1. Daniel Maloney, Taylor Johann and David Johann are the people behind the concept they hope will help change the world.
Inspiring kindness Article by Allan Cook / Photographs by Don MacTavish
Y ou may say David Johann is a dreamer, but he’s not the only
one.
It is fitting perhaps to introduce the creator of the Three
Square Feet concept by paraphrasing John Lennon, as Lennon was
one of the inspirations for Johann’s made-in-Muskoka social-aware-
Johann, founder of a successful audio-visual retail store and a
small-business mentor, realized in the era of modern electronic com-
munications, we’ve lost some sense of how we affect the people we
come in contact with in person.
He envisioned creating an online world map where people could
ness movement. pin their location and tell their own stories of how they’ve made a
The aim of Three Square Feet is to help promote positivity positive impact. “We have poor communications today in terms of
through random acts of kindness. So far, over 200 other dreamers one-to-one. We’re texting, we’re on the computer, we’re doing email,
have purchased a custom-designed piece of jewelry from Johann’s but we’re not really communicating one-on-one,” Johann says.
organization to help remind themselves to make their own personal “We’ve sort of forgotten about the power that we all have in that
sphere of influence the best that it can be. communication.”
The idea came to Johann last fall at a craft show, his mind wan- His wife Marilyn loved the idea, observing how mindful Johann is
dering as he strolled the aisles and displays. of the people around him. “You always walk aware within your own
“I started thinking about John Lennon, and John Lennon’s effect three square feet,” she says.
on the world when he wrote the songs Imagine and Give Peace A As Johann developed the idea, he used the phrase Three Square
Chance. What a wonderful way to touch people, I thought, and Feet for its name, and the online map pin became a literal pin – a
there must be something that I can do,” he says. stylized number 3 of Johann’s own design within a square.
www.muskokamagazine.com September 2011 87

2. The jewelry is handcrafted by Garrett Green of
Muskoka Pewter in Bracebridge. Lapel pins, pen-
dants or earrings can be purchased through the
threesquarefeet.org website for $20, including ship-
ping.
“Our feeling is everybody could afford to buy one
if they wanted to. It’s $20, no matter where you live
or how far we have to ship it,” Johann explains.
Three dollars from each pin sold will be sent back
to a charity in the country where the pin was pur-
chased. Johann says Three Square Feet plans to focus
its efforts on charities that help feed the hungry.
“The thought is three square meals a day to go
along with the three square feet.”
The Three Square Feet organization is currently
comprised of founder and CEO Johann, vice presi-
dent and web developer Daniel Maloney, and
Johann’s daughter Taylor, the secretary/treasurer.
The team is holding the money raised in trust
until they can determine suitable charities in each
country and until sufficient funds have been raised
to make the donation.
“We’re looking for ideas from people who are
supporting Three Square Feet,” Johann says. “Send
us your ideas, send us your charities of choice, and
we’ll investigate them and hopefully be able to help
them out.”
The Three Square Feet concept was designed to
take advantage of online social media, utilizing sites
like Facebook and Twitter to help spread the word.
The organization’s website launched this past Valen-
Taylor Johann, Daniel Maloney and David Johann believe life is all about making tine’s Day, and already their Twitter account has
the effort so your own personal sphere of influence is the best that it can be. over 4,000 followers.

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88 September 2011 www.muskokamagazine.com

4. Celebrating 25 years serving Muskoka
Enhance your deck with designer railings and turn an Average
Screen Porch into your favourite room at the Cottage or Home
Jewelry, designed and made in Brace-
bridge, has been sold around the world.
With over 250 pins sold so far, there are over 60
stories tacked to the online map at three-
squarefeet.org. They range from Nick Barker of
Bracebridge’s simple encouragement to hold a door
or smile for a stranger, to a youth mentor in New
Zealand who has linked her pin to her own organ-
ization Good Talks, dedicated to finding ways to
improve the world through honest and stimulating
discussions.
“One of the most important things about Three
Square Feet is that it’s not instructive - it’s not a
‘how-to’ thing; it’s all completely individual,”
Johann says.
“It’s all about them, and their walk, and how they
want to be. It’s about seeing the affect you have in
your own three square feet.”
Johann feels the movement is about to mush-
room as it gains momentum. The team is currently
working on raising awareness among the national
media in the U.S. and Canada, and investigating
ways to grow the concept locally through possible www.davlins.ca
partnerships with schools and service clubs.
“We don’t know just what is going to come of all
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this but we know it’s going to be good,” says Bracebridge Port Carling
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www.muskokamagazine.com September 2011 89