Belonging Project

In 2024, San Pablo - St. Paul’s, along with photojournalist John Noltner, gathered portraits of members in our community and neighbors, asking:

“When was a time you felt a sense of belonging?”

We compiled 54 portraits, 13 of which are now 12-foot-high banners on the exterior of the building facing 28th Street. John sat down with four of our featured participants and interviewed them to share a bit more in depth about their sense of belonging and dreams for community.

A woman with earrings and glasses in a floral blouse looks at displayed informational signs in a church or auditorium, while a man in a blue shirt stands near a wall with photos and windows in the background.

Stories

Featured

A Peace of My Mind Exhibit

Jose F. Gómez

Kathryn and Gabriel

Lizete Vega

Black and white photo of a smiling man wearing a sweater and zip-up jacket. Includes Spanish text expressing gratitude for becoming a community member at a church.

Black and white portrait of a woman with long wavy gray hair, wearing a face mask, with a text overlay on the left side that reads, "My mother died when I was seven. When I heard the church bells, I knew the bells meant God and I just walked to churc

Black and white portrait of a smiling man wearing a cap and casual clothing.

Smile of a woman in black and white with a quote about belonging, friendship, and gratitude from St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

A black and white photo of a woman smiling, looking to the left, with text overlay expressing her feelings about attending a crossfit class at St. Louis Park.

Black and white photo of a smiling woman wearing glasses, with text overlay that reads: 'I moved and was sick during a snowstorm. My neighbors brought me food and shoveled my driveway.'

Black and white portrait of a woman with braided hair, wearing a headscarf, a nose piercing, and a turtleneck, with a quote on the right side about feeling accepted and calm with a best friend.

A black and white portrait of a young man with short, styled hair, wearing a collared shirt, looking at the camera with a slight smile. Overlaid on the left side of the image is a quote about meeting his wife’s family and her brothers. The bottom cor

Black and white photo of an elderly man with a beard wearing glasses and a black hat. Overlaid with text about a Swedish immigrant visiting a Lutheran church in Minnesota and seeing a sign reading "Han or med eder all dagar." Logos for 'A Peace of My

Black and white photo of a smiling woman with a necklace, with Spanish text overlay that says, 'In this moment I feel part of this community seeing the diversity of people and beautiful colors.'

A portrait of an elderly woman with glasses, smiling with missing teeth, wearing a hoodie, against a dark background. Overlaid text expresses a desire for peace and affordable housing, mentioning ending violence and drug dealing, and community harmon

Black and white portrait of an elderly man with glasses and a mustache next to a quote about helping the community and the poor Americans.

A woman holding a young girl close, both smiling, with a black background and a message about love and family

Black and white portrait of a young woman with glasses smiling, with a quote about feeling valued by friends and coworkers at camp on the left.

Black and white portrait of a smiling woman looking to the right, with a quote overlaid that reads, "I felt a sense of belonging when I was lost and my church family found me, loved me, and brought me back to God."

A smiling young woman with light hair in a ponytail wearing a turtleneck sweater, black and white portrait. Text on the left reads, 'Every time I am surrounded by those I love (even if I haven't met them yet!) I feel like I belong.' Logos for 'A Peac

Black and white portrait of an older woman smiling, with text on the left side that reads, 'I felt a sense of belonging when walking on the path that pilgrims have walked since the 1100's.' There are logos at the bottom for A Peace of My Mind and St.

Black and white portrait of a smiling person with glasses, earrings, and a patterned shirt, with a quote about belonging and friendship beside it.

Black and white portrait of a smiling man in a military uniform with a beard, alongside a quote about moving to Minneapolis and feeling unknown.

Black and white portrait of a man with glasses and a beard, wearing a clerical collar, looking to the right. Overlaid text describes a walk through the neighborhood, hearing laughter and greetings, and being reminded of home. Logos for A Peace of My

Black and white photo of a young woman with a slight smile, wearing a plaid shirt and a necklace, with Spanish quote in white text on a dark background expressing gratitude for kindness received from a partner in a new country.

