Our Story

In the summer of 2025, I attended the School of New York Times, where I took a course in Reporting on Communities and Culture. As students, we reported from under-represented neighborhoods across New York City, spending time with local business owners and community members whose stories are often ignored or misunderstood. That experience taught me that when people are given the space to tell their own stories, it builds connections, challenges assumptions, and makes people feel they matter.

During that same summer, a horrific shooting occurred in Midtown Manhattan. In the days that followed, stories began to surface about the lives that were lost. They were professionals, parents, siblings, friends, and people deeply loved by their families, friends and communities. I found myself asking: Why do we only hear about their stories after they’re gone?

That question became the foundation of our mission. This platform was created to share voices and stories now while they are still here. It is our hope that we find commonality, understanding and inspiration as you learn about everyday, extraordinary people.