Photography has always been my creative
outlet I used to carry my camera with me
on my walk to and from work in downtown
Minneapolis my route took me past the
Greyhound bus station and the homeless
shelter I was fascinated by all the
objects I would find along my path some
were stashed until later others
abandoned I knew each one had its own
story so I began to document them and as
I was paying attention to the things in
my environment I wasn’t paying as much
attention to the people until I realized
I was seeing a lot of the same people
every day but because we were different
we didn’t interact and in like how that
felt I realized that ignoring someone is
a choice and it was one I didn’t want to
make anymore so I used my camera as an
excuse to engage with them I started
asking people if I could take their
photos at first I was extremely nervous
but I pushed through my fear because I
felt somehow compelled to do it I would
print the photos at home and then carry
them with me so that if I saw the person
again I could give them to them and
people liked the photos so that
motivated me to keep doing it and I got
better eventually inspired by humans of
New York I relaunched the project as
humans of Minneapolis and I added a
short interview with each person and for
me it’s all about connections making a
connection with somebody documenting
that connection
and then sharing it on social media
there via the magic of storytelling my
followers also feel a connection to that
person which builds community and
encourages empathy
over time I’ve developed a process which
is this I walk around with my camera and
my audio recorder and I mindfully
observe people
the first thing I’m looking for is the
photo so I see a certain person in a
certain environment and I think I could
take a nice portrait of them next I
noticed their body language and
especially their facial expression if
someone seems agitated or in a hurry I
leave them alone but if they seem
relaxed I try to get a little bit of eye
contact with them in order to gauge
their general openness at least at that
particular moment if they seem willing
and able to engage that’s when I’ll
approach them I quickly explain what I’m
doing and asked them if they’d be
interested in participating they have to
be willing or it doesn’t work I start
out with a very broad question and then
I listen for certain threads that pique
my curiosity and I follow those what I’m
interested in are the things that shaped
us to become who we are the most
important thing that I do is I actively
listen without judgment that’s how I
gain their trust I make sure they know
I’m listening not only with my ears but
with my heart when the conversations
finished
oh that’s when I’ll photograph them I’ll
thank them for their time given my
business card and go home transcribe the
interview edit it and post it my
followers like and share the posts and
offer incredible words of encouragement
ideally the person will see their post
so that they can absorb all that
positive energy being sent their way and
as it turns out that positive energy can
make a real difference
sue Ella shared her story of being
two-spirit which is what some Native
Americans call people who embody both
male and female genders she grew up in a
small very religious community in Canada
and since she has left to live in a more
tolerant City but when she shared her
story on Facebook people from her
hometown were really supportive in the
comments and that meant a lot to her she
thinks that the post may have actually
influenced her hometown to hold their
very first LGBTQ pride event Imani who’s
an actress expressed her frustration
over having her options limited by other
people’s inability to envision a black
woman playing mainstream roles she
called the encouraging feedback on
Facebook life-giving and said that it
energized her to do and say more to
bridge the racial gap in the theatre
world so our actions and our words
ripple out and affect others whether
we’re there to witness it or not it’s
testimonies like these and others like
them that inspired me to relaunch the
project once again as a non-profit the
power of storytelling is that it allows
us to see the world through more than
just our
lens and the lens of other people who
are like us a singular point of view
becomes multifaceted and that enriches
our lives as we naturally incorporate
new information into our old way of
seeing things we learn not only about
other people but about ourselves the
most important thing that I’ve learned
is that we all experienced we all
experience different degrees of hardship
but it doesn’t necessarily show on the
outside I’m willing to bet there’s many
of you in the audience today who are
going through something very difficult
maybe I am Chama when I met her had just
recently gotten out of the hospital
where she’d been for over a year away
from her kids dave told me he was dying
of cancer and he’s unfortunately since
passed away
so because of them and so many other
people who’ve just surprised me over the
years now I try to just cut people a
little bit more slack because you never
know what someone might be going through
that’s empathy another thing I’ve
learned is the importance of being seen
heard and acknowledged it’s a common
need that we all share it lets us know
that we belong that we matter it’s
particularly important for people who
are marginalized who often feel ignored
or judged but the great thing about
seeing and acknowledging people is that
you don’t need a camera to do it here’s
some ways that you can
connect with people in your everyday
life look for commonalities occupying
the same space is a legitimate enough
excuse to interact with another human
being but try to think of something else
you might have any in common at that
moment and say something about it
maybe it’s weather that you’re both
experiencing or an event you’re both
attending dogs and kids provide a great
way to connect with somebody what’s
their name how old are they small talk
gets a bad rap but it’s actually an
extremely efficient way to get
acquainted with somebody give people
compliments if you notice that someone
has clearly put some thought into their
look today
why not acknowledge that they made the
effort hey I like your outfit cool shoes
nice glasses it feels good to make
someone else feel good
so make giving compliments a regular
habit and finally choose to engage you
know how when you go on vacation it’s
somehow easier to meet people try being
that more outgoing version of yourself
at home once in a while make eye contact
smile say hi maybe even how are you
it’ll make us all feel just a little bit
more human these opportunities for
connection are all around us you just
need to open your hearts and your minds
to see them thank you
you [Music]
