Brandon Stanton’s blog, Humans of New York (HONY), started out as an unassuming personal project to capture New York’s larger-than-life characters. Five years later, Stanton has garnered 12 million viewers, launched a United Nations-sponsored photography tour and snagged a meeting with President Obama.

On his recent visit to Harvard University, HPR journalist Mattea Mrkusic sat down with Stanton to discuss his personal obligations to storytelling, the recent Mott Hall Bridges Academy campaign, and what’s next for HONY. Stanton is expected to return to Harvard later this year, this time, accompanied by the students of Mott Hall Bridges Academy. Following a successful IndieGogo campaign, Stanton raised $1.4 million to bring students from the Brooklyn school to visit Harvard.

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