Fund the Plot

Kinship Plot

LXCL:Kinship Plot creates stories, places, and beautiful schemes of rooted belonging. We tend land, grow food, host community dinner, and build affordable homes, and we'd love for you to join us.

Oddkin Unite gathers unlikely people together (&ldquo;oddkin&rdquo;) to share original art, food, and guided discussion. &quot;Oddkin&quot; is a term coined by Professor Donna Haraway who writes: &quot;Staying with the trouble requires making oddkin; that is, we require each other in unexpected collaborations and combinations.&quot; At Kinship Plot, we believe in the power of art and food to facilitate joyful encounters and resonance across differences. We believe in the power of the table, a place of mutuality which beckons us to receive others&#39; stories and presence. We hope that participants of Oddkin Unite will be provoked to imagine and improvise generative and just ways to connect across differences in their own neighborhoods, workplaces, and communities. This gathering is open for ages 14+. The evening will involve sharing a delicious meal, encountering original art commissioned and created specifically for this gathering, and engaging in guided conversation around the theme. About the featured creativesTyris Washington (Musician) // Tyris Washington is an international recording artist, jazz keyboardist, vocalist, educator, and founder of The House That Rocks in Charlotte, North Carolina. Having performed throughout the United States, Asia, and beyond, Tyris is known for blending jazz, funk, gospel, and spontaneous improvisation into unforgettable live performances. Whether on stage, in the classroom, or through The Resonance Project, his passion is helping people discover the connection between music, creativity, faith, and purpose. IG: @ityris Chef Shurla Jobe (Caterer)&nbsp;//&nbsp;Shurla Jobe is the CEO and Founder of Meme&#39;s Caribbean Flavour Catering, a Charlotte-based catering company dedicated to sharing the bold, authentic flavors of Trinidad and Tobago. Born in the beautiful twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago, Sheila has turned her love of Caribbean cuisine into a thriving business that celebrates culture, family, and community. After migrating to the United States in 1992, Shurla made a commitment to further her education. She returned to college and earned an impressive four degrees, including two master&#39;s degrees. Upon graduating, she was hired by Walmart, where she built a successful career in the technology division as a Project Manager. Over the next 11 years, she gained valuable leadership, project management, and business experience while continuing to nurture her lifelong passion for cooking. After her career at Walmart came to an end, Shurla saw it not as a setback, but as an opportunity to pursue the dream that had always been in her heart. She stepped out in faith and founded Meme&#39;s Caribbean Flavour Catering, transforming her passion for authentic Trinidadian cuisine into a successful business. A proud mother of six children and grandmother of seven grandchildren&mdash;with another grandchild on the way&mdash;Shurla believes that food is more than a meal; it is a way to bring people together, preserve culture, and create lasting memories. Today, through private catering, pop-up events, and community festivals, Shurla shares the rich culinary traditions of Trinidad and Tobago with every guest she serves. Her menu features authentic island favorites, including doubles, pholourie, jerk chicken, curry specialties, and other handcrafted Caribbean dishes made with love, tradition, and the bold flavors of her homeland. Through faith, resilience, education, and entrepreneurship, Sheila has built more than a catering company&mdash;she has built a legacy. Her mission is to preserve the vibrant culture and cuisine of Trinidad and Tobago while inspiring others to pursue their dreams with courage, determination, and passion.&nbsp; IG: @memscarribeanflavour<a fr-original-style="" href="https://memescaribbeanflavour.square.site/" rel="noopener noreferrer noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">memescaribbeanflavour.square.site</a> Ranika Chaney (Facilitator)&nbsp;// Ranika is a Louisiana native and graduate of Loyola University New Orleans, where she earned her degree in Communications&mdash;Broadcast Journalism and Sociology. She is a certified Mental Health Coach and speaker for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Domestic Violence Speakers Bureau. As the founder of RanikaSpeaks, LLC., Ranika specializes in facilitating impactful events, panels, and discussions that foster connection, collaboration, and actionable outcomes. Affectionately known as the &ldquo;conversation curator&rdquo;, she uses her platform to create purpose-driven experiences that leave a lasting impact. Her inspiring journey&mdash;leaving a difficult marriage as a stay-at-home mom homeschooling five amazing children, eventually transitioning into tech, and building her own business after appearing on the Anthony O&rsquo;Neal show&mdash;inspires much of her keynote speaking. Grounded in faith, she is committed to empowering others with love and hope, creating spaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. IG: @ranikaspeaks

