Lindy Drew

After receiving a biology degree at the University of Arizona and studying at the International Center of Photography, Lindy traveled and worked through Latin America as a photojournalist. She then graduated with master’s degrees in social work and public health from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, where she co-founded Humans of St. Louis. She has since led the team to produce visual stories and self-publish their first book representative of larger community conversations and development in the St. Louis region.

Artist Statement
I always know I can grab my camera, hop on my bike, hit the streets, and meet people in St. Louis willing to share a part of their lives with me and you. It doesn’t matter where. As I ride along, I gauge if someone’s willing to talk. Not everyone is, but surprisingly, most welcome my questions, have a chat, and are down to get their portrait taken.

An interview can last 10 minutes or over an hour. Some stories roll right off the tongue, others eventually get back on track after twists and turns. However they unfold, I want the audience to feel what I felt — the honesty, the heartache, the hilarity — the moment a stranger communicates something only they can because only they have lived it.

In a city carved into distinct neighborhoods, where streets often divide more than connect, and blighted buildings seem to scream KEEP OUT and DANGER, it’s typical to pass judgment on parts of St. Louis considered “good” or “bad,” “safe” or “dangerous.” Yet, what’s most telling about the character of this city is when I wander through it, talking to anyone who takes the time to talk to me. Every time I approach someone new, my focus is on getting past niceties and clichés to genuinely get to know who someone is as a human being.

Humans of St. Louis (HOSTL) is a mix of storytelling, documentary photography, and community-engaged art. At its simplest, it’s the practice of inviting someone to feel comfortable enough to tell their story and then listening so they feel heard.

When discussions light up the comments sections, opinions unfold, or resources pour in, it’s clear there are even more layers beyond “HOSTLing” than simply talking to a stranger. It’s witnessing the immeasurable impact that unfolds. It’s connecting within and between our communities. It’s celebrating our similarities despite our differences. We try to model how anyone can have similar interactions, like the ones that keep growing our site. So, if reading a photostory acts as a mirror, maybe we all learn something new about ourselves.

Lindy Drew, MPH, MSW
HOSTL co-founder, lead storyteller, and author