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Help CJ & Jaclyn Fund Their Podcast

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Asking for money is never easy. Asking for money for a cause you believe in? Still not easy.

With that in mind, spoiler alert. We’re asking our friends, families, and communities for money.

After spending many late nights on different sides of the country, running our phones’ batteries into the ground by talking over FaceTime to try and figure out what our next move would be, we have decided to embark on a journey together! Over the next year, we’ll be traveling around the United States, spending each month in a different state to pursue our project, Sitting in the Intersection.

“That’s a really vague name!”, you may be thinking to yourself. “What does it mean?!” Sitting in an intersection is scary at worst, and awkward at best. You’re being really vulnerable and patient and selfless as you cede the road to your fellow drivers, all in the name of preventing a crash. But after a while, you’re on your way down the path you’ve chosen, and the other drivers are doing the same.

It’s a metaphor. Get it?

In life, we’re navigating all sorts of sticky situations with people we know well and others with whom we just happen to share space. Worst case scenario, this leads to violence and chaos. Best case scenario, we’re able to learn a lot about each other and build peaceful, more connected communities. It is our belief that if we can figure out how to not only navigate but also appreciate our differences, we’ll be a whole lot better off.

So. In that regard, we’ve decided to resign from our office jobs, move out of our homes, leave the familiarity of our beloved Chapel Hill, and head out on the road in a little red Hyundai named Judy.

On our adventure, our main goal is to create a podcast where we’ll invite friends, family, and people we meet on the road to share with us their experiences of knowing and/or loving people who are different from them. We plan to talk with people who are in romantic relationships, yes, but also people who are friends, coworkers, roommates, and family. We’ll look at characteristics of identity that are both personal and political, like race, sexuality, religion, gender identity, language, etc. And then we’ll share those stories with all of you in the hopes that you will join us in a dialogue about the thoughts and feelings that arise.

***

So, here comes the ask.

This year, we both turn 30, and while that’s been daunting at times, it’s also been encouraging. That number carries with it the kind of power that has pushed us to take a leap of faith to pursue the work that we have each dreamed of separately for many years. This project was created with so many of you in mind, and we would not have had the courage to make this decision without your continued encouragement and support. It is in this moment, however, that we must ask for a different kind of support.

In order to jump start this project and ensure that we are able to continue it for the next 12 months (or more!), we need to raise a significant amount of money to cover our expenses and creative costs.

If/When you agree to back us financially, you are:
- Supporting two independent activist-artists (artivists) to pursue meaningful work at a moment that is timely for the world and for them
- Offering us the time and freedom to seek out stories from people whose voices are often silenced
- Supporting our road trip across the U.S. so that we may be inclusive of but also stretch beyond the stories that exist only in large cities
- Giving us space to think/write on an intellectual, political, and artistic level about subject matter that is relevant and worthwhile to you
- (perhaps best of all) allowing us to do all of this FULL time, without having to worry about whether or not we have money to cover our insurance costs or our next tank of gas

Funds will go to cover:
- Equipment costs (voice recorders, computer, camera, etc.)
- Start up fees and maintenence fees for 1 year (Squarespace website fee, design software, merchandise with logo, printing, etc.)
- Monthly living expenses for two people for a full year (car payment, various types of insurance, gas, food, lodging, cell phones, car repairs, etc.)

What will you receive in exchange? Scroll to the very bottom for a full breakdown.

We thank you, in advance, for considering giving to our project. We will carry you in our hearts the whole way through our journey.

Not able to give financially at this time? That’s okay! You may consider:
- Sharing our project with your networks (social media, mass email, neighborhood listserv, etc.)
- Connecting us with people you know in the cities we’ll be visiting
- Sharing your own story with us
- Visiting our website and following along as we venture from state to state

Thank you. Thank you. An endless amount of thank yous.


<3

CJ & Jaclyn


***


In exchange for your hard-earned dollars, we'd love to offer a gift at every giving stage:

Everyone:
Hug the next time we see you

$15:
Thank you postcard

$25:
Thank you postcard
Sticker w/ our logo

$50:
Thank you postcard
Sticker w/ our logo
Hand-written, original poem by CJ OR hand-drawn note card (of logo) by Jaclyn

$100:
Thank you postcard
Sticker
Mug w/ SITI logo

$150:
Thank you postcard
Sticker
Choose 2: Hand-written, original poem by CJ, hand-drawn note card (of logo) by Jaclyn, Mug w/ SITI logo

$200:
Thank you postcard
Sticker
All 3: Hand-written, original poem by CJ, hand-drawn note card (of logo) by Jaclyn, and mug w/ SITI logo

$250
Thank you postcard
Sticker
Hand-written, original poem by CJ
Set of 4 hand-drawn note cards (of logo) by Jaclyn
T-shirt with our logo

$500
First and foremost, our infinite love.
Thank you postcard
Sticker
All 3: Hand-written, original poem by CJ, hand-drawn note card (of logo) by Jaclyn, and mug w/ SITI logo
Mug w/ our logo
T-shirt w/ our logo
Shout out on the podcast

$1000
First and foremost, our infinite love.
Thank you postcard
Sticker
All 3: Hand-written, original poem by CJ, hand-drawn note card (of logo) by Jaclyn, and mug w/ SITI logo
Mug w/ our logo
T-shirt w/ our logo
Shout out on the podcast
One, two-hour workshop with CJ and Jaclyn at your event (travel costs not included)

More than $1000
Let’s talk!
Donate

Donations 

  • Beth Bouffard
    • $25 
    • 7 yrs
Donate

Organizer

Jaclyn Gilstrap
Organizer
Carrboro, NC

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