We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Joylyn Howell a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Joylyn, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
I have been fortunate to work with so many amazing creatives on a variety of meaningful projects over the past 30-40 years of my life. The most meaningful projects for me are projects that have a goal of stopping child abuse, domestic violence, and cancer. It is also very meaningful for me to be a part of projects and support causes that educate people on these issues and other traumatic issues and how we all can be better equipped to handle them for ourselves and others.
Therefore, at this time, I am currently in the middle of the most meaningful project that I have ever worked on. Becoming the Person that I was always meant to be and sharing my success and inspiration with others!
Having been neglected, abandoned, and abused in every way as a child and into early adulthood; educating myself, seeking the path to healing and getting to know myself and my value; I am so extremely grateful to have made it to the place I am at today and to have the opportunity to guide others through the process to a more successful future through kindness and creativity!!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Hello Fellow Humans! My name is Joylyn.
I am just a human, being the best that I can be.
My story is very long and I’m working on getting it published. I look forward to sharing it with those of you interested in my journey and what we might have in common.
As far as how I got into entrepreneurship and creative arts… I suppose it was just my path. I started my first business at age six, picking the flowers at my apartment complex and selling them to the people that lived there. That led to selling candy door-to-door for my dad’s girlfriend for 10 years and making over $500k that I didn’t get to keep and most days, I was mentally, emotionally and/or physically abused for not bringing home enough money. That led to me moving out two weeks after I turned 18, with my skateboard and two garbage bags full of clothes; with an incredibly strong work ethic and no money or family. That led to a variety of unique and amazing jobs, hard life lessons, more tragedies, trauma and abuse, some major realizations and a lot of major life changes. Throughout all of this, I did my best to always focus on the positive and believe that I was working towards becoming a successful, independent, business owner one day. Every time I thought something or someone was going to destroy me, I walked away and improved my circumstances. Therefore, I was able to meet amazing people, build lasting relationships and be a part of things I had never imagined were possible for my life. For example, having an article about me and my business in a magazine!!
Because of my history, my life goals and business are focused on providing second chances for people that have faced similar situations and are ready to improve their lives. In the previous article in VoyageRaleigh, I introduced “Shaula”, which is the name that I Belly Dance under. Today, I will be introducing “The Funk!” Unique Boutique and Creative Community. The Funk! is the embodiment of everything that my experience has provided and how it can continue to improve my life by improving the lives of others. Together, with the input of anyone and everyone that has ever influenced my life, The Funk! is Creating Unity Through Diversity by Educating, Empowering and Growing Creative Communities. We are constantly networking and adding Funk! Family!! Affiliates!!
The hub of The Funk! is the Unique Boutique where you can find one of a kind 2nd chance, vintage, custom and new wardrobe items, artwork, music, decor and more! The Funk! website currently features over 5,000 unique items that I have accumulated over the past 20+ years of Modeling. Most only worn once or twice for shoots and some is still new with tags. I also offer amazing custom products from my affiliates, including my amazing Belly Dance Instructor, MsMasinah, which I mentioned in the previous article. Her hand-beading and crystal artwork is phenomenal!! She offers custom tissue boxes, canvas art, shoes, denim customization and more!! MsMasinah and the rest of The Funk! Family!!, as well as our supporters, make up the Creative Community and span the entire globe!! I am honored and humbled to work with some the most talented, yet humble humans in the entire world!! I work with Clothing Designers, Painters, Performing Artists, Models, Photographers, Musicians, Movie Producers, and so many people with so many fantastic titles and labels, but the only title and label that matters is “compassionate”. We are constantly working together to provide guidance to other people seeking the second chances and opportunities that they deserve, regardless of their circumstances in life.
