MSU Extension Fall Extension Conference

The Hope of Change Agents

What happens when the people who spend their lives helping others are given space to reconnect with the power of who they are, the stories they carry, the impact they make, and what is still possible?

In this powerful, interactive keynote, Kiyaana Cox Jones invites MSU Extension staff into a restorative journey through People, Stories, Impact, and Possibilities—four interconnected spaces that illuminate not only what Extension does, but the human beings who make the work possible.

When it comes to people—the helpers, servant experts, partners, and change agents who meet people where they are—Extension does that!

When it comes to stories—living and working within communities, building relationships, sharing knowledge, and creating spaces where people can say, “I belong here. I fit here.”—Extension does that!

When it comes to impact—bringing research into relationship with lived experience and working alongside communities to create better lives—Extension does that!

And even in the midst of meaningful impact, change is constant. Capacity can be stretched. Uncertainty can feel heavy. But hope does not require the absence of uncertainty. Hope is our capacity to recognize possibility within it.

This is both an invitation and a call to action: pause, reconnect, and remember—the people matter, the stories matter, the impact matters, and possibility remains.

And when it comes to extending possibilities? Extension does that, too!

"People will forget what you said, they will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel." — Dr. Maya Angelou
Dr. Maya Angelou's timeless wisdom is perhaps the truest doorway into understanding the work and presence of Kiyaana Cox Jones.

Kiyaana is a Creative Social Wellness Strategist, restorative practitioner, social scientist, educator, playwright, artist, and someone called to serve- whose work is guided by a transdisciplinary approach that exists at the intersection of restorative practices, arts integration, and social wellness. She helps colleges and universities, K–12 schools, organizations, nonprofits, faith communities, and leaders cultivate restorative cultures where people are seen, heard, valued, and connected.

As the Founder and CEO of KJP Institute for Creative Restorative Practices, Kiyaana leads a growing social impact institute dedicated to advancing restorative cultures through research, leadership development, creative, and transformational learning experiences. Rather than viewing creativity as artistic expression alone, Kiyaana positions it as a pathway for healing, leadership, innovation, and human flourishing. Her research and practice continue to explore how individuals and institutions cultivate healthier relationships with themselves, one another, and the communities they serve.

Known for creating brave and engaging learning environments, Kiyaana designs experiences and curricula that move beyond inspiration toward transformation. Whether facilitating keynote presentations, leadership trainings, listening circles, restorative artmaking experiences, or campus-wide initiatives such as the HOPE Tour, she helps participants move from seeing hope as an idea to practicing hope as a way of living.

Kiyaana currently serves as a Lecturer and Curriculum Developer for the International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP). She is a Ph.D. candidate in East-West Psychology. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts from Howard University and a Master's degree in Social Science from the IIRP. She has been recognized with honors including the Star-Ledger Award, the New Jersey Governor's Award, and the Innastar Trailblazer Award.

At her core, Kiyaana believes in honoring human dignity. Her life's work is to help individuals and institutions humanize their practices, cultivate hope, and build cultures where creativity, restoration, and social wellness become everyday ways of living, leading, and learning.