A popular photo-blog owner, Humans of New York raised $1 million to help students at a public middle school in a crime-ridden neighborhood of New York City to visit Harvard University — on the strength of a single image.

The picture shows Vidal Chastanet, a 13-year-old boy who attends Mott Hall Bridges Academy in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Brownsville, which is considered one of the city's most dangerous locations.

Two weeks ago, when street photographer Brandon Stanton asked Vidal who had inspired him most in life, he gave an answer that touched many people: his principal, Nadia Lopez.
"When we get in trouble, she doesn't suspend us," Vidal told the photographer. 

"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."

The teen's gratitude for his principal's actions struck a chord with countless viewers when it was posted to Humans of New York's social media channels.
"I sat and watched the golden globes last week," a Facebook user commented. 

"A whole night celebrating these actors...these people we pay to entertain us. Every award in the universe should go to people like Ms. Lopez... A lady who does not get paid enough to educate our youth and change lives."

www.gistblognaija.com/2015/02/human-of-new-york-popular-blog-owner-to.html