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New: the free guide, Joy Up 30 Second Joy Reset™. Thirty seconds to return to yourself. Get it free →

Thought partner · Keynote speaker · Facilitator · Leadership trainer

Kuumba is the spark that puts leadership in motion.

I’m Dr. Harvey Hinton III, founder of Kuumba, LLC. I work with leaders and the organizations they carry, on staying whole while leading in imperfect systems.

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  • PhD, Purdue University
  • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Leader
  • Center for Creative Leadership
  • Adjunct Professor, North Carolina A&T
  • Certified Laughter Yoga Leader
Dr. Harvey Hinton III, arms raised, laughing.

The practice, free, right here

Joy is the entryway.

The Joy Up 30 Second Joy Reset™ is a self-regulation practice. You can do it anytime. It is the entry point into the JEBBEDIAH Way, my framework of nine principles for navigating complex social systems.

“There is no perfect way to do it. Participation matters more than precision. Even partial engagement—one breath, one pause—is enough to begin.”

Joy Up 30 Second Joy Reset™

Five steps. Go at your own pace.

30seconds
  1. Ground Place one hand on your chest and one on your belly. Physical contact helps many people feel more present.
    If that feels uncomfortable in public, adapt:
    • rest your hands on your thighs
    • press your feet gently into the floor
    • notice where your body is supported
    • hold something steady (a pen, a cup, a chair)
    • take one slow look around the room

    Grounding is about contact, not posture.

  2. Breathe Inhale slowly through your nose. No forcing. No counting. Let the breath arrive as it is.
    A single intentional inhale is enough.
  3. Smile Allow a gentle, internal smile. This is not a social performance. It is a signal—small, subtle—reminding you that you are not under threat right now.
    If smiling feels inaccessible, soften your jaw or relax your tongue.
  4. Laugh Begin with a soft, intentional laugh. It may feel awkward or quiet. That is fine. Laughter is a physical act, and people often notice their body loosening before their thinking does.
    Silent or internal laughter is also valid.
  5. Release Exhale fully. Drop your shoulders. Let the body settle.
    Notice what is different, even slightly.

“There’s no right way to laugh. There’s no wrong way to laugh. You just laugh.” — Dr. Harvey Hinton III

The Joy Up 30 Second Joy Reset™ is a non-clinical, supportive regulation practice. It does not replace clinical care or crisis intervention, medical care, mental health treatment, or emergency support. Stop if you feel pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath. Read the full disclaimer and who should check with a doctor first.

Who this is for

For people who lead, care, teach, heal, build, and serve.

And for all those who are tired of being sick and tired.

“It is not a workbook about fixing systems—or fixing yourself. It is about staying whole while leading in imperfect systems.”

People in these roles are routinely expected to

  • hold space for others
  • absorb conflict and emotional weight
  • make choices with limited resources
  • navigate inequitable systems
  • show up consistently with care

That reset matters.
You matter.

Nine principles for navigating complex social systems

The JEBBEDIAH Way

“These principles are not personality traits to develop or values to perform. They are orientations—ways of relating to yourself, to others, and to the systems you move through.”

J

Joy

Joy opens access.

E

Education

Education provides context.

B

Blackness

Blackness restores wisdom.

B

Belonging

Belonging creates safety.

E

Equity

Equity adjusts conditions.

D

Discernment

Discernment sharpens responsibility.

I

Integrity

Integrity preserves coherence.

A

Authenticity

Authenticity reduces friction.

H

Healing

Healing sustains the whole.
Read all nine, free

Thirty seconds is the gateway. We’ll build from here. Dr. Harvey Hinton III

The guide

The whole framework, free.

A guide to allow the reader to explore the nine principles of the JEBBEDIAH framework. This isn’t a workbook that’s about fixing your life. This is about introducing nine principles that provide guidance for managing, changing, navigating, and thriving in stressful environments.

A reflection and a practice for each principle.

Email me the guide

One email a week. One principle, one question, one practice. Nothing else. Unsubscribe any time. See our Privacy Policy.

Cover of the Joy Up 30 Second Joy Reset guide.

Proof

See him work.

Full-length keynotes and sessions. Unedited, so you know exactly what your audience gets.

Renton Technical College

2026 Equity Symposium Keynote · 1 hr 5 min

Highline College

Keynote · 57 min

Watch & listen

For organizations

We are a leadership company.

Kuumba, LLC helps individuals and organizations meet their goals around being civically responsible and culturally conscious. Keynotes, leadership training, facilitation, executive coaching, and community development.

“Our mission is simple: leave the community better than how we found it.”

Book a discovery call Work with Dr. Hinton Speaker kit

The Joy Up app

On your phone in one tap.

Joy Up is a self-regulation practice. You can do it anytime. Add it to your home screen and it opens like an app, works offline, and lives one tap away.

iPhone (Safari): tap the share icon at the bottom, then Add to Home Screen.

Android (Chrome): tap the three-dot menu, then Install app or Add to Home screen.

Try the reset first Native app waitlist

Once installed

  • The five-step reset, always free
  • All nine JEBBEDIAH principles
  • A reflection and a practice for each
  • Works offline after the first visit
  • No streaks. No pressure to be consistent.

“This practice is not a checklist. It is an invitation.”