Jonelle Dawkins' passion for environmental conservation has been an integral part of her human experience since she was a Brownie in the Girl Scouts. She has enjoyed camping and 4-H trips that let her connect with nature. She has always loved fashion and wanted to use her interests to create a more sustainable and ethical apparel industry. During her time at the University of Georgia, she enrolled in the Sustainability Certificate Program. She noticed the lack of Black faces and voices in green spaces, which inspired her to create The Eco Afro. She wanted to provide a platform to uplift and empower Black Folx in the Green Movement. She found a way to serve the community as the Executive Director at Scraplanta Creative Reuse.