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.