A data anomaly led us to a small Illinois town, where we discovered a woman whose commitment kept an entire community moving.

What if there was a town with only one Lyft driver?

That question led our team to rural Illinois, where we discovered Janine—responsible for approximately 62% of all Lyft rides in her community. What began as a search for an unusual data point became a story about responsibility, connection, and the quiet ways people show up for one another. As Creative Director and Executive Producer, I led the project from concept through final edit, shaping a short documentary that would become one of Rev's defining stories.

Outcome

The retiree who stepped up to drive an entire town became one of Rev's defining stories and helped establish a storytelling approach that would shape future editorial work: start with curiosity, use data to uncover unexpected patterns, and invest the time needed for the human story to emerge.

7K+ organic YouTube views
9.5K+ organic views on Shorts
Earned a Silver Telly Award (2025)
Led to national coverage on ABC News' America This Morning in a segment reported by Danny New, 'Mr. Positivity'

This story was published as both a short documentary and a companion editorial feature, allowing us to explore Janine's impact through both film and long-form storytelling.

Read the article here.

Team

Creative Director & Executive Producer
Alexis Hazelwood

Director of Photography
Peter Garafalo

Producer & Editor
Connor Lynch

Data Storytelling Analyst
Sarah Conlisk