Art wasn’t part of Noel’s plan.
Born and raised in Cuba, his early passions leaned toward philosophy and design. He studied architecture with discipline and curiosity, always drawn to the beauty of form and structure — but never once imagined he’d be the one holding the brush. Art was something to admire from afar. “Even Picasso,” he jokes.
Today, Noel lovingly calls himself “the Painting Architect Cuban Guy in the corner.” It’s a self-given nickname he offers with a smile as he shares where he likes to sit in the shelter at— the corner where he finds peace, reflection, and now, purpose.
Noel came to the United States in 2005 through the Special Cuban Migration Program — sometimes called the “Cuban lottery.” It’s a rigorous process, and Noel met the requirements: education, experience, and determination. Once here, he bounced between cities — Washington D.C., Seattle, Boston — all while chasing stability, work, and relief from the chronic pain caused by fibromyalgia, a chronic condition that causes pain in muscles and soft tissues all over the body.
Eventually, the journey led him to Alaska, where the cool climate offered his body some relief. But after a fall that left him injured and vulnerable, Noel found himself at Brother Francis Shelter in Anchorage — the point in his story where everything quietly changed.
That’s where he met Sister Lucia.
Sister Lucia regularly visits Brother Francis to host painting enrichment sessions — gentle, welcoming spaces for clients to explore art and expression. One day, she handed Noel a sketchbook and asked him to draw. “Choose a theme,” she said. “Where is home?”
At first, he wasn’t sure what to make of the assignment. His first piece, he admits, “wasn’t good.” But the question stayed with him. Through the brushstrokes, through trial and imagination, something unlocked.
It wasn’t just creativity — it was dignity. Connection. A spark of pride.
Today, Noel has completed over 20 canvases. His work is expressive, colorful, and deeply personal. He paints almost every day, and when he finishes a piece, the first thing he wants to do is show Sister Lucia. “I love to see the shine in her eyes when she sees my new art,” he says.
What painting has given Noel is more than an outlet — it’s something to look forward to. A reason to keep going. A way to tell stories he doesn’t always have the words for.
When asked about what’s next, Noel answered he sees himself staying in Alaska and shared, “I am ready to get an architecture job, I am looking for the options now, to do both things- a balance between the technical and the artistic.”
He’s still working towards permanent housing. But now, he’s walking that path with something newly rediscovered: confidence, purpose, and pride in what he creates.
At Catholic Social Services, we believe healing often starts in the most unexpected ways — with a question, a paintbrush, or someone who simply sees your potential. For Noel, it was all three.