Oddkin Unite

Oddkin Unite gathers unlikely people together (&ldquo;oddkin&rdquo;) to share original art, food, and guided discussion. &quot;Oddkin&quot; is a term coined by Professor Donna Haraway who writes: &quot;Staying with the trouble requires making oddkin; that is, we require each other in unexpected collaborations and combinations.&quot; At Kinship Plot, we believe in the power of art and food to facilitate joyful encounters and resonance across differences. We believe in the power of the table, a place of mutuality which beckons us to receive others&#39; stories and presence. We hope that participants of Oddkin Unite will be provoked to imagine and improvise generative and just ways to connect across differences in their own neighborhoods, workplaces, and communities. This gathering is open for ages 14+. The evening will involve sharing a delicious meal, encountering original art commissioned and created specifically for this gathering, and engaging in guided conversation around the theme. About the featured creativesCourtney Rohan (Poet) // Courtney Rohan is a facilitator, multidisciplinary artist, and spiritual creative with almost two decades in classrooms, studios, business, and homes, demonstrating her belief of true health and wellness in the body, mind, and spirit. Her co-authored poetry book, The World is Still Chaos, her work within communities in North Carolina, such as QC Family Tree and the North Carolina Climate Justice, and her presence with practitioners of many levels, with differing focuses, delivers renewed creative thought and writing support, health and wellness, and healing. She currently facilitates learning through her Animal Spirit Messages card deck, Trashy Art assemblage parties and workshops, and Heal-Thy Expression classes and privates.&nbsp; IG: @courtneyrohan Melissa LaCross (Poet) //&nbsp;Melissa LaCross is a poet and writer living and loving in Charlotte since 2011. She graduated with an MA in Literature from Clemson University in 2011 and an MFA in Creative Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts in 2025. Her poems explore the converging space between motherhood, faith, personal identity, and living in community and can be found in december magazine as well as Carolina Currents Vol. 3. She also writes stories and essays and teaches part-time at the college level. IG: @melissalacrosswww.melissalacross.com Chef Eric (Caterer)&nbsp;//&nbsp;Chef Eric &ldquo;Chef Crays&rdquo; Crays is a North Mississippi&ndash;raised, North Carolina&ndash;rooted chef whose work is grounded in Southern tradition, seasonal ingredients, and a deep respect for the people behind the plate. Raised in Hernando, Mississippi, just outside Memphis, he learned early that food carries more than flavor&mdash;it carries memory, place, and connection. Now based in Charlotte, Chef Crays cooks with an ingredient-driven approach shaped by local sourcing and a zero-waste philosophy. His menus move with rhythm&mdash;thoughtfully composed, balanced, and designed to invite both comfort and curiosity. Drawing from his background as a musician and storyteller, he approaches each meal with attention to timing, flow, and the shared experience at the table, allowing each part&mdash;farmers, cooks, guests, and ingredients&mdash;to carry its weight. In the kitchen, he leads with consistency, humility, and intention, building teams that value awareness, repetition, and trust. His work extends beyond the plate through Community Harvest and The Gatherer&rsquo;s Table, where food becomes a vehicle for connection, dignity, and open dialogue. Chef Crays is currently developing Above the Buckle: Trust the Gut, a hybrid cookbook and memoir rooted in recovery, storytelling, and the ongoing practice of showing up. He can be found at Chop Chop Red Pot in the Market at 7th Street in Charlotte, a space where farmers, cooks, and guests meet through bold flavor, thoughtful sourcing, and food that speaks for itself. IG: @chefcrays Ranika Chaney (Facilitator)&nbsp;// Ranika is a Louisiana native and graduate of Loyola University New Orleans, where she earned her degree in Communications&mdash;Broadcast Journalism and Sociology. She is a certified Mental Health Coach and speaker for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Domestic Violence Speakers Bureau. As the founder of RanikaSpeaks, LLC., Ranika specializes in facilitating impactful events, panels, and discussions that foster connection, collaboration, and actionable outcomes. Affectionately known as the &ldquo;conversation curator&rdquo;, she uses her platform to create purpose-driven experiences that leave a lasting impact. Her inspiring journey&mdash;leaving a difficult marriage as a stay-at-home mom homeschooling five amazing children, eventually transitioning into tech, and building her own business after appearing on the Anthony O&rsquo;Neal show&mdash;inspires much of her keynote speaking. Grounded in faith, she is committed to empowering others with love and hope, creating spaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. IG: @ranikaspeaks

