A hug is a simple but profound gesture that can express care, connection, and love. Free hugs is a global movement started by Juan Mann in 2006 through a viral YouTube video, and people around the world have been hugging on the street since. Free hugs can shift deeply held beliefs about the nature of the world and people, it brings joy and physical well-being, it brings more genuine connection in our disconnected, tech filled lives.

Rossi Dimitrova loves hugs and has been a free hugger and photographer for 9 years, both hugging and documenting the Free Hugs movement in...