The Little Heart Project is going to wreck you in the best way. Kathleen Jensen, the founder, crochets small hearts, attaches notes of encouragement, and leaves them in public places for strangers to find. Simple, right? Except these tiny hearts are reducing stigma around mental illness and preventing suicides. These little acts of kindness are literally saving lives.

Kathleen shares the story behind the project, including her own personal journey with mental health (because you don't start something like this without knowing the darkness firsthand). She's talking about how the project has grown from a local effort to a global movement—people all over the world are crocheting hearts and leaving them for strangers who need hope.

But we’re not just talking about the impact on the people who find the hearts. We’re talking about what it does for the people who make them. The community that's formed around this. The volunteers who've found purpose and healing through creating something for someone else.

Kathleen also gets real about the challenges of managing a nonprofit, the logistics of spreading kindness at scale, and how creativity can become a tool for mental health advocacy and suicide prevention. This episode is a reminder that you don't need a massive platform or a huge budget to change lives. Sometimes all it takes is a tiny crocheted heart and a note that says "you matter.”

LINKS:

Check out Dawn's coaching at bigpicturebigpurpose.com

Show your love for a favorite minister: consecrate.cratejoy.com and consecratebox.com

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00:00 Welcome to Created Creative

00:47 Personal Stories and Reflections

06:24 The Little Heart Project: An Introduction

07:13 Spreading Kindness and Mental Health Awareness

10:53 The Origins of The Little Heart Project

13:29 Impact and Growth of The Little Heart Project

15:26 Personal Struggles and Motivation

15:41 Community Support and Outreach

16:32 Surprising Connections and Growth

17:48 Impact on 9-1-1 Dispatchers

19:01 Youth Involvement and University Partnerships

20:15 Challenges and Coaching

21:32 Nonprofit Management and Funding

24:32 Advocacy and Recognition

27:55 Educational Efforts and Mental Health Awareness

29:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts