Educational Outreach
Outreach Pillar Three
Kwanzaa With Halisi Africa
The OMNI Institute of Well-Being maintains key community relations. One of its annual joys is the celebration of Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is an African holiday that commemorates the end of each year by challenging community members to reflect and grow together. It is celebrated over seven days, each one accompanied by a core principle.
Three of the Kwanzaa principles guide the OMNI Institute's Kujima Theory of Collective Self-Motivation. Hence, it was only natural that Dr. Chris Omni, MPH, MLS would be invited to lead workshops on the days these principles would be honored during a local, community-wide celebration at Halisi Africa restaurant and boutique.
Florida
Undergraduate
Research Conference
Dedicated to empowering future researchers, Dr. Chris Omni, MPH, MLS led a Black Joy workshop at the 2025 Florida Undergraduate Research Conference. Over 600 students from the top research institutions in the state present their projects and have the opportunity to learn about the work being completed by current experts in their field. Dr. Omni had the opportunity to introduce the concepts of Autoethnographic Research, Embodied Knowing, and Black Joy to students. She answered several questions and demonstrated how to lead research that prioritizes the needs of one's community.
Bristol, U.K. Writing Workshop
The OMNI Institute of Well-Being partnered with the Black Southwest Network to present "An Afternoon of Creativity and Jubilation: The Soul Clap Writing Workshop." The workshop offered Black writers in Bristol, U.K. a guided seminar on writing with a focus on joy as an essential factor in promoting wellness for Black families.
“Everyone is an artist. When you’re using your family recipes, that’s art. When you’re gardening, there’s artistry in that. When you tell us your stories, there’s artistry in that!” ~Dr. Chris Omni, MPH, MLS
An excerpt from the BSWN article on the workshop reads: "It is not often that people of Black, Brown, and Minoritized backgrounds are expected to write about their victories...In writing about our joy, we set ourselves free" (BSWN).
Dr. Chris Omni, MPH, MLS and Mr. Vince Omni, MFA not only taught community members. They left a group of people inspired to change their lives and continue sharing their stories. The Black South West Network shared that the participants formed a 'Black Joy Book Club' in Bristol, U.K.
