to judge and programmed to label.

cut the shit and ask a person what they love.

or how THEY would describe themselves.

the answers are beautiful. if you can dig deep.

enjoy.

he also said as he was leaving.

"god is love. and love can conquer all fear."

this is what he lives by. and what he teaches his children everyday.

live life.