outlet I used to carry my camera with me
on my walk to and from work in downtown
Minneapolis my route took me past the
Greyhound bus station and the homeless
shelter I was fascinated by all the
objects I would find along my path some
were stashed until later others
abandoned I knew each one had its own
story so I began to document them and as
I was paying attention to the things in
my environment I wasn’t paying as much
attention to the people until I realized
I was seeing a lot of the same people
every day but because we were different
we didn’t interact and in like how that
felt I realized that ignoring someone is
a choice and it was one I didn’t want to
make anymore so I used my camera as an
excuse to engage with them I started
asking people if I could take their
photos at first I was extremely nervous
but I pushed through my fear because I
felt somehow compelled to do it I would
print the photos at home and then carry
them with me so that if I saw the person
again I could give them to them and
people liked the photos so that
motivated me to keep doing it and I got
better eventually inspired by humans of
New York I relaunched the project as
humans of Minneapolis and I added a
short interview with each person and for
me it’s all about connections making a
connection with somebody documenting
that connection
and then sharing it on social media
there via the magic of storytelling my
followers also feel a connection to that
person which builds community and
encourages empathy
over time I’ve developed a process which
is this I walk around with my camera and
my audio recorder and I mindfully
observe people
the first thing I’m looking for is the
photo so I see a certain person in a
certain environment and I think I could
take a nice portrait of them next I
noticed their body language and
especially their facial expression if
someone seems agitated or in a hurry I
leave them alone but if they seem
relaxed I try to get a little bit of eye
contact with them in order to gauge
their general openness at least at that
particular moment if they seem willing
and able to engage that’s when I’ll
approach them I quickly explain what I’m
doing and asked them if they’d be
interested in participating they have to
be willing or it doesn’t work I start
out with a very broad question and then
I listen for certain threads that pique
my curiosity and I follow those what I’m
interested in are the things that shaped
us to become who we are the most
important thing that I do is I actively
listen without judgment that’s how I
gain their trust I make sure they know
I’m listening not only with my ears but
with my heart when the conversations
finished
oh that’s when I’ll photograph them I’ll
thank them for their time given my
business card and go home transcribe the
interview edit it and post it my
followers like and share the posts and
offer incredible words of encouragement
ideally the person will see their post
so that they can absorb all that
positive energy being sent their way and
as it turns out that positive energy can
make a real difference
sue Ella shared her story of being
two-spirit which is what some Native
Americans call people who embody both
male and female genders she grew up in a
small very religious community in Canada
and since she has left to live in a more
tolerant City but when she shared her
story on Facebook people from her
hometown were really supportive in the
comments and that meant a lot to her she
thinks that the post may have actually
influenced her hometown to hold their
very first LGBTQ pride event Imani who’s
an actress expressed her frustration
over having her options limited by other
people’s inability to envision a black
woman playing mainstream roles she
called the encouraging feedback on
Facebook life-giving and said that it
energized her to do and say more to
bridge the racial gap in the theatre
world so our actions and our words
ripple out and affect others whether
we’re there to witness it or not it’s
testimonies like these and others like
them that inspired me to relaunch the
project once again as a non-profit the
power of storytelling is that it allows
us to see the world through more than
just our
lens and the lens of other people who
are like us a singular point of view
becomes multifaceted and that enriches
our lives as we naturally incorporate
new information into our old way of
seeing things we learn not only about
other people but about ourselves the
most important thing that I’ve learned
is that we all experienced we all
experience different degrees of hardship
but it doesn’t necessarily show on the
outside I’m willing to bet there’s many
of you in the audience today who are
going through something very difficult
maybe I am Chama when I met her had just
recently gotten out of the hospital
where she’d been for over a year away
from her kids dave told me he was dying
of cancer and he’s unfortunately since
passed away
so because of them and so many other
people who’ve just surprised me over the
years now I try to just cut people a
little bit more slack because you never
know what someone might be going through
that’s empathy another thing I’ve
learned is the importance of being seen
heard and acknowledged it’s a common
need that we all share it lets us know
that we belong that we matter it’s
particularly important for people who
are marginalized who often feel ignored
or judged but the great thing about
seeing and acknowledging people is that
you don’t need a camera to do it here’s
some ways that you can
connect with people in your everyday
life look for commonalities occupying
the same space is a legitimate enough
excuse to interact with another human
being but try to think of something else
you might have any in common at that
moment and say something about it
maybe it’s weather that you’re both
experiencing or an event you’re both
attending dogs and kids provide a great
way to connect with somebody what’s
their name how old are they small talk
gets a bad rap but it’s actually an
extremely efficient way to get
acquainted with somebody give people
compliments if you notice that someone
has clearly put some thought into their
look today
why not acknowledge that they made the
effort hey I like your outfit cool shoes
nice glasses it feels good to make
someone else feel good
so make giving compliments a regular
habit and finally choose to engage you
know how when you go on vacation it’s
somehow easier to meet people try being
that more outgoing version of yourself
at home once in a while make eye contact
smile say hi maybe even how are you
it’ll make us all feel just a little bit
more human these opportunities for
connection are all around us you just
need to open your hearts and your minds
to see them thank you
you [Music]
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