African and Indigenous Knowledge Institute (AIKI)

Elisha Hall works to enhance the lives of African descendant peoples (ADP) through restorative justice praxis that centers African culture and history. The African and Indigenous Knowledge Institute (AIKI) works to disseminate local methods, practices, curricular materials, facilitation styles, and knowledge individuals, families and organizations. This learning institute informs participants on how they can achieve greater individual and systemic transformation. Further, it provides a blueprint on how to heal from past traumas at home, school, and community.  

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AIKI Includes the following:

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• Racial Equity research through the Center for African and Indigenous Policy and Praxis

• Virtual learning platform for African and Indigenous-centered educators throughout the diaspora

• Kemetic Meditation workshops and other community wellness strategies and approaches to address mental health, stress and trauma

• Youth and family development from an African and Indigenous justice framework

• Digital archiving of local cultures and traditions

Scope of Work

Healing-arts Education

Provides mindfulness and meditation workshops for youth and adults.

Social Entrepreneurship

Supports adult and youth with urban and rural entrepreneurial pursuits across the diaspora.

Digital Strategy

Creates mobile apps, websites and social media content for individuals and organizations.

Multimedia Production

Musical producer, graphic designer, photographer, videographer, and sound engineer.

PhD

Earned in December 2020 with a focus on using African-centered storytelling for healing and peace-building.

Archiving & Storytelling

Vice President of Ase: The Chicago Association of Black Storytelling.

Work Samples

The Journey

A brief bio.

Elisha is community-raised educator and village builder. Elisha restores African healing legacies that have always accompanied African resistance and self-determination. He is the founder of the African and Indigenous Knowledge Institute (AIKI), a local bridge that developments institutions through interactive educational platforms and individualized diversity and inclusion support. Currently, Elisha works as the Social Entrepreneurship Instructor in an adult education program that teaches G.E.D. students how use financial literacy to increase income and impact the community. In 2018, he created the Respira Profundo (Deep Breathing) Program for pre-K students at Chicago Commons. In 2016, he worked with members of Englewood and the broader Chicago community to establish the Ujamaa Community Land Trust. Elisha received his PhD in Policy Studies in Urban Education at the University of Illinois (Chicago). His research centers on how storytelling can heal youth and adults especially when used as self-edification. He fuses his movement work with healing justice scholarship to provide restoration for African and indigenous communities across the African world.

Current Projects

Work I am passionate about.

African and Indigenous Knowledge Institute (AIKI)

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The African and Indigenous Knowledge Institute is a educational center that bridges African-centered praxis with the histories of African and Indigenous communities. We then help others do the same.

Rev222

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Rev222 is a cannabis infuser business in Illinois. Rev222 aims to revolutionize the industry by helping formerly incarcerated  Black and Brown people enter the industry.

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Pan​-African Mutual Aid Fund (PAMAF)

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The Pan-African Mutual Aid Fund (PAMAF) is a global NGO that raises resources for African descendent people in the diaspora. This fund secures financial, cultural, and physical wealth.

Let's Connect

Looking forward to working with you.​

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Tel: 507-403-9062 | email:

Chicago, IL 60615