Beyond the Page

To many, a coffee shop is just a spot to grab a quick drink or catch up with friends. For Vince Omni, a Florida State University creative writing doctoral student, these caffeinated havens are creative enclaves where stories brew alongside espressos and lattes.

Omni can usually be found tucked into a quiet corner, his face wreathed in the steam of a hot beverage while he crafts a lesson plan or drafts pages of his as-yet-untitled dissertation novel.

Spending hours in these java joints, Omni noticed few of his fellow customers looked like him — his desire for representation inspired the creation of a fictional café where Black and brown communities could feel a sense of belonging. In his award-winning story, “The Diaspora Café,” published in the summer 2024 issue of the Michigan Quarterly Review, Omni reflects on the importance of inclusive community spaces and addresses the impact of gentrification on communities of color.

“The economic instability I experienced as a child forced my family to live a very nomadic life,” he said. “That’s why stories like ‘Diaspora Café,’ stories about displacement and belonging, are so important to me.”

Omni spent part of that childhood in Denver, Colorado’s historic Five Points neighborhood, a culturally significant area now impacted by redevelopment.

Five Points also serves as the setting for “Café” where Chidi, the story’s protagonist, navigates ethical dilemmas that arise when the reality of financial insecurity conflicts with the responsibility one feels to their own family and to their community: Should Chidi sell her family’s café to a faceless chain or sacrifice to protect its legacy? The story earned MQR’s 2024 Jesmyn Ward Prize in Fiction.

“Gentrification is a complex issue that requires a systemic solution — one that doesn’t displace African-American communities from their homes while others profit from new prosperity,” Omni said. “I hope readers find something to connect with in the story whether it’s the characters, plot or setting.”

“While challenges are part of the African-American experience, they’re not the whole story. Often, the narrative focuses only on struggle, but moments of joy, strength, and triumph also deserve recognition. Our goal is to shift the lens from a focus on hardship to one that celebrates the richness and resilience of the African-American experience.”

— Vince Omni

The depth and nuance of Omni’s work reflects the breadth of his life experience. After earning a bachelor’s in English from St. Olaf College in Minnesota in 1996, he worked 20 years as a teacher, instructional coach, journalist, and project coordinator for education nonprofits. During this time, he discovered a passion for writing fiction.

He resumed his studies in 2017 and received his master’s in creative writing from the University of Kansas in 2020 where he worked for KU’s History of Black Writing research center. Omni came to FSU in August 2020 to pursue a doctorate through the Department of English, and he specializes in African-American literary and cultural studies.

For his work, Omni has earned multiple fellowships including the 2020 McKnight Doctoral Fellowship, administered by the Florida Education Fund, which supports scholars from underrepresented communities with up to five years of funding.

“Vince came in as a talented writer with diverse interests, and he’s continued to cultivate those here,” said Ravi Howard, an assistant professor of English and Omni’s adviser. “The McKnight Fellowship has been vital to his research on African-American literature by bringing the fellows together annually to share their work while offering professional and financial resources. This support encourages students of color to pursue their studies in Florida.”

Omni’s untitled novel follows Demita Jo, a fictional former Black Panther in 1970s Louisiana, as she rebuilds her life while confronting past pressures and wrestling with how to address her family’s needs while holding on to her own principles. The book’s opening chapter earned the Margaret Walker Memorial Prize in Fiction from the College Language Association in 2019.

“Vince brings his peers along in his writing journey, sharing his process from draft to publication, giving students a chance to see how ideas develop and how peer support helps bring those ideas to life,” Howard said.

Through SoulClap: A Black Joy Journal, a digital platform Omni co-founded with his wife and FSU alumna Chris Omni, Ph.D., he hopes to emphasize positive, uplifting experiences to reshape perceptions and promote a more nuanced understanding of Black identity. SoulClap shares stories from Black communities that celebrate joy, resilience and creativity.

“While challenges are part of the African-American experience, they’re not the whole story,” Omni said, “Often, the narrative focuses only on struggle, but moments of joy, strength, and triumph also deserve recognition. Our goal is to shift the lens from a focus on hardship to one that celebrates the richness and resilience of the African-American experience.”

Carolina Ortega-Martinez is an FSU student pursuing dual degrees in digital media production and editing, writing and media. She is set to graduate in May 2026.