Oddkin Unite gathers unlikely people together (&ldquo;oddkin&rdquo;) to share original art, food, and guided discussion. &quot;Oddkin&quot; is a term coined by Professor Donna Haraway who writes: &quot;Staying with the trouble requires making oddkin; that is, we require each other in unexpected collaborations and combinations.&quot; At Kinship Plot, we believe in the power of art and food to facilitate joyful encounters and resonance across differences. We believe in the power of the table, a place of mutuality which beckons us to receive others&#39; stories and presence. We hope that participants of Oddkin Unite will be provoked to imagine and improvise generative and just ways to connect across differences in their own neighborhoods, workplaces, and communities. This gathering is open for ages 14+. The evening will involve sharing a delicious meal, encountering original art commissioned and created specifically for this gathering, and engaging in guided conversation around the theme. About the featured creativesMackenzie England (Dancer) // MacKenzie England is a North Carolina based dancer, choreographer, and educator. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Marymount Manhattan College, where she majored in Dance with a concentration in Media and Video Production. Upon graduating during the pandemic, MacKenzie moved back to North Carolina, where she became involved in the Charlotte dance community. She enjoys exploring the use of patterns, gesture, and weight in her work; as well as seeing the athleticism and effort within the movement. Currently, she is the Ballet Director and Dance Educator at The Academy of Dance and Fine Arts, as well as a freelance dance artist and emerging choreographer.&nbsp; IG: @mengland.dance Chef Awo of Eh&#39;Vivi (Caterer)&nbsp;// Chef Awo is the founder and executive chef of Eh&rsquo;vivi (tasty), a Ghanaian pop-up dining experience in Charlotte, where she introduces and educates her guests on Ghanaian cuisine and indigenous ingredients. She achieves this through pairing familiar techniques with unfamiliar ingredients to create a gastronomy of culinary excellence at her pop-ups. Through Eh&rsquo;vivi, her mission is to expand Ghanaian cuisine to the Charlotte food scene and beyond; her love and passion for sharing her culture through food and bringing Ghanaian food to the global stage drives her commitment to food sustainability and supporting local farmers. Whether piquing the interest of first-time guests who&rsquo;ve never experienced the richness of West African food or delivering beloved favorites to those who have a deep connection to the culture, Awo consistently delivers a high-quality dining experience that delights in true Eh&rsquo;vivi fashion. Chef Awo has been named 2023 UPPYs Chef of The Year in the non-traditional category, 2024 Streatz Neighborhood Cookoff Champion, and Ebony magazine named her one of the female chefs shifting the culinary scene in the south.&nbsp; IG: @eh__vivi @awocooks<a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.ehvivi.com" rel="noopener noreferrer noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://www.ehvivi.com</a> Ranika Chaney (Facilitator)&nbsp;// Ranika is a Louisiana native and graduate of Loyola University New Orleans, where she earned her degree in Communications&mdash;Broadcast Journalism and Sociology. She is a certified Mental Health Coach and speaker for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Domestic Violence Speakers Bureau. As the founder of RanikaSpeaks, LLC., Ranika specializes in facilitating impactful events, panels, and discussions that foster connection, collaboration, and actionable outcomes. Affectionately known as the &ldquo;conversation curator&rdquo;, she uses her platform to create purpose-driven experiences that leave a lasting impact. Her inspiring journey&mdash;leaving a difficult marriage as a stay-at-home mom homeschooling five amazing children, eventually transitioning into tech, and building her own business after appearing on the Anthony O&rsquo;Neal show&mdash;inspires much of her keynote speaking. Grounded in faith, she is committed to empowering others with love and hope, creating spaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. IG: @ranikaspeaks

Kinship Plot creates stories, places, and beautiful schemes of rooted belonging.

Kinship Plot creates stories, places, and beautiful schemes of rooted belonging.

