Ancestry & Genealogy with Dominique Luster

As a visual storyteller, Wale Agboola travels around the world to learn more about regular and indigenous tribes and tell their day to day stories. His work is emotionally driven, and his ability to capture emotion in a single image comes from his diverse background, and being raised to be well-versed in understanding human emotion and art + storytelling. His photographs and talent speak for themselves, capturing gripping, powerful stories of individuals and cultures for a world in struggle.Wale and Dan discuss the emotional toll of the work he does and how he and his community take care of each other.If you’d prefer to watch, check out our Youtube channelIf you'd like to see the transcribed conversation, check it out on our blog, The Grapevine.To learn more about Wale and follow his work check out his Instagram and website. Want to stay in the loop? Subscribe to our channel and our newsletter, the Sync.

Warning: This conversation references suicide and suicidal ideations.  If you have distressing emotional experiences that interfere with your ability to function, consider talking to a licensed mental health professional.Julius Boatwright, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Steel Smiling, joins us in this conversation discussing mental health access, stigma, and healing within the Black community. Steel Smiling looks to bridge the gap between Black people and mental health support through education, advocacy, and awareness. Julius is a Licensed Master Social Worker with additional training in Trauma-Informed Community Practices, Human Services Management and leadership. He is passionate about ensuring that all communities have access to mental health resources.In this conversation Dan and Julius discuss  the Black male experience in the field of social work, the stigma of mental health in the community, and Julius' work in the community to increase access to mental health resources.If you'd like to see the transcribed conversation, check it out on our blog, The Grapevine.To learn more about Julius and follow his work check out https://www.steelsmilingpgh.org/ and his Instagram.

In this third conversation with Nkechi Njaka, a neuroscientist, choreographer, and mindfulness guide, we talk about addressing generational trauma.As a mindfulness expert, Nkechi, talks about her own experience addressing and working towards the healing of trauma using mindfulness techniques, therapy, and movement.If you have distressing emotional experiences that interfere with your ability to function, consider talking to a licensed mental health professional.If you’d prefer to watch, check out our Youtube channelTo learn more about Nkechi and follow her work at http://www.ndnlifestylestudio.com/   and on Instagram.Want to stay in the loop? Subscribe to our channel and our newsletter, the Sync.

Dominique Luster is one part archivist, one part researcher, full parts natural haired bourbon connoisseur, with a dash of genealogy for taste. Dominique has been working in the cultural heritage and memory fields for nearly 10 years. In this time, she’s come to be known as a champion for Black history and Black-centered storytelling. After working at universities, libraries, and museums across the country, she came to understand that all too often, the stories of marginalized communities are suppressed, oppressed, erased, or forgotten. With this as a north star, Dominique started The Luster Company to rechart that path. The Luster Company is an outpour of spirit by way of helping individuals and organizations uplift, honor, and tell stories that represent the lived experiences of the Black diaspora.They talk about the importance of knowing where you come from, healing generational trauma, and feeling connected to our ancestors .If you'd like to read the transcribed conversation, check it out on our blog, The Grapevine.Want to stay in the loop? Subscribe to our channel and our newsletter, the Sync.To learn more about Dominique and follow her work: Follow her on Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/thelusterco... Check out her website- https://www.thelustercompany.com/ Watch her TedX Talk ‘Archives Have the Power to Boost Marginalized Voices’ https://www.ted.com/talks/dominique_l...

Chef Ameera uses ‘Food Alchemy’ to curate meals that are intricately designed to satiate the mind, body and soul. A third-generation Californian, she combines  her mastery of West Coast staples with her love of spices from around the globe. Created with local, seasonal, and organic  ingredients, Chef Ameera’s vibrant menus delight the most discerning palettes. She has cooked for folks like Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, Rihanna, Kelly Rowling, and Kanye West and is a Food Network Champion (Cutthroat Kitchen). Her repertoire of culinary and healing services assist clients in manifesting the lives they desire. A mother of two, Ameera’s cooking is anchored in a deep maternal  love that extends into the food she makes. Chef Ameera seamlessly infuses Ayurvedic principles and Reiki to go beyond her client’s physical goals to effectively cater to each individual’s deeper needs. The following is a transcript of the conversation between Chef Ameera and Spora Health founder and CEO, Dan Miller on the work she does.If you’d prefer to watch? Check out our Youtube channelTo learn more about Chef Ameera and follow her work visit https://www.chefameera.com/Want to stay in the loop? Subscribe to our channel and our newsletter, the Sync.

Rebecca Desir is a native of Ft Lauderdale, Florida, born to Haitian immigrants. She considers herself a community and mental health advocate, focused on making public health more accessible. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science + Health Promotion from Florida Atlantic University, and here master’s degree in Public Health from Florida International University.  She currently works as a Program Manager for one of the largest faith-based health systems in the nation. Her passion for addressing health equity in Black communities led her to starting her own nonprofit organization, the Black Health Commission. The BHC has a mission to bring awareness to the root causes of health disparities through volunteerism, community events/programs, and collaboration with other organizations. In this conversation, Rebecca sat down with Dan Miller, Spora Health founder and CEO, to discuss her work in making public health more accessible and  joyful in Orlando, FL. We talk about her organization, the Black Health Commission, COVID-19 in the Black Community, the Black Joy Festival she hosts annually, and how this work can stay hopeful.If you'd prefer to read this conversation please visit visit the Grapevine.Want to stay in the loop? Subscribe to our channel and our newsletter, the Sync.

Yosh Han is the founder YOSH olfactory sense. She is a Perfumer, Level 1 Sommelier, a Judge for the 2020 Institute for Art and Olfaction awards and former tasting judge for the International Chocolate Salon in San Francisco. Yosh is the producer of Scent Festival, an annual digital event celebrating olfaction and the senses. Scent Festival is also a platform for supporting BIPOC scent artists and is currently sponsoring a petition to "Reclassify Oriental category in Perfumery." In this episode we cover the power of scent to impact memory, wellness, and the push to creating more equity in the field of perfumery.If you'd prefer to read this conversation please visit visit the Grapevine for the full conversation.To learn more about Yosh and follow her work: YOSH olfactory senseWant to learn more about Spora Health and the Primary Healthcare System we're building? Learn more and subscribe to our channel and our newsletter, the Sync.

In this episode we talk about mindfulness,  the role of music in memory and being present, and how it can affect anxiety, depression, and mental health.Want to learn more about Spora Health and the different kind of Primary Healthcare System we're building? Visit us at https://www.sporahealth.com/ Want to stay in the loop? Subscribe to our channel and our newsletter, the Sync at https://bit.ly/3w3xC2TIf you'd like to see the transcribed conversation, check it out on our blog, The GrapevineTo learn more about Nkechi and follow her work:http://www.ndnlifestylestudio.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ndnlifestyl... 

Alternative ways to listen to this conversation:Listen on our Youtube ChannelIf you'd like to see the transcribed conversation, check it out on our blog, The Grapevine:To learn more about Nkechi and follow her work: http://www.ndnlifestylestudio.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ndnlifestyl... Want to learn more about Spora Health and the Primary Healthcare System we're building? Visit us at https://www.sporahealth.com/ Want to stay in the loop? Subscribe to our channel and our newsletter, the Sync, at https://bit.ly/3w3xC2T