Hi, I’m Jessica Hawkins, educator, Ph.D. student, researcher, and founder of Kin & Canopy. My work is rooted in a deep belief that nature is for everyone, and that Black families deserve joyful, liberatory spaces to play, learn, and dream together.

I bring over a decade of experience as a teacher, principal, curriculum designer, and instructional coach. Now, I focus on helping educators, families, and communities reimagine learning through culturally grounded, nature-based experiences. As a third-year doctoral student in Urban Education at UNC Charlotte, my research explores the connections between African diasporic traditions, outdoor education, and liberatory design.