Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonelle Dawkins.
Hi Jonelle, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have always been interested in creating art with found objects since I was a young child. My main interest was fashion and jewelry design, but I also had a love for the environment. I used to thrift for fabric and patterns at stores and estate sales. As I matriculated through school, I was searching for companies and careers that aligned with my desire to save the world in a fashionable way. I tried to apply to some fashion companies, and I was always getting rejected because my staunch devotion to sustainability was not attractive to businesses that wanted to greenwash their clothing collections.
When I was in graduate school, I discovered my first creative reuse center, Reconsidered Goods, in Greensboro, NC. I couldn’t believe that there were careers that perfectly aligned themselves at the intersection of art and sustainability. I ended up volunteering there and becoming a sales associate and then a sales floor manager over the course of 14 months. While I was there, I thought to myself, “Atlanta needs one of these!” I did a google search and found out about Scraplanta which had temporarily closed its doors during the pandemic and was in need of an executive director.
I took everything I learned from Reconsidered Goods and started traveling to other creative reuse centers across the Southeast, so I could come to Scraplanta with a notebook full of knowledge. Along the way, I connected with several other directors who were kind enough to give me tips on how to run a successful creative reuse center. And since November 2021, I have been doing everything in my power to get Scraplanta’s doors open.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My journey was not easy! For the longest, I didn’t even consider myself to be an artist because I had a bad experience with a teacher who made me feel like my work wasn’t appreciated or understood. I tried to throw myself into the business side of fashion, so I wouldn’t have to worry about being creative, but I felt like I wasn’t what companies wanted. I went to graduate school for my MBA to try to become more appealing to companies, and I still ended up with an inbox full of rejection letters.
While I was at Reconsidered Goods, I was really enjoying the type of work the organization was doing, but I didn’t feel like I was making the impact that I wanted in my own role. Before I thought about moving back home to work for Scraplanta, I wanted to stay and grow within RG, so I could build out more programs for different marginalized communities. However, I felt that I wasn’t going to grow anymore in that space, so it was time for me to find a more fulfilling position.
When I was first approached by Scraplanta’s founders, I was excited to be considered for the Executive Director role, but in the back of my mind, I was still crushed by my previous experience. I knew there was going to be a lot of learning and growing along the way, but I was terrified of the type of environment that I would be in. Non-Profits can be extremely toxic environments for Black women and other POC, yet Scraplanta’s board members have embraced and supported me as I navigate this position. They trust me with building an inclusive culture that empowers artists, and I am beyond grateful.
Getting Scraplanta’s doors has not been easy. The search for a retail space took several months, and we finally decided on a space just to experience a variety of issues. Now that we finally have it, we have a lot of prepwork to do before we can even accept material donations. Some days, I just wish I could snap fingers, and the entire place would be ready to be open for business, but I know things take time. Another struggle is the journey to becoming a 501(c)3 organization. It’s a ton of paperwork that takes forever to get processed, which means there are big grants that we miss out on while we wait. However, the Scraplanta community has been kind enough to donate money through our fiscal sponsor to help.
I used to feel weird about asking people for money, but I realize how Scraplanta will be such an important resource to the community, and we need to just keep telling people our story even after our doors are open.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Scraplanta Creative Reuse?
Scraplanta Creative Reuse is a non-profit with a mission to make the world more beautiful in a sustainable way. We make the art industry more accessible through the sale of donated art supplies, community-led workshops & classes, and dedicated networking events for metro Atlanta artists. Currently, we are in the process of opening a space in Tucker, GA that will feature a retail store, classroom, and art gallery. We are known for our fun craft tables at local festivals with activities that delight people of all ages and our amazing prices on art supplies.
Once Scraplanta’s doors open, it will be a community resource not only for artists but also for teachers, students, community organizations, and everyone in between. We encourage everyone to unleash their inner creative by giving them an avenue to create art without judgment. I am most proud of Scraplanta’s community because of their ability to come together over their love for creative reuse. Since we have announced our re-opening in November, we have received so many positives messages about folks who are ready to donate, shop, and exist with other creatives. Although we had several activities for children, we have just as many adults who are eager to volunteer and craft with us because they are just as passionate about creative reuse as we are.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is that I’m providing a platform for the next generation of creatives. Art is for everyone, and I want people to know that they don’t need a lot of money to create. They just need a brilliant mind that can reimagine waste into something beautiful. This hits home to me because I know the Earth’s future is ours to save, and the best way for us to communicate our love for it is through art.
Contact Info:
- Email: jonelle@scraplanta.org
- Website: www.Scraplanta.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scrapatl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scraplanta
