UROP Project
Sitting with Trees: Nature, Memory, and Black Elder Wisdom (The Anthology)
Black Elder Wisdom, Oral History, Literature Review, Intergenerational Storytelling, Endarkened Narrative Inquiry
Research Mentor: Dr. Dr. Christal Mischelle Omni, MPH, MLS, She/Her
Department, College, Affiliation: OMNI Institute of Well-being, Inc., Social Sciences and Public Policy
Contact Email: dr.chris@OmniInstituteOfWellbeing.org
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: OMNI Institute of Well-being, Inc., Social Sciences and Public Policy
Contact Email: dr.chris@OmniInstituteOfWellbeing.org
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all with a particular focus in:
English / Literature
African & African American Studies
History
Sociology
Anthropology
Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Environmental Studies
Education
Creative Writing
Project Location: virtual
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all with a particular focus in:
English / Literature
African & African American Studies
History
Sociology
Anthropology
Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Environmental Studies
Education
Creative Writing
Project Location: virtual
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable
Project Description
Sitting with Trees: Nature, Memory, and Black Elder Wisdom (The Anthology) is an intergenerational, arts-based research project that centers the narratives of Black elders as sites of knowledge, memory, and ecological wisdom. This phase of the Sitting with Trees ecosystem focuses on curating and contextualizing stories shared by Black elders, with particular attention to the relational, spiritual, and environmental dimensions of their lived experiences.The project engages Endarkened Narrative Inquiry as its primary methodological framework, drawing from Black feminist thought, womanism, and culturally situated storytelling traditions. This approach affirms that Black elders’ narratives are not simply stories to be collected, but forms of theory, memory, and ancestral knowledge that require careful, culturally responsive interpretation.
Research mentees will support the development of the anthology by identifying and synthesizing scholarly, literary, and cultural texts that resonate with and deepen the meaning of these narratives. This includes pairing elder stories with supporting literature that reflects similar themes—such as spirituality, resilience, intergenerational care, joy, land-based memory, and survival.
This work contributes to a living archive that honors Black elders as knowledge holders and positions their stories within broader intellectual and cultural traditions. The anthology will serve as both a scholarly and accessible text, bridging research, storytelling, and community memory.
Research Tasks: Research assistants will engage in literature-based and interpretive work, including:
Conducting targeted literature reviews aligned with themes emerging from elder narratives
Identifying scholarly, literary, and cultural texts (e.g., books, articles, oral histories) that resonate with specific stories
Creating annotated bibliographies that connect literature to elder narratives
Assisting with thematic analysis across stories and supporting texts
Organizing and cataloging sources for anthology development
Participating in reflective discussions about narrative meaning, cultural context, and interpretation
Supporting writing and synthesis of literature-informed narrative sections
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required: Strong interest in reading, writing, and critical inquiry; Willingness to engage Black elder narratives with care, respect, and cultural humility; Ability to identify themes and make connections across stories and texts; Reliability and attention to detail in organizing sources and notes
Recommended: Experience with literature reviews or academic research; Interest in oral history, storytelling, or narrative research; Comfort with annotation, synthesis, and analytical writing; Curiosity about spirituality, ancestry, and intergenerational knowledge.
Mentoring Philosophy
My mentoring philosophy is rooted in relationship, presence, and becoming. I approach mentorship as a shared space of inquiry where mentees are invited to slow down, listen deeply, and recognize themselves as knowledge holders. Before any task begins, I seek to understand who they are—what they carry, what they are curious about, and what is trying to emerge through them.Grounded in eco-autoethnographic and endarkened narrative traditions, I guide mentees to engage research as both intellectual and lived practice. This means learning to sit with questions, to notice patterns, and to trust that story, memory, and experience are valid forms of knowledge.
I cultivate an environment where it is safe to try, to not know, and to grow. At the same time, I hold a steady expectation of care, accountability, and follow-through, honoring the work and the people it represents.
Mentees are encouraged to take ownership of their contributions while being supported through reflection and dialogue. I see mentorship as a reciprocal process—one where we learn with and from one another.
Ultimately, I aim to support mentees in developing clarity, confidence, and a grounded sense of purpose in their work and in themselves.