Series
In addition to the randomly chosen interviews that have become the hallmark of Humans of New York, over the years I have partnered with several organizations to profile certain populations or highlight important issues. These series are consistent with the rest of my work in that they feature the same portrait/interview style which centers the individual. But taken together, these collections of ‘first-person’ narratives examine a larger issue: whether that be prison reform, the Syrian refugee crisis, or the Rwandan genocide. For nearly all of these series, the storytelling occurred in parallel to a fundraising campaign, and several million dollars were raised to support research or advocacy in these areas.
The Rescuers
In partnership with the United Nations, this series focused on the stories of people who took a moral stand during the Rwandan genocide. These are members of the Hutu majority who risked their lives to shield and protect the Tutsis.
The Syrian-Americans
In partnership with the UNHCR and the Obama Administration, I travelled to Jordan and Turkey where I was able to interview twelve Syrian families that had been cleared for resettlement in America.
Pediatric Cancer
In partnership with Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital, I spent two weeks interviewing the patients, caregivers, doctors, and nurses on the front lines of the battle against childhood cancer.
Invisible Wounds
In partnership with the Headstrong Project, this series focuses on the mental health experiences of veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Refugee Crisis
When the Syrian War began in 2011, millions of Syrians were forced to flee their homes and travel by boat and foot in search of a new life. In 2013 I interviewed several of these individuals and families as they made their way across Europe.