USA Today
Jun 9, 2017First outlet to run the series, print and online.
3,270 FB connect · 877 Twitter shares · 1.1K shares
Orlando, FL / Pulse Nightclub / Dear World
Dear
Orlando.
A group of 40 people — survivors, family members, and first responders of the Pulse nightclub shooting — sat for portraits over a week in Orlando.
A Letter
To the people
we met in Orlando.
The survivors and the eulogy givers. The officers and the nurses. The bartenders and DJs. The sisters and mothers, brothers and fathers. The best friends and colleagues. The lovers, partners and spouses.
A special thank you to all of you who participated. We honor you and hope you're proud of the story and portraits.
Here's what we learned from you
- You miss dreams that wake you with a smile.
- The nightmares haven't left.
- Money always gets in the way.
- Forgiveness is nearly impossible.* (*Nearly is the most important word in that sentence.)
- The FBI still has your phone. That phone has the photos of someone you loved.
- Stanley drank gin and tonics.
- It takes four minutes to get a patient from the front door of Orlando Health to the operating room.
- What if and survivor's guilt are motherf***k**s.
- Social media is a motherf***k**.
- You've lost friends who died. You've lost friends who survived.
- Your kid thinks you're better than Batman.
- You just want to buy turkey sometimes. And be a good mom.
Love,
Robert
Robert Xavier Fogarty and the Dear World team
Press Release / One Year Anniversary
Dear World
documents Pulse.
Survivors, family members and first responders sat for portraits to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub shooting.
Orlando — For its latest portrait collection entitled ‘Dear Orlando’, Dear World captured images of 25 survivors, family members and first responders as they reflected on their healing and recovery one year after the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla., which claimed 49 lives on June 12, 2016.
Each subject sat for an extended interview and a portrait featuring a personal message written on their skin, which is Dear World's signature storytelling medium. Each portrait includes a first-hand account of the story that inspired the words written on their bodies.
Community members shared deeply personal messages of tribute, regret, redemption, love, hope and fear as the first anniversary approached.
“Dear World honors the people who passed away, saved lives, comforted the injured and buried loved ones a year ago. I cherish the opportunity to listen and share these deeply personal stories from people who are bound by a nightmare that nobody should ever have to endure.”
— Robert X. Fogarty, Founder, Dear World
Dear Orlando subjects include
- Barbara Poma — owner of the Pulse nightclub
- Mayra and Brian Alvear — mother and brother of Amanda Alvear, whose final moments were caught on Snapchat
- Mina Justice — mother of Eddie, who sent her text messages from the bathroom before he died
- Chief John Mina — City of Orlando Chief of Police
- Omar Delgado — Eatonville police officer credited with saving the life of Angel Colon
Crediting Instructions
These are made available with broad permission of use with no requests for licensing or compensation from Dear World. All digital stories must link back to dearworld.org. Photos should be credited as: Dear World / Daymon Gardner. On social, tag @dearworld and use #dearorlando.
Portraits & Stories
The Collection
Each subject sat for an extended interview and a portrait featuring a personal message written on their skin — Dear World's signature storytelling medium.
Eatonville Police Officer
Omar Delgado
Eatonville police officer credited with saving Angel Colon. A year later, he's still waiting for the old Omar to come back.
Read Story
Owner of Pulse Nightclub
Barbara Poma
She built Pulse and her family inside it. A year later, she's the woman at the turkey counter at Publix — trying to remember how to be a mom.
Read Story
Daughter of Barbara Poma
Isabella Poma
Isabella grew up inside Pulse — bartending with Sprite and limes, hide and seek across three rooms. Then her mom told her who hid up on the balcony that night.
Read Story
Mother of Eddie Justice
Mina Justice
Eddie's last text came at 2:06 a.m. from the bathroom at Pulse. His mother Mina would learn he was the sixth person identified.
Read Story
Mother & Brother of Amanda Alvear
Mayra & Brian Alvear
Amanda's final moments were captured on Snapchat. Five days before Pulse, she'd posted those words about her brother Nelson, who'd died at 11.
Read Story
Survivor
Angel Colon
Three weeks in the hospital, fighting with God in the dark. Angel chose forgiveness as part of moving forward.
Read Story
Survivor, Friend of Stanley Almodóvar
Marissa Delgado
Marissa survived the Pulse shooting. Her best friend Stanley Almodóvar didn't. This is her tribute to him.
