The project, Solbacka, was a special edition of my ongoing Intimacy Project portraits. I spent some time at Solbacka Integrationscenter in Sweden – a safe haven for newly arrived refugees to escape from their past, learn Swedish, and integrate into their new home as they awaited their immigration status from Migrationsverket (The Swedish Migration Board). The goal was to be with them in the moment. In the now. Because that was what really mattered. They are safe and alive.So my goal was simple. To celebrate their humanity, those moments of absolute joy as they are today. Spending time with these warm souls filled me up too. Solbacka was closed in spring 2017 because the center was no longer needed and its residents have moved on to the next stage of their lives. A symbol of hope. Note – The photos are a mix of portraits of both refugees/asylum seekers and Solbacka staff.