People of Faith

Oakland is a city of contrasts—resilient yet vulnerable, fractured yet connected. Amidst its shifting landscape, faith leaders stand as both anchors and mirrors of their communities, reflecting the struggles, hopes, and transformations taking place around them. ‘People of Faith’ is a photographic exploration of these individuals, capturing them in the spaces where they serve.

Through environmental portraits, this series reveals the humanity of spiritual leadership—its burdens and its grace. Each image is a dialogue between subject and setting. From grand sanctuaries to modest storefront churches, from mosques to temples, each space holds stories of devotion, perseverance, and change.

These portraits invite viewers to consider the evolving nature of faith in an urban landscape marked by gentrification, inequality, and cultural flux. They also serve as a testament to the enduring power of belief—not just in the divine, but in the possibility of healing, justice, and collective renewal.

By centering those who guide others, ‘People of Faith’ aims to question what it means to be a spiritual leader today, and spark conversations about the intersections of faith, identity, and belonging in contemporary Oakland.

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Juan Pablo Lucas

Pastor at Iglesia De Dios Evangelio Completo

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Lone Lazum

Pastor at Oakland Burmese Mission Baptist Church

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Daniel Ramos

Pastor at The Pentecostals of Oakland

36

Ismael Gutierrez

Priest at St. Elizabeth Parish

35

Aidan McAleenan

Priest at St. Columba Catholic Church

34

William Melgar & Leticia Magdalena Melgar

Pastors at Iglesia Lirio De los Valles

33

Lijoy Jose

Pastor at St Jarlath Church

32

Gregory Hunter

Pastor at Olivet Oakland Church

31

Esmeralda De Leon & Pedro Menjivar

Pastors at Iglesia El Shaddai Palabra Profetica

30

Dale Tremper

Retired Pastor (shot at Lake Park United Methodist Church)

29

Rodney Smith

Pastor at First African Methodist Episcopal Church

28

Thomas Zaferes

Reverend at Ascension Cathedral

27

Balew Tesfaye

Pastor at Debre Selam Iyesus Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

26

Peter Loi Chang

Pastor at Chinese Presbyterian Church

25

Darryl Rains

Elder at Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints

24

Laurie Manning

Pastor at Skyline Community Church

23

Larry Lawrence Brandon

Bishop at Evergreen Missionary Baptist

22

Rhina Ramos

Pastor at Ministero Latino

21

Mauricio Wilson

Rector at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

20

Marjorie Wilkes Matthews

Pastor at Plymouth United Church of Christ

19

Jacqueline Thompson

Pastor at Allen Temple Baptist Church

18

Genco Akiba

Reverend at Oakland Zen Center

17

Yoshi Akiba

Senior Teacher at Oakland Zen Center

16

Jacqueline Mates-Muchin

Rabbi at Temple Sinai

15

Harry Gyokyo Bridge

Reverend at Buddhist Church of Oakland

14

Ken Chambers

Pastor at West Side Missionary Baptist Church

13

Billie Dixon

Pastor(s) at At Thy Word Ministries Church of God in Christ

12

James E Watkins

Bishop at Jack London Square Chapel Ministries

11

Terrence Millican

Bishop at All Nations Pentecostal Prayer Church

10

Phyllis Scott

Pastor at Tree of Life Empowerment Ministries

9

Matt Prinz

Pastor at First Presbyterian Church

8

Sundiata Rashid

Imam at Lighthouse Mosque

7

David Labkowski

Rabbi at Chabad Center for Jewish Life

6

Mark Bloom

Rabbi at Temple Beth Abraham

5

Jim Hopkins

Pastor at Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church

4

Sylvester Ruthledge

Pastor at North Oakland Missionary Baptist Church

3

Michael Wallace

Pastor at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church

2

Tulio Serrano

Pastor at Maranatha Iglesia Cristiana

1

Damon Washington

Pastor at Immanuel Temple Seventh-day Adventist Church