Thoughts from Cherrelle: A New Season with Co-op Dayton

As I look out my window, I see the fruits of nature's hard work over the fall and winter: the volunteer tomato sprawling across the backyard, the zinnias scattered near the fence line, and the wild garlic that returns year after year. These surprises remind me of past efforts, the new growth emerging, and the work ahead. I'll be transplanting these gifts into garden beds, excited to eventually enjoy the fruits of my labor, and grateful for nature’s assistance this year. Co-op Dayton feels similarly special. After eight years, a new season has begun. What comes next is ours to discover together.

Ten years ago, I believed my life’s mission was to help students graduate from college. Despite my passion and dedication, many slipped through the cracks, unable to achieve the life a college degree promised. I realized I wasn't fighting the system—I was feeding it. I was the token they got to extract from to demonstrate their commitment to Black students. I was the one who couldn’t sleep at night every time a student came to my office with the latest incident or to let me know they would be leaving at the end of the semester. It made no sense how the only way to live in beautiful neighborhoods, with grocery stores, parks, and spaces to connect and dream was to take a path that failed so many brilliant young people time and time again. I started to imagine a world where we could have those things whether we went to college or not. I felt uneasy giving so much of my energy and labor to something that wasn’t aligned with what I believed was possible.

“When a flower doesn't bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower” ~ Alexander Den Heijer.

I still can’t connect all the dots of what was happening in my mind at the time and how my disillusionment with the Higher Education system turned into “I want to help start a grocery store”, but perhaps that is how life works sometimes. In certain moments, faith and intuition lead us where we need to be. A Facebook post about a community and worker-owned grocery store sparked my interest. Joining their email list led to learning about a compost co-op project, which aligned with my dream of a farm-to-table restaurant. This journey brought me to multiple co-ops and eventually a full-time position with Co-op Dayton. I’d love to say it was planned, but it wasn’t. In a rare moment of bravery, I leaped—and I haven’t looked back since.

Reflecting on my journey, I feel immense pride yet struggle with feelings of inadequacy. Excited for the work ahead, I know I’m prepared. Yet, I didn't follow a meticulously designed career plan to get here. I simply found a thread and pulled. I wasn’t an entrepreneur who wanted to manage my business in a way that valued human dignity. I wasn’t an economic developer exploring new strategies for wealth-building in cities. I wasn’t an organizer mobilizing people to action against injustice. I was just a regular person who was unhappy with my job and tired of pouring my heart and soul into a system that was not serving me or the people I cared about. But that’s what gives me so much faith in this organization and what I hope to bring forward during my time here. Regular everyday people can come together and self-determine a future for ourselves and our community.

While this is my story to tell, it isn’t mine alone. Borrowing from Darsheel Kaur, there were so many incredible leaders in my graduating class and I am in awe of what we have done in a few short years. We’ve created new organizations, welcomed new members, and initiated a cultural shift toward a new economy. I believe we can cultivate an environment so rich that everything we plant will thrive. I’m eager to show what we can achieve together in the coming years.

Co-op Dayton’s power lies in its ecosystem, nurtured by visionary leaders and supported by extraordinary community members. I recall countless meetings (so many meetings 🙂), dreaming of a new economy and strategizing our path. We asked profound questions about neighborhood ownership, communal care, and living beyond mere survival. In a place deemed infertile, our love and care proved otherwise.

I am excited about this new chapter and look forward to reflecting on this journey in 10 or 20 years. It might seem odd to think of the end at the beginning, but I measure success by the richness we leave in the soil and what grows after us. No one truly leaves Co-op Dayton because we represent a belief that another world is possible. We plant our seeds, and our energy returns to the soil, nourishing future growth. I’m eager to give my best and witness the abundance that follows.

In Solidarity,

Cherrelle