Born and raised in Detroit MI, Joylette Hunter has always been attuned to the needs and challenges of the urban community, and the issues that faced social classes within the city. A product of the Detroit public school system, Joylette attended Northwestern High School and participated in several community youth programs. After graduating, she began to work in the nonprofit sector for organizations such as City of Detroit Youth Department; Safe Center, a nonprofit whose mission was to help the under privileged residents of Detroit; and the Detroit Association Of Black Organizations, a nonprofit that empowered, equipped, and served, other local organizations. Along with doing work for nonprofits, Joylette always remained a dedicated youth advocate. She spent her free time running latchkey and tutorial programs for local children and also worked in a day care. Joylette met her life partner James "J Dilla" Yancey at an early age and the two quickly became inseparable. While sharing a home with Yancey, Joylette had the privilege and duty of hosting some of Hip Hop and R&B's biggest stars at Yancey's famous home studio. Q-Tip, Dwele, Busta, Common, Slum Village, ?uestlove, Guru, and Mos Def, were among some that graced her home. Although her living room became a literal who's who in music, Joylette always remained focused on her nonprofit work and involvement in community programs. She went on to continue her college education at Wayne State University and later at University of Phoenix. In October of 2001 Joylette and James' daughter Ja'Mya Yancey was born and Joylette dedicated her life to her most important role, being a mother. Today, Joylette is getting back to her passion and is now the President and co-founder of The J Dilla Foundation, a nonprofit whose mission is to help fund inner-city music programs and provide scholarships to students attending schools that have progressive music curricula. Joylette now spends her days continuing her work and efforts to empower urban youth and being an ambassador for education in the arts.

Being a part of this Foundation is so important to me because I know that Yancey (as I would call him) would want me involved in the mission to keep his name and legacy alive in the hip-hop community and throughout the world. He would also want me to make sure his dream of giving back is delivered in a sensational and significant way. Thank you so much in advance for your support and your contribution to Dilla’s vision. -Joylette Hunter