Enlarge Aaron Heidman, 29, is the Man In A Van.

Posted: August 20th, 2009 Crystal Dempsey

Text and photo By Ayofemi Kirby

Fourteen million Americans are unemployed. Nearly 10 out of every 100 people do not have a steady income to pay their bills (24 out of every 100 if you’re a teen and 15 per every 100 if you’re black).

Aaron Heidman, 29, is one of those people.

Eight months ago, Aaron became unemployed — twice. Once as a former manager of a frame shop that went out of business, the other as a former paint shop associate that paid him less money than he’d made his entire adult life. Depressed and disappointed, Aaron found himself caught in the cycle of working only to be let go.

One day, Aaron decided to get away. He sold his truck and purchased a $350 van. What he couldn’t fit inside, he’d leave in Applegate Valley, Oregon. He’d take all his money, a banner (50 yards long), and a couple markers and drive across the country.

Committed to making his journey more than a simple road trip, he decided to stop 37 times along the way and ask strangers one question: “How has the recession affected you?”

On Monday (Aug 17), he parked on Tryon Street outisde the Foundation For The Carolinas.

Click here for more photos

In khaki shorts and a Man in the Van Project t-shirt, Aaron says this uncommon journey is giving him the best career training to date.

Aaron, has realized connecting to random people outside of finding the perfect frame or the optimal color mix required by former jobs isn’t as challenging as it once seemed.

“When you lose your job, you start thinking about ‘me,’ it makes you more selfish,” he said. “But this experience has made me less selfish. This is my answer to selfishness.”

A true all-American project he calls it; Aaron has decided he’s giving people a way to cope. “The whole country is creating this and that keeps me going.”

Before Charlotte, Aaron had been to 22 cities. His last stop will be in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where his project will be on display as an Artprize entry, the world's largest art competition. Top prize: $250,000.

Aaron is not sure what will happen next. Whether he wins the competition or not, he plans to share the stories he’s been given by writing a book, or he might go back to searching for a job.

“This has been a huge risk, but it’s taught me to do whatever needs to be done to make something happen. This project has enhanced my ability to connect and have empathy with people and that’s going to help me a lot in the future, no matter what I do. “

Throughout the afternoon, people stopped by to gaze over Aaron’s banner and to look at his van. One woman stopped and began to share her story. She and her two children had been evicted from her apartment and she needed money to rent a room for the night. Neither Aaron nor I had cash.

Aaron asked her name.

“I can’t tell you that,” she said.

Aaron handed her the pen and asked if she would mind writing her story down.

She refused.

“Can I shake your hand?” Aaron asked.

She hesitated, but reached forward as she began to walk away.

“I understand, thank you for talking with us,” Aaron said as he cupped her hand in his.

The woman turned around and said “Thank you for listening.”

Then she walked away.

Perhaps, more often than none, listening is all it takes.

After meeting Aaron, I’m sure he already has figured that out.

You can learn more about Aaron’s project by visiting his web site. Buying a t-shirt helps him buy some gas.

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