Help us celebrate Kinship Plot&#39;s five-year anniversary as a nonprofit! We are deeply grateful for all the people, places, and partners who have shaped Kinship Plot these past five years. It truly take a village to create stories, places, and beautiful schemes of rooted belonging! Your gift helps us continue to build homes, cultivate the land, commission art, host gatherings, and continue scheming about how to bring resonant relationships to life here in Charlotte and beyond. Thank you being a part of our story!

Help us celebrate Kinship Plot's five-year anniversary as a nonprofit! We are deeply grateful for all the people, places, and partners who have shaped Kinship Plot these past five years. It truly take a village to create stories, places, and beautiful schemes of rooted belonging!Your gift helps us continue to build homes, cultivate the land, commission art, host gatherings, and continue scheming about how to bring resonant relationships to life here in Charlotte and beyond. Thank you being a part of our story!

Kinship Plot is 5!

Enter Kinship Plot&rsquo;s Raffle for a chance to win some amazing prizes!&nbsp; The more tickets you purchase for an item, the higher your chance to win!

Enter Kinship Plot’s Raffle for a chance to win some amazing prizes! The more tickets you purchase for an item, the higher your chance to win!

Summer Raffle!

Join us in the Food Forest 🌱 Sign up to help tend the land, co-learn about the plants (or co-teach), and care for the habitat we&rsquo;re restoring together. Every workday is a chance to learn, get your hands in the soil, and meet neighbors. EACH Volunteer, including kids, are required to have signed our online <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.cognitoforms.com/KinshipPlot/VolunteerAgreementAndLiabilityWaiverKinshipPlot" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">waiver</a>. What to expect 🌳 You might plant, mulch, weed, harvest, dig, remove sod, or help maintain paths and beds. All experience levels are welcome; we&rsquo;ll provide guidance, tools, and a space where belonging&mdash;to each other and to the land&mdash;can take root.&nbsp; Expect to be fully exposed to the elements. So plan for the sun exposure and whatever the weather currently is with sunscreen, bug spray, hats, and a WATER BOTTLE!&nbsp;

