In 2010 a Photographer in New York City created a project with the goal of photographing 10,000 random New Yorkers to catalog and share their stories on his blog: humansofnewyork.com

Brandon Stanton, the photographer, then started talking to his subjects about their lives and including more information about them, such as short stories about and quotes.

What started as a simple project has blown up and led to Brandon continuing this project, writing books with his stories and photos, and more importantly, using the influence he developed to help people in need. His Facebook page, as of today, has over 17 million followers!

Brandon has used this attention to advocate for his subjects. In his blog he includes “Series” where he has compilations including Refugees, Veterans, Inmate Stories, and Pediatric Cancer.

I have been following his stories from about 2015ish, and the one that really got to me was in his series on Syrian Refugees. He told the story of an Architect who lost his wife and daughter in a bombing attack. He and his surviving son and daughter were trying to survive but suffered continued set-backs such as their home being looted and them losing everything of value. Then, as if things weren’t bad enough, The Architect found out he had Cancer. He and his family made it to America as refugees but still faced struggles.

Brandon told their story (https://www.humansofnewyork.com/tagged/syrian-americans#5) and other’s, and ended up raising over $750,000 for the Syrian Refugees. In addition people reading his stories stepped in and helped The Architect get housing, cancer treatment, and then a job. I remember being so blown away that the simple act of telling someone’s story could do so much for people.

I’ve been a big fan of Humans of New York because of how impressive it is that Brandon uses his voice to tell people’s stories without judgment or opinion. Over the years since this project was started, he and his followers have come together to raise funds and help so many people who otherwise would have been overlooked or forgotten.