'Humans of NY' visit the Oval Office

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From the Streets of Brownsville, Brooklyn to the Oval Office
President Obama meets Vidal Chastanet and Nadia Lopez for the "Humans of New York" blog

A couple of weeks ago, a photo of 13-year-old Vidal appeared on Humans of New York, a popular blog. He talked about his principal Ms. Lopez, saying: "She told each one of us that we matter." After garnering more than 1 million likes and shares on social media, the photo gave rise to a national campaign that has raised more than $1 million for Mott Hall Bridges Academy, a middle school in Brownsville, Brooklyn -- the neighborhood with the highest crime rate in New York City. The funds will send students to visit Harvard, support summer programs and provide scholarships.

Their story inspired people all around the country, including the President.


President Barack Obama meets Vidal Chastanet and Nadia Lopez and is photographed by Brandon Stanton for the "Humans of New York" blog in the Oval Office. February 5, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

What began on the streets of Brownsville, Brooklyn made its way to the Oval Office. Today, Vidal Chastanet, Nadia Lopez and Brandon Stanton, the Humans of New York creator and photographer, sat down with President Obama to share their incredible story



from Patrick Kulp at Mashable:

Vidal Chastanet's journey to the White House started when Brandon Stanton profiled the student for his blog, which regularly features Stanton's portraits of New Yorkers and the conversations he has with them. Chastanet told Stanton that the biggest influence in his life was Nadia Lopez, who runs Mott Hall Bridges Academy (MHBA) in Brownsville, Brooklyn, one of New York City's most dangerous neighborhoods.

"When we get in trouble, she doesn't suspend us," the boy explained to Stanton. "She calls us to her office and explains to us how society was built down around us. And she tells us that each time somebody fails out of school, a new jail cell gets built. And one time she made every student stand up, one at a time, and she told each one of us that we matter."

"I want every child who enters my school to know that they can go anywhere, and that they will belong,” Lopez told Stanton

The fundraiser quickly shot past its initial $100,000 goal and pulled in more than $500,000 in just one day. The unexpected influx of cash allowed Stanton and MHBA to create even more programs for the school including summer activities and a scholarship fund. As of Wednesday, the amount raised was more than $1.2 million.

“Before all of this happened for our school, I felt broken," Lopez said at a school assembly after the fundraiser passed the $1 million mark. "And I think the world felt a little broken too, because a lot of bad things have been happening lately, especially between black people and white people. But all of you gave people a reason to feel a little less broken."

Humans Of New York: Brandon Stanton's Interpersonal City Catalogue (PHOTOS)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/04/humans-of-new-york-brandon-stanton_n_831310.html#s248931

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