My 9-to-5 / My 5-to-9 with Jonelle Dawkins

The fashion industry is built on ambition, creativity, and a whole lot of hustle—both on and off the clock. My 9-to-5 / My 5-to-9 offers a firsthand look at how FSF Scholars, Alumni, and industry veterans navigate their careers, from thriving in full-time roles to turning side projects into something more.

Today, we check in with Jonelle Dawkins, a 2019 University of Georgia graduate and FSF Scholar, who is redefining sustainability through community, education, and a bit of glitter.

As Executive Director of Scraplanta Creative Reuse, a nonprofit that diverts donated art and craft supplies from landfills and redistributes them to schools, artists, and creators across Atlanta, Jonelle is proving that fashion and design can start with what's already on hand.

Whether she’s managing grants, hosting comedy craft nights, or turning “trash” into style, she brings heart, humor, and innovation to every moment—on the clock or off it.

Name: Jonelle Dawkins, MBA Hometown: Decatur, GA Current City: Atlanta, GA
Graduated from: University of Georgia
Job Title & Company: Executive Director at Scraplanta

Wardrobe check I want to be the most interesting person in the room—but also the most comfortable. I try to wear something I made to advertise for Scraplanta, where we turn “trash” into art and style. My fashion staples are my axolotl hat, Swatch, and Keens. I’d describe my style as eccentric, crafty, and unique—an experimental mix reflecting my love for DIY and my commitment to sustainability.

A typical morning I am not a morning person. I had to take a break from social media to avoid the doom scroll, so now most of my apps are blocked when I wake up. That’s intentional—I hate reading emails with action items before I’ve had a chance to settle into the day. I give myself 30 minutes to an hour to just daydream and think about how I want my day to look. That time is sacred—it’s where creativity starts.

First tasks of the day Emails come first. I build my to-do lists around them because they usually dictate the day’s priorities. One of our most exciting new partnerships is with the Museum of Design Atlanta—a full-circle moment for me since I’ve been visiting the museum since high school. At Scraplanta, we’ve already diverted over 160,000 pounds of art and craft supplies from the landfill, and by the time I retire, I want that number to be five million.

After that, I’m all over the place—literally! Some days I work from home. Other days I’m helping out at a "craftivation" in Buckhead, or I’m at one of our two store locations in Tucker or Adair Park. Every space I show up in is a chance to live out our mission: proving sustainability can be stylish and community-driven.

*Jonelle stands proudly in front of her table banner, celebrating the opening of their second store location. Photo courtesy of Jonelle Dawkins.*

Lunch break? I’ve started making my lunches to manage both my weight and my wallet. That said, there’s a Mexican coffee shop in my co-working space that makes an amazing mollete—I treat myself to one at least once a week. Now that the weather’s nice, I try to eat outside when I can. Otherwise, I’m usually at my desk unless I’m grabbing a snack.

Back to work Ideally, no fires to put out. If things are calm, I use my afternoons to work on grants or project planning—there’s a surprising amount of paperwork in creative reuse. One important (and wild) thing I do is file our raffle license every year. If I don’t, we could be fined $20,000 and charged with a felony for running an unlicensed raffle. It’s one of those behind-the-scenes tasks that I always warn other new executive directors about: Get that license!

*Just before conducting her first licensed raffle drawing, Jonelle gets ready to announce the lucky winner of a Cricut Maker. Photo courtesy of Jonelle Dawkins.*

After hours I close my laptop and run far away from my desk. When the weather’s good, I walk the Atlanta Beltline or hit a local park to decompress. I go to a few networking events a month, too—taking the train is my favorite move since it saves me from parking or traffic.

I also host a bimonthly comedy open mic and crafting session. It’s the perfect blend of laughter and creativity, giving new comics a chance to test material in a fun, supportive space. On a chill night in, you’ll find me listening to YouTube video essays and working on my next cosplay design.