Jawno Okhiulu

Jawno Okhiulu (any pronouns) is an Afro-Indigenous (Esán) writer, cultural worker, and Program Associate at Waverley Street Foundation, where they are dedicated to advancing transformational change at the intersection of climate justice, community building, and intergenerational cultural restoration. Jawno carries formal training in Human Biology, African & African American Studies, Food Systems, and Regenerative Economies.

Before joining Waverley, Jawno helped shape philanthropic strategies as Program Associate at the Decolonizing Wealth Project, where they helped refine grantmaking processes and launched a youth-focused philanthropy internship program. They’ve also served as Environmental Justice Educator and Co-Organizational Steward with Black Earth Farmers where they focused on reclaiming ancestral knowledge and building equitable, community-led food systems.

Whether through their writing, community organizing, or resource mobilization, they continuously strive to nourish spaces where culture, climate, and community are in an artful balance.

Beyond the work, Jawno can be found reading, tending to the garden, or gathering with loved ones to share good food, music, and rest.