Assistant Director for Justice, Equity and Inclusion to Receive Inaugural Award from Illinois Holocaust Museum Board

For immediate release

River Forest, IL—Amy Omi, assistant director for justice, equity and inclusion at Dominican University, is a recipient of the inaugural Luminary Award from the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center's Young Professional Board (YPB).

The award recognizes the efforts of individuals who create positive change within their communities, and it reinforces the museum’s focus on those who “serve as a bright light during darkness.” It will be presented during the YBP’s 10th anniversary fundraising event on Oct. 10 in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.

Omi is being honored for her work with Dominican’s Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Center, which aims to resist racial injustice and social inequity on campus and in the greater community. Omi’s initiatives have included the creation of Racial Healing Circles, where participants learn to see themselves in each other, and Affinity Circles, where needs and concerns of a common group are shared as relationships are built. Omi is a trained healing circle practitioner, and these circles have been open to students, faculty and staff of Dominican University. 

Omi was also instrumental in launching the College Leadership Summit: Make Your Voice Count, which is held annually at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie. It encourages college students to reflect on topics like social justice, human rights and inclusion. 

“It is such an honor to have contributed to the development of this incredible program and to be recognized by the Illinois Holocaust Museum for my involvement,” Omi said. “As a restorative justice practitioner, I am deeply committed to building community across culturally and spiritually diverse traditions, and doing so in collaboration.”

Omi shares the inaugural Luminary Award with Micah Ariel-Rohr, assistant director of the Israel Education Center at the Jewish United Fund in Chicago, and Dion Dawson, founder of Dion’s Chicago Dream, a nonprofit combating food insecurity in Chicago through home deliveries of fresh produce.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to honor these three luminaries for the impactful work they are doing in their communities to make positive change in the world,” said YPB co-chairs AJ Greenberg and Melanie Lachman in a statement. “Their day-to-day actions can inspire people of all ages to combat hatred, prejudice and indifference, and serve as a reminder that every one of us has the ability to take a stand.”

About Dominican University      

Founded in 1901, Dominican University is a comprehensive, coeducational Catholic institution offering an associate of arts in liberal arts and sciences as well as bachelor’s and master’s degrees through the Rosary College of Arts and Sciences, the Borra College of Health Sciences, the Brennan School of Business and the College of Applied Social Sciences. The university also offers doctoral degrees in information studies and applied social justice. U.S. News & World Report ranks Dominican University #11 out of all Midwest regional master’s level universities, #1 in the Midwest for Best Value and #1 in Illinois for innovation and ensuring the social mobility of its graduates. Dominican University has campuses in River Forest and Chicago.