Beyond Silence: Kyndal Parks On Honoring Her Grandfather & Advocating For Better Grief Support

When Kyndal Parks' grandfather died on Black Friday - the day after Thanksgiving – she lost one of her biggest supporters and confidants. While navigating her grief, Kyndal was also navigating life as a college student where she often felt unseen in her grief by faculty and the wider institution. What began as a class assignment turned into a powerful audio piece about loss, legacy, and the urgent need for grief-informed spaces on college campuses, particularly at HBCUs where collective trauma, silence, and resilience intertwine.

In this conversation, Kyndal shares about her grandfather's extraordinary life - from his childhood in the 1940s, to living with a disability, to his time as a Black Panther, a gardener, a traveler, and the steady source of love that shaped her into the person she is today. She talks about the traditions they built together, how her grief shows up even from 2,000 miles away, and why vulnerability and community care are essential if we want to build environments where students who are grieving feel supported.

Kyndal also explores the cultural and historical patterns of grief in Black communities, the pressure to "push through," and her vision for a world where grief is met with connection, not silence.

We discuss:

• What made Kyndal's grandfather such an influential figure
• How his death reshaped her understanding of family, holidays, and identity
• What grief looked like at her college, and within her family and community
• Why she created her audio piece and what she hopes listeners take from it
• The need for vulnerability, community support, and grief-informed care at HBCUs and beyond
• How her grandfather continues to guide her today

Check out News Ambassadors, the program that helped connect us with Kyndal and her audio piece.