Julio Diaz, a social worker, was returning home to the Bronx after a long day at work. Just after he got off the train, a teenager held him up at knifepoint.

This is the story of the unusual way Julio reacted.

Julio’s story is one in a series of real-life stories presented by StoryCorps and Upworthy reminding us #WhoWeAre—everyday Americans speaking to our best selves.

Click here to listen to Julio’s original StoryCorps interview.

StoryCorps and Upworthy, the mission-driven media company that reaches more than 200 million people each month, have joined forces to launch #WhoWeAre, a campaign to share the stories of everyday Americans, build compassion, and offer hope to a divided nation. #WhoWeAre calls on Americans to reach across perceived divides and listen to one another.
Click here to learn more about the campaign.