AMTA Symposium Keynote Speaker: Kiyaana Cox Jones
September 24, 2026 09:54 AM
Kiyaana Cox Jones Presentation Title
Kiyaana Cox Jones will present CRESCENDO: A Restorative Movement of Recomposition, Relationship, and Reimagination at the 2026 AMTA Symposium
Kiyaana is a Creative Social Wellness Strategist, restorative practitioner, social scientist, educator, playwright, artist, and Ph.D. candidate 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.
CRESCENDO is a restorative and human-centered exploration of what becomes possible when we have the courage to listen to what has been, examine how we are showing up with one another, and collectively imagine what can come next.
Drawing upon restorative practice, social ecology, and creative inquiry, Kiyaana Cox Jones invites the AMTA community to consider restoration not simply as returning something to its original state, but as an opportunity for recomposition. Like music, organizations and communities are shaped by what we inherit, what we hear, whose voices are present, whose voices have been missing, and what we choose to amplify.
Through three interconnected movements—Recomposition, Relationship, and Reimagination—participants will explore the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and collective dimensions of a restorative culture.
More about Kiyanna
"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.
As the Founder and CEO of KJP Institute for Kreative 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 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 International Institute for Restorative Practices. She has been recognized with honors including the Star-Ledger Scholarship, 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.
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