Kendra Jo

Kendra Jo is a writer, director, and multidisciplinary artist whose work blends Southern flavor with feel-good moments rooted in emotionally grounded storytelling. Raised in rural Virginia, she developed an instinct for interior stories from everyday people that feel intimate, layered, and remarkably human.

A graduate of Hampton University, Kendra spent 13 years as an educator before making the trek west to Los Angeles, where her voice quickly cut through the noise. She got her start on BET’s Boomerang, went on to co-create Finding Happy for Bounce TV, and served as showrunner, writing all ten episodes and directing the season finale. She was showrunner on the limited series, a Tubi Original, Mo’Waffles, writing every episode and directing the finale. This further cemented her reputation as a creator who can build, lead, and deliver.

In addition to her screen work, Kendra is currently ghostwriting a forthcoming book project for a high-profile voice, further expanding her storytelling across mediums.

Her recent work continues to gain momentum. She is an NAACP Image Awards–nominated writer for Before You Let Go, which was also selected for the Pan African Film Festival, BronzeLens Film Festival, and Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival. Her short film Please Return Your Carts is also having a successful run on the film festival circuit. It was selected for the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), Essence Film Festival, Martha’s Vineyard African American Black Film Festival, San Francisco Black Film Festival, the Detroit Black Film Festival, and the Oak Park Black Film Festival.  Both projects were developed through Issa Rae’s Find Your People Program, where she was selected to write and develop two original short films.

Kendra Jo writes with intention, directs with precision, and builds stories that hold emotion and truth in the same frame. In her free time, she likes to draw, create collage art, and loves all things stationery.