Founders

Aligned as life and business partners, Dr. Imani and J. Bernard Ma'at Kynes bring over four decades of combined experience in public health, psychotherapy, ministry, education, and wellness coaching. Dr. Imani's Harvard, MIT, and CDC background blends with Bernard's long-standing work as an LMFT, ACPE psychotherapist, minister, and Army Chaplain. Together, they hold space for deep healing, creative learning, and spiritual grounding so individuals, families, and organizations can experience meaningful, sustainable transformation.

Milestones

Since forming Sankofa Institute for Wellness in 2022, our journey has included opening the private Energy Wellness Suite with Trifecta Red Light Therapy and the Synchronicity Wave Photon Light System, expanding the Healthy Haiku method through books and teacher trainings, and launching the Progressively Yours Health and Wellness Podcast. These milestones reflect a steady commitment to pairing science with spirit, advancing creative wellness education, and equipping communities with practical tools that support resilience, clarity, and whole-person renewal.

Philosophy

Sankofa means "go back and fetch it," and this guides everything we do. We honor ancestral wisdom and cultural memory while drawing on evidence-based counseling, natural health services, and energy wellness technologies. Our work attends to mind, body, and spirit together, recognizing that healing happens in relationships, communities, and everyday choices. We create spaces where stories are heard, stress gently unwinds, and people learn practical ways to align their lives with their deepest values and purpose.

“My aim is to provide a safe environment whereby individuals and families can experience relief from pain, with the hope that healing and growth can occur.”


— James Bernard Kynes

Testimonials

Rachel Kanter - First Grade Teacher, DeKalb Prep Academy, Atlanta, GA

“Dr. Imani, thank you for sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm about health and poetry with my students. Your Healthy Haiku workshop taught my students how to make healthy choices and express themselves through dance, rhythm, and poetry.”

Youth Workshop Participants – St. Croix

“The workshop was amazing!... I enjoyed every aspect.”
“Please come back; you were perfect!”
“I’m really glad that my counselor chose me to come here. It was a great experience. I learned a lot.”

Stephanie Hunte - AYA Academy of Excellence

“On behalf of Aya Academy of Excellence, thank you for your service to our youth attending the Atlanta CARES STEMfest at Georgia Tech. Your Healthy Haiku presentation empowered our youth as they became informed about the power of expression. Your extensive training and expertise made a tremendous impact on nearly 300 students and 40 parents, many attending their first professional conference. Your efforts truly changed the trajectory of underserved youth in attendance.”