• "The deepest crises experienced by any society are those moments of change when the story becomes inadequate for meeting the survival demands of a present situation."

    Thomas Berry

We must restore our relationship with the web of life

As our environmental, social, economic, and political systems unravel one truth becomes undeniable: our relationship with the natural world and with each other is profoundly out of balance.

Kinship is a global community that ignites stories of belonging and reconnects people with the web of life. We utilize diverse partnerships, bioregional efforts, and art as activism to support life-centered cultures. Informed by locally led initiatives, our work is expanding to shape and scale narrative and systems-level change.

about kinship
about kinship

How we ignite transformative change

 Stories as Seeds

Magnetic stories told and retold become a shared cultural narrative. These narratives shape our identities, values, and actions.

Art as Activism

Social science reveals that humans are driven by emotion. Art is the language of emotion. Story is the oldest art form.

Culture as a Catalyst

We must disseminate and amplify creative expressions of kinship through culture to drive transformative change.

Our Theory of Change
Our Theory of Change

Our Offerings

The Nature Culture Fellowship

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Explore

Artist Collective

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Learn more

The Murmuration

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explore

Hearth Gatherings

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Learn more

The Science of Life

Check it out
Check it out

The Language of Life

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Check it out

What we’re hearing…

  • I heard birds in rhythm, wind through dry leaves, and the voices of my ancestors whispering through memory. I felt gratitude for the children who come to this school, some walking hours barefoot...I felt the weight of being young and responsible to teach, to lead, to inspire while also navigating pain that lives in the body. And I remembered why I returned here. Because this is sacred work. Because when you plant seeds in dry land, and they grow, that is a kind of miracle.

    Oumou Modibo Keita (Mali)

  • Thank you for cultivating a radical space where culture and ecology collide in the service of justice and collective liberation. Your fearless critique of extractive paradigms—from colonial land‑grabs to industrial food systems—has opened my eyes to the profound power of naming and dismantling harmful structures.

    Castle (Philippines)

  • I feel awakened and grounded. This journey has ignited purpose and reconnected me with ancestral wisdom and the sacredness of nature.

    - Macdonald (Malawi)

  • Where waters breathe and roots remember, Manguo flows with life anew — A sanctuary where herons rise, children plant tomorrow with bare hands, and the earth heals beneath community care. Here, nature and people grow as one, restoring balance, honoring legacy, and shaping a future in harmony with the land.

    Tex Wambui (Kenya)

  • I was deeply moved by the radical tenderness and vulnerability shared...It surprised me how quickly a sense of trust and connection emerged across distances, and how much strength there is in pausing together to grieve, imagine, and dream beyond our current realities

    Laura (Colombia)

  • I organized a nature walk with the Environmental Club at École Internationale de Bujumbura. The goal was to help us reconnect with nature and see ourselves as part of the web of life, not separate from it. During the walk, students observed the surroundings and paid attention to the natural environment we are part of. Being in that space made the discussion more concrete. Instead of speaking about nature in theory, we were in it.

    Miché Tévin (Burundi)

  • I’m deeply grateful for the care, intention, and sacredness you’ve brought into this space. Thank you for holding space for grief, joy, and transformation. Your work is planting seeds that will bloom across generations. Medaase.

    - Kwabena (Ghana)

  • Urbanization, pollution, and loss of traditional wisdom have weakened our bond with the natural world. Women, especially young women, can bring back this lost balance through awareness and education.

    - Zabihullah (Afghanistan)

What is kinship?

The root word in kinship is “ki” or “chi’, referring to the life force inherent in all beings. Today the words kin and kinship exist in over 140 languages but refer primarily to our human ancestry. It is time to restore the true meaning of kinship reflecting our connection with all of life. 

Join us at the Kinship Hearth