I don't have a lot of apps on my phone. At least considering how many apps are out there. And of the apps on my phone, there are only a few I use daily. One of those is Instagram. And a very real reason for that is Humans of New York. Humans of New York (HONY) are photographs by Brandon Stanton. I don't know if he wrote the book first, or if it started as a project on Instagram. He takes a picture, maybe one or two a day, of just everyday people and does a on the spot interview. What is your biggest challenge? When were you most afraid? What are you most sorry about? Who has been most instrumental in your life? Simple questions, but the result is really amazing. Lately he has been covering Mott Hall Bridges Academy in New York. He even started an India Gogo crowdfunding campaign that so far has raised over $1 million dollars.
In one of the latest images, Ms Lopez, the principal, admits she was about to quit. She just felt she wasn't reaching students, that they didn't care. Then HONY took a picture of one of her students and was asked, "Who's influenced you the most in your life?" To which he answered Ms Lopez. Apparently that did it. Just the simple act of recognition. One photo and a comment and this teacher was ready to do battle again. Amazing. I think people don't realize how powerful one comment can be. How much of an impact one comment can make. In this case it made all the difference in the world.
If you are on Instagram, do your self a favor and join the 2.4 million people following HONY.
