Sharing Wisdom: Humans of Toledo's thoughtful discoveries

Toledo Local Features  |  02/14/2014

What started as a resume piece for Joni Johnson has turned into a continual project followed by hundreds of people. Inspired by Humans of New York ? a candid photo blog with quick, sometimes hard-hitting, sometimes whimsical quotes from average people on the street ? she started Humans of Toledo, bringing the concept here.
And with more then 1,500 likes on Facebook and heavy feedback, it's evident that people are receptive toward it. We caught up with Joni to talk about what inspired her to borrow the idea, how it's motivated her and how the recent snowy, inclement weather kind of kicked everything off. 

On what inspired her.

"There have been some stories [on Humans of New York] that have made me sit and take things in for a little bit. There have been stories that have lingered with me all day long. It happens in everyday communication for me too. I'm not really big on small talk, so this kind of fits really well for me. I get to dig into people's hearts and souls and stuff that they've been through ? what makes them them."

On how the blog started.

"It started off as a resume piece because I'm in broadcast journalism. I want to apply for NPR on the 15th and I needed something. I set a list for myself of things I wanted to do this year. It wasn't going to be going to the gym or anything.
It was a snow day. I was sitting inside and we couldn't leave and I wrote a Facebook status to hold myself accountable and I said, 'I'm going to start Humans of Toledo.' I was kind of bored and I started it that night. I interviewed my mom's boyfriend. That was my first interview and it kept going way faster than I thought it would."

On something she has overcome. 

"I have bipolar disorder and I've had a couple setbacks. It affects your mood on a daily basis unless you treat it properly. And there were times when I have not. But, this has been such a blessing for me. I feel the purpose of what Humans of New York is, where you're bringing people's stories out in public, you're kind of bringing a sense of community to the area, you're helping others see the beauty in other people. And I think it's nice being an instrument for that."

On what she has taken away from it. 

"Every single interview I'm learning something. I feel like I'm the one who is definitely benefiting the most. Everybody, for the most part, has been extremely open with me."

Visit the Humans of Toledo blog at http://humansoftoledo.wordpress.com/page/2/ or the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/HumansofToledo.