About

The Joy Team

The Joy Team is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Vancouver, Washington.  Founded in February 2010, The Joy Team actually began spreading joy in November 2009 when founder Michele McKeag Larsen and her daughter, Taryn Dehn Larsen hit the streets of Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, setting out notes of encouragement and inspiration. A month later, inspiration struck again in the form of a bus shelter promoting peace.  Once that seed of an idea set in, thoughts stretched like roots and on February 19, 2010, when the Articles of Incorporation were filed a bright, fresh sprout shot up.

With a handful of inspired directors and a whole lot of excitement, where we go from here is largely up to the community as a whole. Just like rearing a child, raising joy takes a village.

Our mission is to build community by spreading joy, optimism and inspiration.

We carry out this mission through various projects, all of which begin by helping people shift into a positive frame of mind through the incredible power of positive words.

  • In 2010 we put up 28 billboards, effectively putting 25.9 million seeds of joy out into the world.
  • In 2011 we involved over 300 people in spreading positive messages in 3 countries and 22 U.S. states with the first annual Chalk the Walks.
  • In 2012 we started The Junior Joy Team in January for children ages 5-12 to discover the warmth of spreading joy and building community. By May we began partnering with Hough Elementary to bring JOY Assemblies to 300 school kids. We also started the PB & JOY Project, which wraps peanut butter with positive messaging for hungry kids.

Will you join our team?

Find out more about Who We Are and how to contact us.

23 Responses so far.

  1. […] The Joy Team is a Vancouver-based nonprofit corporation with the mission of spreading joy, optimism, and inspiration. In 2010, the organization put up 28 billboards with positive messages. On Aug. 23 of last year, The Joy Team involved over 300 people in 22 U.S. states, France, and The Netherlands to spread optimism using sidewalk chalk. They have also started an online directory of organizations working for joy, kindness and love, which can be found at http://www.JoyKindnessAndLove.com. To learn more about The Joy Team, visit https://thejoyteam.org. […]

  2. […] Founded in February 2010, The Joy Team is a Vancouver-based nonprofit corporation with the mission of spreading joy, optimism, and inspiration. The Joy Team helps people shift into a positive frame of mind through the power of positive words. In 2010, the team put up 28 billboards with encouraging messages. In 2011, the group headed up a “sidewalk chalk” day involving people in three countries and 22 U.S. states. The Junior Joy Team, for children ages five to 12, was established this year. Learn more at thejoyteam.org. […]

  3. I love this concept! Very similar to my project.. nice to see others with the same vision.

  4. […] With Purpose collected the jars for The Joy Team‘s PB & Joy Project and using the PB & Joy Project labels, they’ll wrap them […]

  5. Stacie Freeman says:

    Thanks Joy Team for coming to Reynolds High School on Friday June 13th, 2014. You brought smiles through the candy and notes of encouragement to a very anxious crowd of parents and students entering the school to pick up their belongings left on the day of the shooting. I as a parent, appreciate your care and compassionate efforts. Just today 6-16, we saw the bulletin board in N Portland “AWESOME”, both our kids said “Thanks”!

  6. michele says:

    You are most welcome, Stacie. We’re so happy to do it. 🙂

  7. Victoria MacKenzie says:

    HI Michele,

    I have a check from Salmon Creek Kiwanis for the PB project. How can I get it to you?

  8. michele says:

    Thank you so much! I just sent you an email in case this reply doesn’t notify you. You can mail the check to The Joy Team at 3012 NE 43rd Street, Vancouver, WA 98663. Thank you, thank you!

  9. […] of her own for the first time several months later with the help of her daughter, Taryn. After making 75 inspirational notes together, they set out to share them on park benches, on tables in coffee shops, in bookstores and in […]

  10. […] of her own for the first time several months later with the help of her daughter, Taryn. After making 75 inspirational notes together, they set out to share them on park benches, on tables in coffee shops, in bookstores and in […]

  11. […] of her own for the first time several months later with the help of her daughter, Taryn. After making 75 inspirational notes together, they set out to share them on park benches, on tables in coffee shops, in bookstores and in […]

  12. […] of her own for the first time several months later with the help of her daughter, Taryn. After making 75 inspirational notes together, they set out to share them on park benches, on tables in coffee shops, in bookstores and in […]

  13. […] of her own for the first time several months later with the help of her daughter, Taryn. After making 75 inspirational notes together, they set out to share them on park benches, on tables in coffee shops, in bookstores and in […]

  14. […] positive and inspiring messages in 2009. It has since grown into a non-profit organization, The Joy Team, which focuses on spreading uplifting and encouraging messages across the […]

  15. Zoe Bacon says:

    Love love love the work your doing

  16. Kendra says:

    Michele you have made the joy team go so far i am so happy for you and Taryn.

    Love you both
    Kendra
    (Taryn’s friend)

  17. michele says:

    Thanks, Kendra! We love you!

  18. S K Sizemore says:

    Joy Team:
    Thanks for the billboard in Champaign, IL.
    It changed the direction of what I dwell on and emphasize in my thoughts!
    I’m trying to add in every act and thought and then spill it over to help others.
    Best Wishes Always, S K

  19. michele says:

    So, so happy to hear it! Thank you for letting us know. 🙂

  20. Tricia says:

    Was in Portland, Oregon all day with my kids. Oh. My. Heck! Saw two of your billboards. I’m SO going to put these on t-shirts!!! “Follow your heart. Best GPS ever” and my favorite: “Smile, Happy is SO your color!” Thanks Joy Team!!!!! I have been so happy all day because of these bill boards!!!!

  21. Vicki Chilcote says:

    On the way to my husbands office I noticed one of your signs.” Yes. You can. Like a boss.” I love it!! I smiled and still do each time I think about it! It was so uplifting. And quess what?! Today on the way to Portland airport I spotted another sign! “Super heros are real. You are one.” Thank you for spreading the joy. It always seems to appear when needed and it is joyfully passed along. Much love to you all.

  22. […] groups whose missions include posting these sorts of messages in public spaces. For example, The Joy Team posts inspirational tag lines on billboards, while Operation Beautiful puts up affirming […]

  23. joyminister says:

    Love your group. I have conducted VISIONQUESTS for JOY for 50 years. Just finished a 12th published work on joy: DANCING WITH GOD: A THEOLOGY OF JOY. My vision is “to create an atmosphere where joy and miracles happen.”
    I have spoken on joy to people in virtually every nation and territory of the world.
    Join my JOY movement. Minister of Joy to the World.

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