A Tribe Called Joy

A Tribe Called Joy is a group of friends and family, coworkers and neighbors, both virtual and IRL who have come together believing that the whole can do more than the individual. Our purpose is evolving now as we grow the Tribe and our direction comes clearer daily. We are in process of creating a not-for-profit foundation, as well as an online application as a vehicle to create a source of revenue. We envision Tribe as being a hub of people, energy, and funds for registered charities as well as a social networking site for those involved.

Tribe was born out of the energy between friends. Strangers from everywhere who came together through social networking sites and found common ground. They shared hurts and happiness, laughter and tears, and they resonated with each other. They taught each other and learned new things. They chose each other as family.. sisters and brothers from different parents. In their diversity, they came together from all different walks of life, political and religious beliefs, from all over this country and all over this world. They have come together since in real life, arms around each other, hearts together, sharing time with each other, sharing their joy. It is said that 'many hands make light work' and 'several shoulders carry a burden' and so it is - our hands are always stretched out to each other. It is knowing that you are never alone because the connection and bond that exists with Tribe is more than friends, it is family.

"I know with every cell of my body, with every beat of my heart, of the love and friendship and family that is here with this group of people. I believe in who we are and I believe in our vision. I believe that we will come together again and support each other no matter what. That we will see past individuality and come together as Tribe. That we will Tribe up .. together. What we share as a whole is not complete without the parts.. it goes on, that energy, and holds the joy together." - Cherie Edris

Mission Statement

Board Members

Cherilyn Rexroad Edris, Executive Director, currently resides in New Hampshire. She is blessed with friends and family all over the world. She currently works in Health Information Management at a community hospital and has done volunteer work since she was a young child. She was gifted with the vision of A Tribe Called Joy. It began in a conversation with her daughter, then her sister, and then grew to her friends. Eventually, the idea grew and the universe presented more and more opportunities to follow the path to here. "There is someone in the world who feels just like me.... there is." - Boxcar Racer.

"To me, the Tribe is a product of choosing to seek joy in my life. It is family. Strangers from everywhere who came together through social networking sites and found common ground, who shared hurts and happiness, laughter and tears, who resonated with each other because they choose joy in their life. It grew to encompass friends of friends and family and coworkers and neighbors. It means knowing that you are never alone, and knowing that when you find yourself in darkness and you reach out your hand, many hands will pull you forward and help you be who you are at your core. The connection and bond that exists with Tribe is intrinsic. Sometimes, you just KNOW you are in the exactly right place doing exactly the right thing at the right time, and with Tribe, I know."

Tanya Bush Davis, currently resides in Rome, NY. She works in sales for a major phone retailer and is the mother of 3 amazing children.

Chrissie Hafenstiner, currently resides in Cary, NC. She is originally from upstate New York. She has learned that life isn't about where you are or what you do, life is about how you love. Age, race, religion are not necessarily what bring us together. Love does that, despite the barriers that may otherwise keep us apart.

She has worked in administration most of her career, whether that was in sales, in technical support, or currently in engineering services. She has a passion for data integrity, which makes her somewhat of a "geek." She loves bringing her creativity to whatever work she is in.

"Tribe, to me, is the light that shines when you bring love into the darkness. It is the inherent acceptance of family, the unquestioning support when you are too weak to hold your head up, and the comfort that surrounds you in the moments of despair where there seems no way to rise above it. Tribe is not one person. It is not the group mentality, either. It is the pure, unfiltered love of the human condition that holds all the imperfections of each of us. We are all on this ride together. We have the power to sustain each other and create a circle of grace. We can make a difference.

Mark Hews, currently resides in Arundel, ME. Mark is the Advertising Sales Manager and Circulation Manager at a publishing company in Maine. He has worked in the publishing industry for the better part of 20 years. He also negotiate print contracts and manages all the delivery of six weekly community newspapers.

Jeff Laird currently resides in Sierra Vista, AZ. He is an innovative 39-year-old man hailing from Altoona, PA, but has spent his life on the move around the world since the age of 7. He has spent time in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Southwest Asia and his travels have helped mold him into the well-rounded person he is today. He has a passion for aviation and all things that fly and it drives him to be on the cusp of cutting-edge technology.

