Last night, something crazy happened: Car Window Poetry was featured on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt!

Many of you are probably wondering how NBC caught wind of our efforts to cover communities with beauty and hope, and I'd love to tell you. Almost a month ago, my friend Matt Lee sent me the following message on Facebook:

"ALEX! How are you doing man? Love seeing what you are up to...doing big things! I am working with Nightly News and think it would be insane if we could do a story about Car Window Poetry. I want to pitch it to my bosses."

Of course, I freaked out when I got this message. It was crazy for me to think that anybody would want to share this project I dreamed up in my living room a few months before. Matt sent me a list of questions, which I answered when I got home from work that day.

Matt went on to pitch the story, and, one week later, he sent me a Facebook message excitedly announcing Nightly News wanted to pick it up. I responded in expletives because I could no longer think straight. This was HUGE.

The next chapter of the story is where I thank a lot of people who helped make this story possible:

• To Mrs. Willis (4th Grade teacher at Odyssey Elementary School) – thank you for calling me back after I frantically emailed you upon hearing Nightly News wanted to film students writing poems. Thank you for being the first teacher to welcome me into your classroom. When we first met, you kindly said, "You know this is going to blow up, right?"
• To Jeremy Worley (Co-founder of Welcome Fellow) - thank you for making your coworking space/venue available to me for the on-camera interview, as well as generously providing me with one of your "Do Cool Stuff" Worley Co sweatshirts to wear during the story. Colorado Springs is a cool city, and I'm grateful to partner with you in showing people that.
• Jay Blackman, Joe Fryer, and the NBC film crew – thank you for taking the time to visit Colorado Springs and putting in long hours to make this story a success. You are incredible storytellers, and I'm thankful I got to share Car Window Poetry with you for a day.

Since last night's Nightly News segment, I've received messages from men and women all over America, coming from states like South Carolina, Idaho, and Washington state, who believe in the power of words to impact people's lives. I've had teachers contact me about wanting to bring Car Window Poetry into their classrooms. I've experienced incredible support from friends, family and strangers.

To all of you who tuned into Nightly News and/or shared this story with your friends and family, thank you so much. I believe Car Window Poetry is a project that can impact people's lives no matter the community, no matter the city. It's not meant to remain in Colorado Springs. It's meant to go out and give hurting humans hope, to breathe life into dead dreams through words of encouragement.

If you're wondering how you can help, everything you need to bring Car Window Poetry to your city is available here!

Much love.