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Public‑story project highlights local contributions as a tool for community healing
Summary
Photographer John Noltner described A Piece of My Mind, a long‑running public storytelling project that collects short personal reflections and portraits to surface local solutions and build empathy across divides.
John Noltner, founder of the public‑story project A Piece of My Mind, told summit participants how portraits and short written responses can change local conversations about difficult issues.
Noltner described traveling exhibits, studio pop‑ups and podcasts that pair photography with brief prompts—often asking people to answer in 25 words or less—to invite reflection and public display. "We're not here to debate or debunk," he said; the project’s aim is to make visible the lived experiences of people affected by issues such as immigration, housing insecurity and recovery, and to rehumanize those stories in public spaces.
He showed examples from previous projects—crosses placed at coordinates where migrants’ remains were found, portraits projected on buildings and a series of neighborhood exhibits that encouraged community members to share hopes and contributions. Noltner explained consent practices for youth participation and described plans to share galleries and downloadable portraits with attendees.
Organizers encouraged participants to visit the public studio, share stories, and use the images to reframe public dialogue in their own communities. Noltner said the project is supported by a mix of book sales, program fees and donor funding and that he uses local fixers and community partners when working internationally to ensure trust and translation.
"If we can get close to what’s happening, we can understand it in a new way," he said, summarizing the project’s approach to community listening and public art.
