What does it mean to propagate Black Joy? To begin, Dr. Chris Omni invites you to think about how we propagate plants. 

In order to create new plants, the parent plant must be healthy and striving. In the space of propagating Black Joy, Dr. Omni, the parent plant, spent several years on an intentional healing and nature-inspired journey of self-discovery after the passing of her Mama from a 26-year battle with cancer. Seven years later, she is strong, whole, and grounded. Now, Dr. Omni joyfully enters a space of celebrating and growing Black Joy in the lives of other Black people such as Michelle Gunn and Ashley Powell - 2022/2023 Black Joy research mentees from Florida State University who were promoted to interns for the 2023/2024 season. During this webinar, you get to hear directly from these brilliant young leaders.

Partner in supporting the  “Black Joy is Lit(erature) Workshop Series”:  a writing workshop and retreat for Black undergraduate students in Florida
https://www.pledge.to/black-joy-is-lit-erature-retreat

Dr. Chris Omni, the Black Joy Scholar is a speaker, award-winning entrepreneur, artist, and activist.  Her research explores Nature’s influence on the physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being of Black people and by blending her 25-year background in public health with her foreground in art education, Dr. Omni provides a counter-narrative to the typical deficit lens generally applied to the Black experience.

Michelle Gunn is an international affairs student at Florida State University. Originally from Orlando, Florida, she aspires to one day lead a non-profit organization dedicated to solving the issues amongst the Black diaspora. 

Ashley Powell is a Psychology and  Business student at Florida State University. She is a senior this year and plans to attend graduate school to pursue a master’s in business and eventually work in a field where she can utilize both psychology and business.

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