Garden + Food Forest Workdays

Oddkin Unite gathers unlikely people together (&ldquo;oddkin&rdquo;) to share original art, food, and guided discussion. &quot;Oddkin&quot; is a term coined by Professor Donna Haraway who writes: &quot;Staying with the trouble requires making oddkin; that is, we require each other in unexpected collaborations and combinations.&quot; At Kinship Plot, we believe in the power of art and food to facilitate joyful encounters and resonance across differences. We believe in the power of the table, a place of mutuality which beckons us to receive others&#39; stories and presence. We hope that participants of Oddkin Unite will be provoked to imagine and improvise generative and just ways to connect across differences in their own neighborhoods, workplaces, and communities. This gathering is open for ages 14+. The evening will involve sharing a delicious meal, encountering original art commissioned and created specifically for this gathering, and engaging in guided conversation around the theme. About the featured creativesARSENA (Artist) //&nbsp;Born in Pittsburgh, PA, and raised in Charlotte, NC, ARSENA&rsquo;s musical roots run deep. Her father, lead vocalist behind &ldquo;Dance to the Drummers Beat (1978)&rdquo;&mdash;sampled by icons like Michael Jackson and N.W.A.&mdash;not only shaped R&amp;B legends like Monica but also influenced ARSENA&rsquo;s artistic evolution. As an independent artist, ARSENA has toured internationally, earned an endorsement from Breedlove Guitars, and received a standing ovation from Michael Jordan. Her latest release, Somewhere (March 2026), is the 1st single for up and coming 4th studio album, &quot;A Soft Place To Land&quot;. This follows her third album, Metamorphosis: The Evolution of Arsena (2023), which highlights her signature introspection, and her holiday single, Santa Can You, featured on WCCB TV. Currently pursuing her M.A. in Music Business at Berklee College of Music, ARSENA continues to perform, record, and champion independent artists. Through her award-winning company, Dear Soul Music Co., she provides artist development and resources to empower the independent music community. <a fr-original-style="" href="http://www.arsenamusic.com/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">www.arsenamusic.com</a> Aliyah Wilson (Chef) //&nbsp;I&#39;m Aliyah Wilson, a chef, and food entrepreneur based in Charlotte, North Carolina. With over a decade of experience in professional kitchens, and some non conventional cooking spaces, I&#39;ve built my career around creating memorable food experiences and making people feel withintentionally crafted food! I am a 2016 graduate of Johnson &amp; Wales University in uptown Charlotte, holding an AS in Culinary Arts and a BA in Foodservice business management.&nbsp; Since living in Charlotte following graduation, I&#39;ve made meaningful connections with local Charlotte entrepreneurs and got to experience food in many different service variations, through hands-on work. Before launching my business in October 2024, I spent 6 years managing kitchen operations in a private educational setting, providing fresh, engaging meals to preschool aged children. My culinary skill was sharpened by participating in several yearly tournaments in Georgia at Augusta National Golf Club at Berckman&rsquo;s Place Pavilion restaurant on the grounds. Through the influence of family life with my fiancee who is Mexican-American, nearly 2 years ago, we created Soulpe Afro-Mex Catering; where we focus on bold flavors and allowing ingredients with heavy cultural influences to have a conversation on one plate.This style creates a unique eating experience of the cultural comfort foods of traditional Mexican cuisine, and deep-rooted southern staples. When I&#39;m not planning menus or catering events, I&#39;m participating in running races, reading a good book, or enjoying nature! It is my passion and mission to serve others food made with feeling, that they will remember and bring them a little closer to joy! IG: @soulpeafromexcatering Ranika Chaney (Facilitator)&nbsp;// Ranika is a Louisiana native and graduate of Loyola University New Orleans, where she earned her degree in Communications&mdash;Broadcast Journalism and Sociology. She is a certified Mental Health Coach and speaker for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Domestic Violence Speakers Bureau. As the founder of RanikaSpeaks, LLC., Ranika specializes in facilitating impactful events, panels, and discussions that foster connection, collaboration, and actionable outcomes. Affectionately known as the &ldquo;conversation curator&rdquo;, she uses her platform to create purpose-driven experiences that leave a lasting impact. Her inspiring journey&mdash;leaving a difficult marriage as a stay-at-home mom homeschooling five amazing children, eventually transitioning into tech, and building her own business after appearing on the Anthony O&rsquo;Neal show&mdash;inspires much of her keynote speaking. Grounded in faith, she is committed to empowering others with love and hope, creating spaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. IG: @ranikaspeaks

Reimagining Place is a collaborative learning cohort exploring how we can more faithfully imagine and inhabit the places we live. The backbone of our discussions is a new book by Ben Norquist and Brian Miller called Every Somewhere Sacred: Rescuing a Theology of Place in the American Imagination (IVP Academic, 2026). Dr. Ben Norquist is a writer, researcher, and educator whose work explores the sacredness of place at intersections of land, story, justice, and faith. He serves with the Bethlehem Institute for Peace &amp; Justice and is Co-Director of Church at the Crossroads. Dr. Brian Miller is professor of sociology at Wheaton College and regularly teaches about and publishes on Christian residential and cultural patterns. The &quot;Reimagining Place&quot; cohort is facilitated by Dr. Wes Vander Lugt, co-founder and co-executive director of Kinship Plot, a nonprofit that creates stories, places, and beautiful schemes of rooted belonging. Dr. Vander Lugt also teaches theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and his most recent books include Beauty Is Oxygen: Finding a Faith that Breathes (Eerdmans, 2024) and Modern Protestant Theology: Introducing the Classics (T&amp;T Clark, 2026). The cohort gathers online the second Monday of each month this fall (Sept 14, Oct 12, Nov 16, Dec 14) from 7:00-8:30 p.m. EST, with the Zoom link provided after registration. You can expect a mixture of presentation, discussion, and Q&amp;A, including a special session with the authors of the book. Anyone is warmly welcome to participate regardless of faith commitment, vocational expression, or educational experience. Our hope is that this cohort will resource you to reimagine and reinhabit the places you live with greater intentionality and faithfulness. We hope you can join us!

Kinship Plot

Kinship Plot

Events

Events

Garden + Food Forest Workdays

Get your tickets

Oddkin Unite

Get your tickets

Reimagining Place

Get your tickets

More ways to support us

Fund the Plot

Donate today

Kinship Plot is 5!

$2,805 of $5,000 goal

Donate today

Summer Raffle!

View raffle

Powered by