Read Story
Survivor
Leo Melendez
At 14, his mother bought him the Gucci watch his father refused. Three weeks in a coma later, she was the first face he saw — and she had to tell him about Javier.
Read Story
Survivor
Angel Santiago
Angel grew up with nightmares of being chased into closets and found. That night, the dream was real — and afterward he could no longer hide who he is.
Read Story
Survivor
Rodney Sumter
Rodney was closing out his checks at 2 a.m. when the shots started. A week later, on Father's Day, his son handed him a poster — and named his real superhero.
Read Story
Orlando Police Department, First Responder
Alison Clarke
An out gay officer with OPD, Alison was one of the first responders at Pulse. A year later, she found healing in a sea of white t-shirts at the PRIDE parade.
Read Story
Former Board Member, The Center
Rob Domenico
The Center's phone lines lit up the next day. Rob took the call from a mother asking where her son was — and promised they'd call her back.
Read Story
ER Nurse, Orlando Health
Jaimee Hahan
Four minutes from the trauma bay to the OR. Jaimee, an ER nurse on the weekend night shift, writes a letter to Dear World about the team that night.
Read Story
Survivor
Chris Hansen
Chris first thought the shots were music. He kept a stranger conscious by asking her birthday. Days later, her aunt called from Cleveland.
Read Story
Survivor, Bartender at Pulse
Kate Maini
Twelve years behind the bar at Pulse. Kate carried Stanley to the pickup truck that night. Her regulars' credit cards stayed in her cup at work — she made their last drink.
Read Story
Sister of Jean Carlos Nieves Rodriguez
Valeria Monroig
Valeria shared a bathroom with her brother Jean. The weekend before Pulse, she apologized to her mom — and finally told Jean she'd gotten her license.
Read Story
Son of Brenda Lee Marquez McCool
Robert Pressley
His mother had a bad feeling that night and changed out of her dress before leaving. Robert writes a letter to the world about Brenda — the lioness.
Read Story
Survivor, DJ at Pulse
Ray Rivera
Ray was the DJ that night. A straight DJ who built his career in Orlando's gay clubs since 1999, he'd rather hang out at a gay club with his wife than anywhere else.
Read Story
Mother of Luis Conde
Magda Soto
Luis was always late — except the day he walked his mother down the aisle. He arrived an hour early. They danced together all night.
Read Story
Survivor
Orlando Torres
Orlando kissed Anthony Laureano hello on his way to the bathroom. Minutes later, the shots started. He saw Anthony's face among the 49 from his hospital bed.
Read Story
Partner of Jonathan
Effrain Colon Ortiz
Effrain remembers Jonathan turning red at a Telemundo taping — and the last hug outside Pulse, when Jonathan told his mother he'd met somebody.
Read Story
Former Partner of Deonka Deidra Drayton
Emily Addison
Emily and Deonka were together for seven years. The night before Pulse, Emily cooked her last meal — turkey necks over rice.
Read Story
Survivor, Best Friend of Amanda Alvear & Mercedes Flores
Josean Garcia
They called themselves JAM — Josean, Amanda, Mercedes. The hyenas. Josean is writing a song called Fly Away as his goodbye card to the two friends he couldn't say goodbye to.
Read Story
More portraits to be added. Photos: Dear World / Daymon Gardner.
Press & Social Coverage
Media Hits
Coverage of the ‘Dear Orlando’ series in the week of June 9–15, 2017, commemorating the one-year anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub shooting.
522,697
People Reached
142,957
Post Engagements
35,027
Video Views
1,214
New Followers
USA Press
20 OutletsBuzzFeed News
Jun 12, 2017Featured photos and quotes; trending.
205,207 views
AJ+
Jun 12, 2017Interviewed Robert; ran the photo series on Facebook.
230K views · 4.2K likes · 1,219 shares
Mashable
Jun 12, 2017Select photos with stories and a link back to the website.
625 shares
AOL.com
Jun 12, 2017Full photo series plus original slideshow with news coverage.
123 comments
Orlando Sentinel
Jun 10, 2017Full photo series with editorial write-up.
AZ Central
Jun 12, 2017Ran the photo series.
189 FB connect
Cosmopolitan
Jun 12, 2017Short write-up; featured portraits with quotes.
