Omni Center

The intersection of Art, Identity, Elevation, and Community

OPENING 4.25.2024

The Omni Center is a digital media studio for Black, Indigenous, and Brown (BIB) young people aged 16-25.

At NWYS, we have observed two issues in the Whatcom community:

1. There are no engagement services in Bellingham for BIB youth outside of work, school, or home that foster healing, passion and career advancement, and alternative life-affirming care.

2. Diversion services and programs often target individuals at later stages in the criminal legal system.

The Omni Center extends art based radical services to BIB youth that build job and life skills for resume building, college applications, and cultural affirmation and exploration. By advocating community care over self-care and youth centering and empowerment, we can practice proactive diversion. This places resources back in youth hands and builds pathways to economic mobility early. The Omni Center is the intentional movement of responding to history, not reacting to it.

At The Omni Center we have a photography studio with an editing room and a designated podcast studio.

COURSES OFFERED

Photojournalism Course

This course is application based and only runs during the summer (June-Sep).

Enrollment: Opens May 1st and closes May 31st
Course runs: June 24th - Sep 16th

APPLY ON THIS PAGE DURING THE ENROLLMENT PERIOD

Learn more

Focus Groups

The Omni Center will host two focus groups what culturally congruent care can, should, and will look like in Whatcom County in human services. As well as how to uplift Black, Indigenous, and Brown artists in Whatcom County in their well-being.

More Info Coming Soon!

Healing Groups

Based on our philosophy of care concepts: Learn, Create, Connect - The Omni Center hosts three healing groups for Black, Indigenous, and Brown folks to build community and expand upon skills, interests, and passions in a low pressure, low barrier model. These groups are open to the community for BIB young people.

More Info Coming Soon!

Photojornalism Info

Photojournalism Course Information

This three-month cohort course uses documentary photography and journalism as a catalyst for healing and processing in Black, Indigenous, and Brown young people. In addition, young people will obtain and receive:

Transferable job and life skills for resume building, job applications, and college applications.
A $3,000 stipend for course completion.
Letters of recommendation and references as needed.
High school and/or college credit.
A job with Children of the Setting Sun Productions

Over the three months, they will plan, create, edit, curate, and present a photo gallery exhibit similar to Humans of New York. Their capstone project will be a full gallery show with a presentation on their body of work.

At the end of the course, all pieces made will be part of a traveling art museum that will have stops in Whatcom County, Skagit County, Snohomish County, and King County.

Prerequisites:

- You have knowledge and basic experience with digital photography.

- You have an interest in pursuing a job or college path in journalism or photography.

- You have an interest in taking the next step in journalism or photography.

-You identify as Black, Indigenous, or Brown.