Float: A Multi-Modal Afro-Centric Rest Immersion Practice
Publication information:
Abstract
Workshop: Float, is a multi-modal Afro-centric rest immersion practice curated by HURU in collaboration with sistren organizations. This collective offering integrates custom call-and-response audio meditation, Afrofuturistic visual art, and Reiki energy healing to guide participants on a sacred journey over and through water. Float centers rest as a radical act, blurring the lines between spirituality, art, and cultural reclamation. Participants are invited into reflection, connection, and stillness through a transformative experience, culminating in gentle inquiry that deepens awareness of body, spirit, and divine presence. Float, anchored in God’s shadow as the love of humanity, is designed For Lovers Over And Through (FLOAT).
Presenter Biographies
Imani Joye Samuels is a spiritual thought leader and founder of HURU, an organization advocating for rest as a sacred practice. She leads global rest retreats and created The Serenity Act, which promotes paid mental health leave. Imani's work inspires individuals and organizations to embrace stillness for peace and transformation. Imani Joye Samuels is the founder of HURU and a graduate of Spirituality Mind Body Institute Columbia University, Teacher’s College.
Carmen D. Harris, MPH, is a spiritual leader, organizational strategist, and nonprofit fundraiser focused on liberating Black communities through rest, healing, and imagination. She began her career at the CDC, improving health disparities and physical activity among U.S. youth. Now, she creates transformative spaces for Black dreamers and leaders to grow, lead, and heal. She is the co-founder of Two Inches Beyond Black & RedClay.
Keisha Igbazua is a Reiki Master Practitioner, wife, mother of four Black sons, and advocate for Black maternal health. Her mission is to bring generational healing, peace, and joy through Reiki. She offers personal, corporate, and group sessions, both in person and virtually, sharing the gift of healing with the world. She is the founder of Mama’s Reiki Love.
Sesoo Igbazua is a Nigerian-born multidisciplinary artist. His work, grounded in Afrofuturism, explores identity, transformation, and belonging in the African diaspora. Using vibrant colors and abstract forms, he transforms post-colonial and post-slavery experiences into expressions of beauty, healing, and connection to self and divinity.