By working together, supporting each other’s goals, sharing knowledge and creating co-op communities and multicultural centers across the world, we will continue to be a positive example of what “unity through diversity” looks like and why we are stronger together, embracing each other’s unique contributions and balance. Because of this, The Funk! is able to provide a custom experience for each client, customer, affiliate and/or community member. You can rent or purchase wardrobe, book a creative artist, rent a location and have highly knowledgeable guidance through the entire process, all through one website and/or at one Funk!tastic location!! Just tell me your personal goals, business goals and/or creative vision and I will connect you with the right people to make it happen. Also, if you’re one of those people and want to be a part of The Funk!, please get in touch!!
As the business continues to grow, I plan to open a physical location to feature the amazing variety of Creative Artists and the equally talented people that work in the roles that support us and keep us from being “starving artists”. In addition to managing the boutique, performing and teaching belly dance, working as a Photographer, working as a Model, being an Accounts Payable Consultant and a few other things; I will have a variety of other dance and fitness instructors and performers, a large selection of other Photographers and Models along with all the other extremely important talent necessary for quality photos, knowledgeable educators teaching classes in a variety of creative and business fields, and artwork and creatives from around the world!! This will allow me and others to constantly create, share, grow and be successful, long after I’m gone.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
First, my view tends to be a bit atypical. There is the definition of society that mentions order and the one that is structured for a purpose. Therefore, it’s a matter of balancing definitions and individual perspectives. In a society that is more or less ordered and structured for a purpose, by individuals that have a perspective of support and understanding that you receive more benefit from giving than you do from taking, thriving is inevitable.
Having said that, the responsibility of getting support is on the individual seeking it; whether that person is an artist, a laborer or someone in between. An artist has a better chance of thriving with the support of skilled laborers and skilled laborers have a better chance of thriving by supporting the arts. The benefits to your mind, body and soul for all parties has been documented in a multitude of studies and the variety of available careers in both realms is unfathomable! From nuclear physicists to stuntman, all are artists in their own field.
Overall, the best way to support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem is to find the balance and beauty between what unifies us and what makes us diverse.
Is there a mission driving your creative journey?
My main goals are to create a community where people can share their talent, skills, and art while investing in their own futures and the future of the world; to provide a fun, unique, and exciting atmosphere where people can indulge in creativity; and teaching people that they have everything they need to make the world more endurable at their fingertips, by creating their own income and providing people with a unique product or service.
The mission driving my creative journey is providing a second chance for myself and others that have faced abuse, trauma and other adversities. People that are seeking guidance and ready to make a positive change in their lives and the lives of others. A chance to create the future that they desire, while helping others do the same.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thefunkonline.com
- Instagram: @thefunkonine
- Facebook: @TheFunkUSA
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joylyn-howell
Image Credits
Headshot of Me (Joylyn) by Kelz Photography, LLC (IG: @kelzphoto) Model in Green Coat – Alexis, Wardrobe and Styling by Me/The Funk!, Photo by Me/J Vicotoria Exposures (@jvictoriaexposures) The Funk! Flyer – UNIFY Image by Meyers Imagery (IG: @meyersimagery) Models – Neko, Casie Jo, Marie, Rose, Tavia, China, Scott and Joylyn/Me) – Skull & Heart Image by RTSY Visuals (IG: @RTSY.Visuals) Models: Sandra and Joylyn/Me) – Belly Dancer Image by Meyers Imagery, Dancer – Shaula/Me (IG: @shaula.bellydancer) Model in Suspenders Image by J Victoria Exposures/Me, Model – Rose (IG: @_maryrose_), Vehicle from Oddity Limos (IG: @odditylimos) Engagement Session BTS Shot by my husband (IG: @draven825), Photographer in picture is ME/J Victoria Exposures, Couple Engage are Miranda & Amy Rockstar Cowgirl Image by Halim Ina (IG: @halim.ima), Model – Me/Joylyn (IG: @thee_joylyn) Waltz Lesson Image by my husband, taken at a fundraiser/celebration for a women’s shelter The Funk! Birthday Twins Image by my husband, edited by me. Models are Sandra (IG: @ih8ppl) and Me/Joylyn. Shirts by I Live In Expectation (IG: @iliveinexpectation)