🌊 Miami, Arizona Flood Relief: Joy Stayed Behind to Help
When the devastating floods hit Miami, AZ, Joy First didn’t leave — we stayed. We led volunteer crews, helped create giggles in a bucket brigade removing mud from the devastating basement and first floor of the Miami Artworks Gallery, handed out smiles, and support to a community still rebuilding. This past weekend was more devastation. The Miami Globe area has been hit very hard. We stayed to make sure the basement was cleared from mud and water and the gallery was cleared of furniture and mud and water. We are so grateful for hundreds of volunteers!!
Because joy is not just a feeling — it’s an act of service. 💧❤️
🚐 The Van Chronicles: 5 Months Later… I’m Back!
After five months at the mechanic, Fridaaaah Joylita, the JoyMobile still isn’t 100%, but I’m back in it and rolling forward! It’s been hard to plan when the van was “almost ready” every week — but hey, improv is life, right? 😅
💫 JOY IS CONTAGIOUS: Don’t Forget Your Frivolity
Frivolity isn’t foolish — it’s fuel for the soul. It’s how we reset our nervous systems and remember we’re human. So today, go ahead: wear the silly hat, sing off-key, dance in your kitchen. Joy is a revolution that starts inside you. 🕺✨
I’m meeting with the VA today to discuss bringing Joyful Programming to senior veterans — helping those who served reconnect to laughter, purpose, and community.
There is still an opportunity to help out – either for a tax deduction (joy first) or simply add a small gift (gofundme).
🗣️ Teaching English with Joyful Improv
Language + laughter = connection. I’m now teaching English infused with Joyful Improv to anyone who needs it — because humor breaks barriers faster than grammar drills ever could! 😂
🌍 Joy Across the World!
Someone told me my TikToks are reaching 195 countries! Almost daily, I go live to share giggles, gibberish, and grounding — and the Joy Tribe keeps growing. 🌎💛
🎂 Birthday Wish: Fuel the Joy Revolution
If you’ve ever laughed, smiled, healed, or felt inspired by Joy First — this is your moment to give back. Let’s keep this movement rolling, literally. 🚐💖
Miami Arts Commission is having their LOCO event in April. Joy First will contribute with yoga and some spontaneous projections.
GRADUATING FROM HUMOR ACADEMY
The Tour of Joy CONTINUES
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Katy BEE is presenting JOY FIRST and the Tour of Joy at the AATH conference in Charlotte North Carolina and presenting for the graduation ceremony from the humor academy
“Normalacy’s Tik Tok LIVE room” is international and Katy BEE brings some levity and support to Ukrainians, Palestinians, and a wide international community. In this photo she has created a friendship with YOYOBE Art In Ethiopia who drew this of Katy BEE during her live broadcast, and by using Google Translate, she makes a big effort to speak in people’s own language.
Join her live room by following this account
https://www.tiktok.com/@normalacy_vanlife_nomad
Subscribe to this youtube channel for daily ideas on how to balance out and improve your brain chemistry!
When in doubt, always go to gratitude. Gratitude can save lives! Teaching gratitude to folks who have suicide ideation can make a difference!
Letting AI help give some details about this:
Teaching
gratitude can help prevent suicide by reducing depression,
increasing self-esteem, and helping people feel a sense of control over their thoughts. Here are some ways to teach gratitude:
Model gratitude: Parents can model gratitude by pointing out things they’re thankful for, such as a good meal or clean water.
Establish a gratitude ritual: Families can make expressing gratitude a routine by saying a few things they’re thankful for around the table at dinner or before bed.
Start a gratitude journal: Families can keep a notebook, tree, or jar where everyone writes down something they’re thankful for each day.
Practice saying “thank you”: When someone shares that they’re struggling, tell them “thank you for telling me”.
Do an act of kindness: Doing something kind for someone can make both people feel good.
Practice the end-of-day exercise: Identify three things you’re grateful for at the end of each day.
Podcast interviews and speaking engagements
Click the link for the latest podcast interview with Brad Miller of Cancer and Comedy
journey as a “professional noticer,” someone attuned to the joys and struggles
of those around her. Katy shares her inspiration behind founding the Joy First
Foundation, a non-profit born from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war.
The foundation began to offer support to those in crisis through laughter,
yoga, improv, and meditation. She recounts the pivotal moment when the phrase
“joy first” came to her during meditation, setting the tone for her mission.
One of the episode’s highlights is Katy’s
“Tour of Joy,” where she traveled the U.S. in a tiny runaway trailer, spreading
joy through gratitude and connection.
Lighting of Miami’s Bullion Plaza Cultural Center & Museum- with Director and Councilman Phil Stewart
As part of learning more about the healing power of humor, Joy First was gifted a trip to the Lucy and Desi museum. Lucille Ball experienced a great deal of trauma in her childhood and adolescence. It was due to these experiences that she decided to be the person that she became.
We are grateful that you are in the world!
Join the Joy First movement on Giving Tuesday, December 3rd
You will be helping with van maintenance, as the tour continues in the southwest with strangers, schools, organizations, and Native American reservations
You are investing in research as we learn how to make a town happier so we can build a scalable framework to support more kindness and prevent loneliness through play, connection, and brain chemicals
You are investing in the movement to grow and continue into the future
You are investing in people you don’t know! With random strangers spontaneous compliments, appreciation and love when they most need it
Thank you for helping us all to bring more joy and kindness to those who need it
The grant search continues for operations support, in November we created extensive annual and project budgets for the grant search
If you are experienced with grants and would be willing to help out with our grant search, please reach out to info@joyfirst.org