Hello Giggles
Jun 12, 2017Featured the project; multiple portraits with quotes.
Brit + Co
Jun 12, 2017Featured Chief John Mina's portrait via Orlando Police Instagram, link to series.
CassiusLife
Jun 12, 2017Article on the project with photos.
Naples Daily News
Jun 12, 2017Write-up with highlighted sentences from each portrait.
UPROXX
Jun 8, 2017Featured Omar's video alongside the photo series with quotes.
News Talk Florida
Jun 12, 2017Write-up with photo series and site link.
Normangee Star
Jun 12, 2017Referenced Dear World as a social-justice organization with a link to the project.
MyModernMet
Jun 14, 2017Select photos with shortened quotes and Dear World social links.
Konbini
Jun 14, 2017Photos with short attached quotes.
150 shares
WMFE
Jun 2, 2017Interviewed Fresh Johnson about Dear World and the Dear Orlando series.
NOLA Defender
Jun 9, 2017Online article with link to the entire series.
4 FB likes
Sojo.com
Jun 16, 2017#1 in Weekly Wrap 6.16.17: The 10 Best Stories You Missed This Week.
International Press
5 OutletsMadmoizelle (France)
Jun 13, 2017Translated series into French with photos and stories.
Mashable France
Jun 12, 2017Series with photos, stories, and site link.
55 shares
Vanity Fair France
Jun 13, 2017Full photo series with stories and link back to the website.
LaVanguardia.com
Jun 2017Article featuring portraits with attached stories.
Mitu
Jun 13, 2017Select portraits with stories and site link.
864 shares
Top Social Moments
Twitter & Instagram
Mashable
Tweeted the series.
46 retweets · 96 likes · 9M followers
Orlando Police
Retweeted the series.
54 retweets · 94 likes · 85K followers
Anna Paquin
Retweeted.
20 retweets · 46 shares · 174K followers
Katey Sagal
Liked the series.
530K followers
Kaitlin Olson
Liked the series.
495K followers
Audra McDonald
Liked the series.
21 retweets · 190K followers
Nina Jacobson
Liked the series.
45.5K followers
Ginger Minj
Liked the series.
85.5K followers
@BuzzFeedNews (Instagram)
Posted the article featuring Isabella Poma using #DearOrlando.
18K likes
@started_as_a_ally_now_im_queer
Reposted BuzzFeed's photos using #DearOrlando.
6,502 likes
Top Facebook Posts
Dear World Page · Jun 9–15, 2017
Chris Hansen — Pulse Anniversary Exclusive
Jun 12, 2017130K reached · 3.5K reactions · 465 shares · 15K post clicks
Barbara Poma — portrait and story
Jun 11, 2017111K reached · 366 shares
Jaimee Hahan — portrait and story
Jun 12, 201786.2K reached · 1K likes · 224 shares
BuzzFeed article share
Jun 12, 201756.3K reached · 578 likes · 2.3K post clicks
Robert's letter — 'To the people we met in Orlando'
Jun 12, 201746K reached · 1.3K reactions · 3.6K post clicks
Omar's video — 'This is what it means to face your fears'
Jun 11, 201745K reached · 17K video views
Omar Delgado — portrait and story
Jun 11, 201735K reached · 426 likes · 83 shares
Mina Justice — video
Jun 13, 201735K reached · 10K views
Ray Rivera — portrait and story
Jun 11, 201718K reached · 299 likes · 28 shares
Credits
Production Team
Founder
Robert X. Fogarty
Principal Photographer
Daymon Gardner
Facilitators / Interviewers
Lynetria Johnson
Katie Greenman
Jonah Evans
Robert Fogarty
Lead Producers
Katie Godkin Morales
Joe Gravier
Director of Photography
Brian Hollars
Photo Unit Crew
Jen Sens
Video Unit Crew
Cliff Jett
Rick Alexander
Producers
Izzy Morrison
Jenny Babcock
Zach Hollwedel
JD Casto
Margaret Fogarty
Video Editor
Tori McCarthy
Photo Editors
Daymon Gardner
Lemar Arceneaux
Transcript Editors
Liz Beeson
Sara Hudson
Izzy Morrison
Jonah Evans
Robert Fogarty
Interview Venue
90.7 WMFE
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