https://www.ownyourfunk.com/home daily 1.0 2024-07-27 https://www.ownyourfunk.com/services daily 0.75 2025-03-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615de5cfff31dc07748500a5/b5f6d1c3-7abc-4383-8fba-1d8950498d72/OYF+PRICESPKGS-.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615de5cfff31dc07748500a5/1633812750779-VBIHMFRYU6LL1D37W92L/1.png Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615de5cfff31dc07748500a5/1633812777076-CYGUKKLIBGD3G8F0PKVJ/2.png Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615de5cfff31dc07748500a5/1633995865999-EMEM42LMLRH3FKYIUK1Q/Website+Items.png Services https://www.ownyourfunk.com/about daily 0.75 2024-05-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615de5cfff31dc07748500a5/cf160cce-5338-4ecf-bdf6-377ab60ff6d4/OwnYourFunk-SpilledMilkCreative-93.jpg About - About Kyra! Kyra (KEER-ah) James is a Professional Food Educator, Certified Cheese Professional (C.C.P.) and innovator in the American artisan food industry with 12+ years experience introducing consumers to the world of artisan cheese and specialty goods! Her passion, or borderline obsession, for non stop food learnings began out of necessity when, in 2010 Kyra developed rare food sensitivities triggered by precious metal allergies! As she adapted to new dietary restrictions, and watched Food Network 24/7 , Kyra realized this was more than a lifestyle change! So she took savings from her consumer relations career, moved to her least favorite city, and received a Master’s of Arts in Gastronomy. Kyra honed her skills as a cheesemonger, food/beverage curriculum developer and tasting event specialist; through her work with industry leaders such as Formaggio Kitchen, Culture Magazine, Boston Center for Adult Ed, and Antonelli’s Cheese Shop. Then, in 2020, with influence from the nation’s turmoil, her passions for sharing the understanding of our food systems and drive to build food equity in America led her to launch Own Your Funk (OYF). OYF is a business consulting & experience brand working to empower a new, more diverse, specialty cheese consumer through innovative food education + self empowerment. Her intentional work continues as an active cheese industry community member; serving as a founding board member for the Cheese Culture Coalition, a non-profit on a mission to bring equity and inclusion within the cheese industry by empowering BIPOC (Black.Indigenous.People.Of.Color) communities through educational programming and grant scholarships. When not disrupting our homogenized artisan food industry, Kyra stays busy volunteering as a youth track and field events coach in her hometown of Danbury, CT and as a docent for the Museum of Food & Drink in New York City. https://www.ownyourfunk.com/contact daily 0.75 2022-05-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615de5cfff31dc07748500a5/1634312132765-3G1ZZLILT2VPGL3Q7EQR/OwnYourFunk-SpilledMilkCreative-167+%281%29.jpg Contact - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.ownyourfunk.com/press daily 0.75 2025-07-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615de5cfff31dc07748500a5/1716932466234-L4BOEA389RPPD95HEMKZ/OYFKJ_blkgirls2023.jpg Press Summer 2021 --> after waiting 2 longs years, I was the first Black Woman Official Conference Cheesemonger for the annual American Cheese Society conference in Portland, OR! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615de5cfff31dc07748500a5/1716919949252-3A8LX5ZUC4TLI3GN38VO/KJ_GastromeOpen.jpg Press Summer 2021 --> opened our first cheese counter; offering 100+ cheeses, cured meats in a 5,000sq ft Scottsdale, AZ retail location! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615de5cfff31dc07748500a5/a6ad69c6-7195-42e3-80b3-731626622741/KJOYF_WaltonsCheese23.png Press Fall 2023 --> with a curated grocery list and our self-guided instructions... this could be YOU! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615de5cfff31dc07748500a5/f504bd84-41ac-4a0d-9273-de4d9d993783/KJOYF_NEDBICPanel2024.JPG Press Spring 2024 --> Ya girl's FIRST in person panel presentation all about how we should expand the dairy industry! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615de5cfff31dc07748500a5/1716932554152-AS4PB7UYVFLUNDJ7B92F/KJSylvia_5.8.24.jpg Press Spring 2024 --> FINALLY taught our first IN-PERSON, student cheese education tasting on behalf of the Cheese Culture Coalition! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615de5cfff31dc07748500a5/8af36cc9-b112-4584-8f73-0aff0a7bdca9/KJ_OYFMeat.png Press ...and for the record... THIS is a CHARCUTERIE BOARD #lightwork by an beginner student! https://www.ownyourfunk.com/amazon-storefront daily 0.75 2025-08-07