Ask Kendra Jones Morris to talk about her accomplishments as a filmmaker and humanitarian - or about the success of her company Rural Revolution, and moments later; you’ll find yourself as the interviewee not the interviewer. With quiet grace and humility, Kendra lets her actions speak far louder than her words. Growing up on a rural farm in Stockton, Missouri to former Peace Corps parents, she knows how to cultivate soil for a hard winter, but also knows the ideal aperture for the perfect shot for the documentary she’s filming in China. Letting people speak and help themselves is her life’s work and we think that’s an important message.
Growing up, what kind of an influence did your Peace Corps parents have on you?
Well, it made a huge impact on them. It affected how they viewed the world and how they brought my brother and I up to view the world. You never thought less of anyone, especially if they didn’t have money. All of our vacations, we always tried to stay with the locals — do what locals did. My brother and I definitely thought our parents were cool because of their experiences. They always spoke in Spanish to each other; we had friends of theirs stay with us for weeks at a time from Venezuela (they lived in the slums in Venezuela for two years before returning to the States). To this day, it’s one of the biggest influences on our family.
Did you ever think you would someday follow in their footsteps in a way?
Yes, in every way. My mom was the local photographer and my dad was the land management expert. I’m a mixture of both. And any time I can travel to evolving places, I’m there.
You’ve got this amazing story about traveling for your documentaries. How did that start?
My last year of high school, my mom became friends with a lady who worked for the airlines. She’d give us these standby tickets and my mom, dad, and I would travel anywhere in the world for two weeks to a month at a time doing photography everywhere we went, with no travel arrangements — no hotels lined up, nothing. One time we had tickets to Europe, but the standby tickets wouldn’t get us there for a few days, so we went to Alaska! Just decided right there, in the airport. Then in college I did internships to be a missionary filmmaker.
How would you say you amassed your skills to make documentaries?
I learned by taking as many classes as my school taught (videography, film, writing, et cetera), and lots and lots of internships. I’m a big believer in showing up and showing interest — it’s amazing how many people are willing to help you if you put yourself out there.
Explain a little about the film you’ve made and the one you’re working on now.
Missionary kid follows a friend of mine, Jennifer Hayburn, from her college in Missouri back to Kenya on her “home coming” (because she was raised there) to see the people that have affected her life. It also shows how people working on a grassroots level are helping people in Africa.
The one I’m working on now follows my dad around the farm in Missouri, and then documents his travels through China. China, for the last ten years or so, has been part of the largest reforestation project in human history. The Chinese government has asked experts like my dad (and others from around the world) to help — he’s the leading expert on Eastern Black Walnut trees. The main reason I love this project is because, again, it shows how grassroots Americans are helping grassroots Chinese on all levels to help everyone’s environment.
Both projects, hopefully, show an intimate look at people who you don’t normally see intimately (missionaries and farmers).
From your experiences, what advice would you give others who want to help make a difference?
Get involved with grassroots organizations. Less money is taken away from each dollar and more goes to the immediate situation. Ask questions. You shouldn’t feel embarrassed or let anyone make you feel bad if you ask where the money you’re donating is going. Ask the missionary when they come to your church; ask the international organizations that print ads in major magazines; ask the individual who is trying to start something up. Ask lots of questions.
So, then you also have this whole other life with your Rural Revolution body scrubs. How did that come about and how did you learn the process?
I love products and packaging. I love how people try to get your attention and do something different. I received a matching grant for my documentary about my dad, but had problems finding the rest. I thought: why don’t I create my own capital — my own physical product to earn the money to shoot my documentary? I put out emails to some of my parent’s contacts and had a lot of dead ends for one reason or another. Then one day about four months later, out of the blue, I got the magical email address for someone overseas who could help me with the manufacturing side to make my body scrub. They offered me a price I couldn’t find elsewhere to take the walnuts from farmers in the Midwest, and create a truly original mix. At the time I was going to grad school, working at another college full time, and helping my husband with another film project we had done. Learning the process has been by trial and error…and I’m still learning. Then this “side business” of sorts takes off, and was even part of the Emmy’s this year! That’s a crazy juxtaposition between living and working in Kenya and then going to parties at the Emmy’s. I like extremes!
Do you feel it makes you jaded at all, seeing both sides and all the excesses of our culture?
I’m too scrappy to be jaded. If anything I’m jaded to people who position themselves in “helping” situations and allow others to think that they’re saints and gods (and I’m not just talking about religious people). That really bothers me. The world outside of the US is very extreme — no middle class. It’s what makes us unique. When people are doing humanitarian work overseas, from my limited perspective, it seems to be separated. I’m not judging, just observing. I haven’t lived that life yet on a day-in day-out existence for more than a year.
But helping, on another level, is a mentality that I’m finding more and more people are embracing. And I’m talking about people like Jennifer Hayburn, my parents — people leaving the World Bank and the United Nations because they want to work on a grassroots level to see needs met in more organic ways.
That’s exactly why we feel people would be, and are so inspired by you!
You’re too kind! I do say, let people speak for themselves, though. That goes back to the way my parents live, “helping people help themselves,” not charity, not sainthood — know when to get out and let people speak for themselves. That way none of us think we’re any better than anyone else.
Everyone’s just human at the end of the day — it’s true. So, you’re an Element Eden Advocate. What does that program mean to you so far? Why did you accept the advocacy?
I’m just learning what that means to me. I’m truly amazed at what Element wants to do — it’s very unselfish. It’s offered to help in ways that I couldn’t help myself — offered me timelines and goals, encouragement and exposure. For someone who is truly inventing her own wheels every day, it’s nice to work with a team of individuals who already know the way, and are willing to drive. I’m in awe of where this partnership can go. It’s a no-brainer to be a part of their established team.
Order Kendra’s Rural Revolution body scrub at ruralrev.com. Ten percent of every item sold goes to the Committee For Natural Resources.
