by johnnoltner
I live in the city, but my wife and I have a Christmas tree farm. So I’ve seen the divide. I’ve been on both sides of it. I know how my farm neighbors feel when yet another city person buys the field down the road. I know how my city friends joke about life in the country. I’ve seen kindness and patience on both sides, but I’ve seen lack of understanding and frustration as well. There are differences. In priorities, […]
Categories: Uncategorized
by johnnoltner
At Alvernia University, we partnered with the Office of Multicultural Engagement and asked, “How does participating in service provide hope?” At times, I have been asked, “Aren’t you just preaching to the choir?” I don’t think that is the case, but even if it were…the truth is, the choir needs encouragement, too. Working for the common good, concern with building community, striving toward justice…these can be lofty goals, tiring work, and when the problems are large, people can become discouraged. […]
Categories: Blog • Tags: alvernia, black and white, encourage, hope, inspirational, inspire, multicultural, photography, preach, quotes, service, stories
by johnnoltner
“We all have power…and when we get together, we have more power.” – Ela Gandhi In 2013, I was planning to bring my exhibit to the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. Ela Gandhi, granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, had written the foreword to my first book. In one of the exhibit planning sessions, we discussed what the programming should look like. One of us (I can’t remember who) said, “We should see if Ela Gandhi would fly from South Africa […]
Categories: Podcast • Tags: Ela Gandhi, Gandhi, legacy, nonviolence, peace, south africa
by johnnoltner
At Millersville University, we partnered with the Intercultural Center to ask students, “What is the unique opportunity or challenge of talking about race at this moment in history?” With a studio one day, quick overnight production, and a lecture on our second day, we were able to use our model of storytelling and photography to reflect their stories back to them. It’s a process that allows a community to reflect, refine and articulate their vision in a way that can […]
Categories: Blog • Tags: black and white, challenge, hope, millersville, opportunity, photography, quote, race, story
by johnnoltner
I know two names on the memorial wall. Thomas E. Burnett Jr. and Mohammad Salman Hamdani. Their names are two panels apart, on the South Memorial Pool. Thomas is from the town where I live. Bloomington, Minnesota. My children attended the same high school Thomas did. Our post office is named after him. Thomas E. Burnett Jr. helped force down Flight 93 into an empty farm field in Pennsylvania so that it couldn’t crash into another public place. Mohammad (his […]
Categories: Blog • Tags: 9-11, anniversary, Ground Zero, memorial, NYC, Salman Hamdani, Thomas Burnett
by johnnoltner
“It feels as if every corner of America is running on a steady diet of fear. We’re afraid of guns, of our guns being taken; we’re afraid of our enemies; of our cousins who cancelled out our votes; of brown bodies, black bodies, Muslim bodies; of police, of Democrats, of Republicans, of Christians, of non-Christians; of the fact that our Christian churches are dwindling; we are afraid of men, of women who will tell on men; we are afraid of […]
Categories: Blog • Tags: courage, faith, fear, fear not, holden village, peace, stories, storytelling, studio, washington
by johnnoltner
“Every now and then it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.” That quote by French poet Guillaume Apollinaire was posted behind the ticket counter at the ferry dock north of Chelan, Washington. We were on our way to Holden Village and it’s a journey to get there. A 1,529 mile drive west. 20 miles by boat up a wilderness lake on the edge of North Cascades National Park. 11 miles up a gravel road […]
Categories: Uncategorized
by johnnoltner
This morning was an early start. I like to get out of the city before rush hour ramps up. Three sleepy people in a truck. Trailer hitched behind us. All headed west. In 1,529 miles we will be at Holden Village in the Washington Cascades for my fourth year running as part of the teaching staff. My social media stream will be quiet for a couple weeks. There is a lot of community at Holden Village, but not much technology. […]
Categories: Blog • Tags: connect, exhibit, holden village, peace, stories, travel
by johnnoltner
Leah Prussia grew up in a primarily German-Norwegian family, but as an adult, she embraced her Anishinaabe heritage, as well. Leah holds a master’s degree in social work and works as a college instructor and clinical social worker. She has struggled with depression for much of her life. When she finally found the right combination of therapy, medication, and spiritual practice, she says, “it was like seeing color for the first time.” “When I’m not healthy, how can I be […]
Categories: Podcast • Tags: depression, heal, healing, identity, lonlieness, mental illness, Minnesota, spirituality, sturggle, therapy
by johnnoltner
Last week I met Kerem. A friend of a friend, he was a Turkish photojournalist until it became unsafe to be a Turkish photojournalist. Kerem got a green card when that was easier to do. He sold all his belongings and moved to the United States with his wife and twin boys. They went first to Rochester, MN to be close to other family who had settled there and just last month moved to the Twin Cities in search of […]
Categories: Blog • Tags: book, greencard, immigrant, Istanbul, photography, refugee, Syria, Turkey
