Introducing The Second Education Series
What is “Second Education”?
It is the education of the inner world – the journey beyond external achievements and formal learning. It is the awakening of the spirit, the process of remembering who we truly are beneath the noise of the world.
About the Series
The Second Education Series is a dialogue series exploring the internal journey of spiritual growth and empowerment. Each conversation features a guest who has turned their life experience – often shaped by tragedy, grief, or deep transformation – into a catalyst for purpose and expansion.
Through these dialogues, we uncover how the unexpected changes of life can become teachers in disguise, guiding us toward deeper self-awareness and inner strength.
Together, we’ll ask:
What happens when the answers can no longer be found outside of yourself?
What does it mean to seek wisdom within?
What might your own journey of Second Education look like?
Join us as we explore the landscapes of inner transformation – where pain becomes power, loss becomes light, and the self becomes whole.
November 14 – 730pm
Some lessons can’t be taught in a classroom. They have to be lived. I’ll share with you how grief became my second education. A journey rooted in art, faith, and the power of community. In this session, we will explore how creativity became both my compass and my classroom, transforming tragedy into purpose and silence into song. Through art, music and dialogue we will discover how every experience, even the painful ones, can teach us who we are meant to become.
Featuring Omari Maynard
Omari Maynard is an artivist, and narrative strategist committed to using art as a revolutionary practice. A self-taught artist, he honed his craft under the guidance of his late uncle, Leo Carty, the first Black artist commissioned to create portraits for the U.S. federal government. Before pursuing his artistic path full-time, Omari spent over 20 years working in sports and education.
Art has given him the ability to express his feelings to the world without having to speak to emotions that he sometimes can not articulate. His art is an expression of the challenges he has faced in life He draws his creative inspiration from my family, life experiences, cultural influences, and environment.
Omari’s life and work has been featured in the Peabody Award-winning, Emmy-nominated documentary Aftershock, streaming on Hulu. He now travels nationwide, raising awareness about fatherhood, systemic racism, and reproductive justice through his art. His efforts have been highlighted on Good Morning America, ABC Nightline, The Breakfast Club, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal.
Omari holds degrees from Hampton University, the University of Central Florida, and Long Island University. He lives in Brooklyn, NY, with his two children, Anari and Khari.