Black and white portrait of an elderly woman with short curly hair, smiling and looking to the side. Overlaid text in Spanish on the left side of the image.

Black and white photo of a woman with curly hair and sunglasses on her head, looking thoughtfully to the side. Overlaid text reads: "When all my empowerment is against me, I remember that God is there waiting for me. I am very strong and have wisdom.

Black and white photo of an elderly woman with a gentle smile, wearing a necklace, with text: 'When I came to church on Easter Sunday, I felt a sense of belonging.'

Black and white portrait of an elderly woman smiling, with text overlay about feeling a sense of belonging at family gatherings, and logos for A Peace of My Mind and St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

Black and white portrait of a young woman with glasses, smiling softly, looking slightly to the side. An inspirational quote about empathy and sharing values is on the right side, and the logos of A Peace of My Mind and St. Paul's San Pablo Lutheran

Black and white portrait of a smiling woman with a nose ring, looking to the right, with overlaid text about feeling a sense of belonging after sharing creativity, and logos of St. Paul's Lutheran Church and a peace of my mind.

Black and white portrait of an elderly woman with silver hair, smiling, wearing earrings and a scarf. Text overlay expressing an emotional moment of coming into a sanctuary and crying. Logos of A Peace of My Mind and St. Paul's – San Pablo Lutheran C

Black and white image of a young woman with long hair, looking to the right, with a serene expression. On the left side, text reads: "I felt a sense of belonging when I could be my authentic self without the fear of judgment."

Black and white portrait of an Asian woman with straight hair smiling, with a quote about playing on a women's rugby team in Laos and feeling community on the pitch, and logos of St. Paul's - San Pablo Lutheran Church and 'A Peace of My Mind' at the

A black-and-white portrait of a smiling young girl with text overlay expressing gratitude for siblings' love, friendship, and support. The image is credited to A Peace of My Mind and St. Paul’s-San Pablo Lutheran Church.

Black and white photo of an elderly woman with glasses and long hair, smiling, wearing traditional Swedish attire with floral embroidery and a brooch. Text on the right describes her heritage, connection to a Swedish house, and feelings of belonging.

Black and white portrait of a woman with curly hair, earrings, and a necklace, smiling slightly. Text on image: 'Cuando escucharon mi voz.' and logos for A Peace of My Mind and St. Paul's - San Pablo Lutheran Church.

A black and white portrait of a man with a beard wearing a Minnesota cap and a chain necklace. There is Spanish text to the right of the image.

A black-and-white photo of a smiling man wearing glasses, with text describing a moment at a birthday party where he performed karaoke, singing Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' for eight minutes.

Black and white portrait of a young girl with long hair, looking to the left, against a dark background.

A black and white portrait of a woman with long hair smiling, with a quote in Spanish on the right side about helping others who need it without expecting anything in return, and two logos at the bottom, one with a Peace of My Mind label and the othe

A black-and-white portrait of an elderly woman wearing a hat and earrings, with a gentle smile. To the left, a quote reads: "The deep communion I feel with the myriad plant and insect beings that so generously share a tiny patch of earth with me, mak

Supporters

This project was done in collaboration with A Peace of My Mind thanks to the generous support of the Lake Street Council, the Bethlehem Foundation, and the American Swedish Institute. A special thanks to John Noltner and everyone who participated in this project.

A man with gray hair and a beard looking to the right, outdoors in a landscape with cliffs and a body of water, under a cloudy sky at sunset.

About John Nolter

Award-winning photographer John Noltner, uses portraits and personal stories to bridge divides and encourage dialogue around important issues.

A gifted storyteller, Noltner has worked on four continents, gathering stories of human courage, grace, and resilience. A Peace of My Mind reflects his belief that art and storytelling can help individuals, organizations and communities articulate their deepest values and encourage action toward building social capital and community connections.

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Belonging Project

Stories

Delfino Gomez

Lizete Vega

Supporters

About John Nolter

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