We were lucky to catch up with J0n-Lee “Jonni” Campbell recently and have shared our conversation below.
J0n-Lee “Jonni”, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?
Being a wheelchair user for going on 25 years this December, I have lost track of the about of times I have been misunderstood, mischaracterized or underestimated. The majority of society, I’m sad to say, have a very sad view of people with disabilities, and it’s common for people to assume that I sit around in my chair doing nothing every day. The fact that I have children comes as a huge shock to most people, most are even more shocked by me even having one child, let alone four of them. I enjoy shooting pool and singing karaoke, but people are always shocked to see someone in a wheelchair out in social scenes. People I don’t know constantly come up to me and tell me how cool it is that I’m out having fun. That’s all just on the day to day for my personal life; then you through in my professional life and people are floored. I have talents, dreams and ambitions just like anyone else, but I’m often overlooked and underestimated in my fields. That is a lot of the reason why I founded my nonprofit to help people with disabilities showcase their talents and skills.
J0n-Lee “Jonni”, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Im a paralyzed actress, model, director, producer, advocate and founder of Differently Abled Entertainment (DAE). I became paralyed when I was 16 years old and a junior in high school. DAE’s mission is to promote and encourage differently abled artists in the entertainment industry by producing content featuring their talents, We are all inclusive with a goal to bring inclusion, acceptance and awareness to people with both seen and unseen conditions, as well as other marginalized groups. We have a monthly podcast, 2 magazines (on hold due to being short staffed), do 1 live theatrical production a year, have helped produce 2 music video, 1 short film and 1 feature film and we host regular photo shoots that have helped over 20 models get their first publications in various magazines. We also put on classes, workshops, as well as music and vendor events. Our studio space is also available for rental and private shoots. We have some print services, and also help with resumes.
We are on FB and other social media and have a website.
Facebook.com/differentlyabledentertainment
ourDAE.org
Always love helping support other local businesses and collaborations.
I have always loved the arts since I was a little girl. My first time on stage I was only 3 and half years old. I did theatre all through grade school, high school and college. I was stage manager in high school, even my senior year after my accident. I worked my butt off and graduated, on time, with my class. Then, in college, I got a scholarship and was assistant director of the theater department as well as president of the theatre club.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I would love to help shift society’s view on people with disabilities. I would like to see more disabled actors in film and tv playing normal everyday roles; people with jobs, and lives, just like everyone else. Part of the reason I do boudoir modeling is because I want people to know that just because I’m in a chair, doesn’t mean I’m no longer a sexual creature like the rest of humanity. Also, part of our ideal is to make everyone’s dreams accessible to them. I know how hard it is to try and go for your dreams when you have a limited income. We keep all of our rates extremely low so that way anyone can participate, and if they let us know that even the low rate is an issue, we have scholarships. Also, any of our volunteers get to participate in any of our events for free. I do this because about 15 years ago I missed out on a huge opportunity because I didn’t have any professional headshots and I couldn’t afford to get any taken. Missing that opportunity sent me into a deep state of depression and I even spent a week in a psych ward. I don’t want anyone to go through that heartbreak if I can help it.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Seeing the people, I help succeed and grow in the entertainment industry. Knowing I helped shine a light on a subject and help bring awareness to the world. I hope that this organization lives on long after I’m ashes blowing in the wind.
Contact Info:
- Website: ourDAE.org
- Instagram: @differentlyabledentertainment @jonnigypsy
- Facebook: facebook.com/differentlyabledentertainment facebook.com/jonnigypsy facebook.com/jonleecampbellfanpage
- Twitter: DiffAbledEnt
- Other: We are on many social media sites, just search Differently Abled Entertainment
Image Credits
Photographers Ashlee Sanderson Jessica Delgado Jonathan Arlia Models (Warrior Page) Jonni Stacey “Sevanna” Sizemore Gabbi Jane Yaya Angelica