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About Us

The Power of Faces is a global initiative to raise awareness of what the United Nations calls “the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time.” Founded by Daniel Farber Huang, Theresa Menders, Alexander Huang-Menders, and Celeste Huang-Menders. The Power of Faces seeks to add constructively to the conversation on who or “what” a refugee is.

 

Simply put, we seek to show individuals with their inherent beauty, courage, dignity, and grace.  We not only “take” photos but we also give printed portraits to the individuals. We realized that most refugees had lost all their personal possessions when they fled their homelands, including their treasured family photographs. Having a printed photo of loved ones or friends to hold in one’s hands can be a great comfort in times of need. So our team brings portable printers into the camps and provides photo-quality portraits for people to keep. To date, we have distributed thousands of photographs to the individuals we have met in camps in Greece, Turkey, Mexico and Bangladesh.

 

The team is based out of Princeton, NJ with assignments around the globe.

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TEAM BIOS

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Daniel Farber Huang and Theresa Menders

 

Daniel and Theresa have collaborated successfully on numerous documentary photography projects over the last 20 years. Their collaborative work as documentary photographers is included in the permanent collections of numerous fine art museums and historic institutions across the US, including the International Center of Photography, the New York Historical Society, the Museum of the City of New York, Museum of Chinese in America, the New York City Fire Museum, the Smithsonian and other cultural institutions.

 

Their photography has been exhibited by several museums including the New York Historical Society, Museum of Chinese in America, and group shows including the Museum of Modern Art, Here is New York and traveling exhibitions across the US. Daniel and Theresa have collaborated on a broad range of issues, with a long-term focus on women’s and children’s issues and the alleviation of poverty locally and around the world.  They have covered these and other current topics in the Republic of Vanuatu, Haiti, Colombia, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, India, China, and Greece.

 

Daniel and Theresa are Brand Ambassadors for Op/Tech USA camera systems.

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Daniel Farber Huang

In addition to his advocacy work, Daniel is a strategic consultant at The EchoStream Group. He is an Advisor at Princeton University’s Keller Center for Innovation. Daniel is also a journalist focused on current events and paradigms. He is a Nation Member of The Explorers Club and Ambassador for the Wharton Alumni Social Impact Club. He earned his BA in Economics from New York University, MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and Masters in Journalism from Harvard University.

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Theresa Menders

In addition to her advocacy work, Theresa is a Director at Otsuka Pharmaceutical Companies. She is a Mentor at Princeton University’s Keller Center for Innovation. Theresa is a National Fellow of The Explorers Club and Board Member of the Wharton Alumni Social Impact Club. Theresa earned her BS in Mathematics from Dartmouth College, a MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, a MS in Latin American Studies from Johns Hopkins University, a MPH in Global Health from George Washington University. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Public  Health from University of Illinois at Chicago.

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Alexander Huang-Menders

In addition to his advocacy work, Alexander Huang-Menders actively participates in a wide range of disciplines, including computer science and engineering as well as a variety of performing arts. He has been awarded a Make Magazine Editors’ Choice award for designing a holographic prototype at World MakerFaire 2016. He was a member of the first-place team in the American Computer Science League. Alexander is a member of the International Thespian Society, Spanish National Honor Society, and Cum Laude Society. Alexander attends The Pennington School in Pennington, NJ.

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Celeste Huang-Menders

In addition to her advocacy work, Celeste Huang-Menders is active in a wide range of STEM disciplines and fine art. Her creative artwork has been exhibited at the Bruce Museum and Eastern State Penitentiary. Celeste’s mural projects include installations at Trenton’s Roberto Clemente Park as part of the city’s urban renewal initiative and the Providence city-wide arts festival PVDFest. In December 2019, Celeste created a 10-foot tall mural on the border wall at the Tijuana/U.S. border to raise awareness of the issues facing displaced individuals. Celeste was awarded a Make Magazine Editors’ Choice Award for designing visual stage effects at World MakerFaire 2017. Celeste attends The George School in Newtown, PA.

Exhibition and Presentations

The Power of Faces: Looking at the Global Refugee Crisis Exhibit

 

  • Museum of Art Fort Collins -"Art and Advocacy" Photographer Talk. 2020

  • Rowan University, Center for Art and Social Engagement - Solo Exhibit, Talk. 2019 – 2020

  • MIT Alumni Club of Princeton - Photographer Talk. 2019

  • WRFI Radio – Human Rights and Social Justice Program Interview. 2019

  • Princeton Public Library, Fall Storytelling Series - Photographer Talk. 2019

  • HomeWorks, Trenton girls' empowerment program - Photographer Talk. 2019

  • Art Council of Princeton - Princeton Public Library, Exhibit and Photographer Talk. 2019

  • TEDxFarmingdale – TEDx Talk, Farmingdale, NY. 2019

  • TEDxNJIT Talk – TEDx Talk, Hoboken, NJ. 2019

  • The Silva Gallery at The Pennington School – Exhibit and Photographer Talks. 2019

  • Union Theological Seminary at Columbia University – Exhibit and Panel Discussion. 2019

  • The George School – Photographer Talk, Newtown, PA. 2019

  • The College of New Jersey – Photographer Talk, Trenton, NJ. 2019

  • Stevens Institute of Technology – National Week of Student Action Exhibit and Talk. 2019

  • TEDxYouth@UrsulineAcademy – Audience Activation, Wilmington, DE. 2019

  • SXSW South by Southwest – Ignite Talk, Austin, TX. 2019

  • Amnesty International – Annual General Meeting, Chicago, IL. 2019

  • The College of New Jersey – Center for Community Engaged Learning & Research. 2018

  • Amnesty International – Northeast Conference, Boston, MA. 2018

  • Amnesty International – Mid-Atlantic Conference, Philadelphia, PA. 2018

  • Middle East Institute – Annual Conference, Washington, DC. 2018

  • Princeton University – Photographer Talk, Princeton, NJ. 2018

  • Rutgers University – Displaced Lives: The Threat of Violence for Refugee, Displaced and Conflict Affected Women, New Brunswick, NJ. 2018

  • Johnson & Johnson – Photographer Talk, Skillman, NJ. 2018

  • TEDxWilmington – TEDx Talk, Wilmington, DE. 2017

  • TEDxRutgers – Exhibit and TEDx Talk. 2017

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