"A Tribe Called Joy to me is a place that all people, regardless of where they are from, can embrace the joys and pains with each other and allows them to be better stewards of friendship on earth!!"

Anita Larsen, currently residing in Copenhagen, Denmark, is a Patents Database Administrator and owns a photography business. She loves to travel and take photographs. She volunteers as the President of Relay For Life in Danish Capitol Region, and the VP of Danish Brain Tumor Patients' Society. She brings creative thinking and a comprehensive business perspective to the Tribe Board and has vast experience in volunteer / fundraising and Intellectual Property matters. Because of her experience in international business, she analyzes ideas and issues from all perspectives. As an artist, she cares about aesthetics and design.

"Tribe is a desire to bring people together in a joint effort to unite and better the world across borders, race, and faith. I believe in contributing to make lives better for people less fortunate, that we all have something to spare that others can benefit from, be it experience, funds, or manpower."

Jody Martin Phillips currently resides in North Carolina. She was born the second of seven children and grew up being the second mom to the younger five. She graduated from the school of hard knocks, then went back for her Bachelor's. Life gave her a PhD in caring for her family and friends. A nearly fatal auto accident in 2002 changed her perspective and taught her that having true friends, people in her life that REALLY accept who you are as a person and support you in the discovery and mastery of the full essence of your core self, in all its aspects, is the most important lesson. Jody is the nurturer. She brings a perspective of having been on the receiving end of charities and organizations. She was a teenage mother, a single parent, homeless with children to feed. She knows that heartbreak. She believes everyone can help and believes strongly in the charity of friends. She believes that you can always help in little ways, and that while she may not always be able to give bunches to any big name organization, she can feed her friend's kids dinner when she knows they're struggling, or put gas in their car, or give rides to work. She knows that it is the little acts that add up, that people remember, and that people pay forward.

"What Tribe means to me is such an intangible, it is hard to define. Tribe is not me and I am not Tribe, but I have the privilege of being a part of Tribe. Tribe is.. something more than me, that encompasses me, that I choose to be a part of beecause as much as I believe Tribe is a bunch of insta-click friendships MEANT to happen coming into realization...a family of choosing, if you will, it is also so much more.

Tribe is a group of people that lift me in spirit, in self, that support me to be a better me, and in doing so, they also are lifted to be a better them. The saying 'Tribe Up' to me, means to lift yourself up, become all that you can be, let go of your misgivings and the junk and humdrum of day-to-day nonsense. Choose Joy and allow yourself to be Tribe. To elevate yourself beyond the best you think you can be and to join with others, lifting themselves up as well. I picture a field of dew laden clover at dawn.. to 'Tribe Up'...
the individual drops of dew evaporate to ease through the air and to join up together as one massive cloud and working together.. as ONE..can provide water for hundreds of fields, animals, people, and can accomplish much more Together, working together, coming together as ONE than any individual drop could ever hope.

Tribe is connection. Two drops of water placed close together will seek each other out. Will join together automatically.
Tribe is balance. Your strengths balance my weaknesses, and my strengths balance another's. Finding that middle ground, the edges of the joined drops automatically balance into a perfect form to equally hold the shape and what is inside, perfectly balanced surface pressure. We keep each other to the path we are 'meant' to walk, for just as we can feel the ridges of the highway's shoulder as we drift out of the lane, we can FEEL the imbalance in the errors our friends encounter and we strive to help right their course, just as we gently steer the wheel back into the lane.

Tribe is peace. There is comfort in being part of a whole. Peace in knowing that intangible support exists. Peace in feeling that accepting friendship and love.

Tribe is hope. Hope for a higher purpose in life. Hope heals. Tribe gives me that hope, and not just for me, but for others. Tribe is FEELING the connection we all share, KNOWING it is there, others are there, and what it means to each of us, and HOPING to use that energy of friendship and more to bring others the same Joy and more.

Feel.Know.Hope. To me, THAT is Tribe."

About Tribe

Mission Statement

Board Members