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Kendra Jones Morris
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.
Rural Revolution produces amazing jewelry, how did you decide that this is
the direction you wanted to take with the company?
Skill sets and logistics. The whole vision behind Rural Revolution is that we want it to be a platform for women throughout the world to develop and profit from their art. Jewelry is a beautiful form of art and requires lower overhead for most women and is easier to ship through customs.
Such a beautiful mission Kendra! RR not only helps artisans all over the world develop their own business, but local artisans as well. Why did you decide it was important to launch the RR project in the U.S.?
It's always been about creating a sustainable platform for women to continue to do what they do best. New Orleans has it's own breed of international flare and an obvious choice to launch our home grown products. I'm a big believer in living out the message that you're asking others to do. If we want to be a part of women's financial growth abroad we need to know how to do it at home too.
So true! Where do you hope to see Rural Revolution go in terms of expanding?
One of the smartest things I did was bring on a co-founder. The past 10 months we've spent building our business relationship and growing Rural Revolution through an amazing fellowship I was awarded through SENO (Social Entrepreneurs of New Orleans). Our goal is to be self sustaining in 10-12 months and to continue to expand our artisan line up and distribution formats.
Amazing to hear... and thus far, what is the greatest impact that you have witnessed through Rural
Revolution?
Pride. The women we work with always want to see pictures of other women wearing their pieces. They comment that they can't believe that someone else wants to wear their pieces. Ownership is such a powerful tool in creating change in someones life. To be a part of someone else's life and to see that is humbling and beautiful.
In addition to the impact RR has on other's lives... How has founding this company impacted your own life?
It's my calling. It's been filled with experiments and seasons of goals not met. I think most artists and entrepreneurs would agree that overnight sensations don't typically happen without a few years of experiment before them. It's impacted my life in a positive way because every day is clearer that our lives are best spent focusing on others.
In what way would you hope RR would inspire other women?
I think our global connection and how overall our dialog between one another through multiple online and media platforms has really made us loose sight of our humanity. I'm hoping that by viewing one another as partners and not as charity our dialog between one another will be a positive impact one each others lives and the communities that we live in.
No doubt you've been successful in that way thus far! You're also passionate about filmmaking... any projects in the works?
Yes! I'm casting for a feature that my husband is shooting in New Orleans this summer and we're taking applications for our summer program in Amsterdam and Kenya this summer. So ladies if you're interested check out http://www.ruralrev.com/pages/adventure-1 We'll be telling the stories of the women we work with and the communities they live in.
Wow! We can hardly wait to hear how it goes! In general, where have you seen your passions grow and where do you see this path
leading?
Co-ops. We're getting really excited around here because of our growing outreach with semi established co-ops and starting co-ops. We're working this summer with a high school program in New Orleans that will benefit disadvantaged young women and train them in job skill sets. We've also been asked to create a similar program in Nairobi, Kenya and Amsterdam with mothers.
Love the sound of that! If you could only share a few words with someone to fuel their passion in life, what would you say?
This too shall pass. If today is a struggle for you, clear your mind, regroup and start again tomorrow.
Such strong and peaceful words to live by! What about yourself, who has been the most impactful person you have met along your many journeys
and why?
My parents. They showed me how to live out their faith while walking and working throughout the world. When you live out your ideology life and circumstances remind you that you're lucky to even be a part of someone el se's story much less make a difference in it. And that's a good place to be.
Join Rural Revolution's mission to empower female entrepreneurs, locally and globally. Fair trade jewelry available to order ruralrev.com.
