She’s making sure the youth have jobs—and the community stays nourished.

In New York City, small-business owner Dawn Kelly is not only serving healthy food—she’s serving opportunity. The founder of The Nourish Spot, a beloved juice bar and café in southeast Jamaica, Queens, has become a community lifeline, especially for local youth navigating unprecedented challenges during the pandemic. Her story is one of reinvention, resilience, and a commitment to lifting others as she climbs.

Kelly launched The Nourish Spot after a major career setback. She spent nearly 16 years in corporate communications before being laid off in 2015, a moment she described as deeply painful and disorienting. “I was home crying for a while because I had never in my life failed… I went to college at 16 and worked my whole life,” Kelly told the Queens Ledger.

But in the midst of uncertainty, she began prioritizing her health—both physical and emotional. As she searched for healthier food options to support her weight-loss journey, she realized her neighborhood lacked accessible nutritious choices. Southeast Jamaica was widely known as a “food desert,” with few places offering fresh produce or balanced meals, a reality documented in numerous city health reports (New York City Department of Health).

Seeing the need and inspired to redirect her life, Kelly created The Nourish Spot, a customizable juice bar and café specializing in smoothies, salads, fruit bowls, wraps, and other nutrient-rich meals. As she told Because of Them We Can, “There were no healthy food spots in my community… so I decided to build one.”

The concept quickly resonated with residents. Customers lined up daily for her fresh ingredients, positive energy, and commitment to wellness. Her work didn’t go unnoticed: in 2019, the SBA NY District named The Nourish Spot Microbusiness of the Year. And in 2021, she became one of only eight Black entrepreneurs awarded a grant from Anastasia Beverly Hills after the beauty brand pledged $1 million to support Black-owned businesses in the wake of the racial justice movement (Essence). Out of 900 applicants, Kelly received a $62,000 grant—critical fuel for her growing enterprise.

But perhaps the most profound impact of The Nourish Spot has come through Kelly’s dedication to youth employment. During the pandemic, when many teens lost jobs and stability, Kelly partnered with local nonprofits and the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) to hire young people. Through SYEP and other community partnerships, her café became both a workplace and a training ground. The Restaurant Relief Program later enabled her to pay employees $20 an hour, offering fair wages during a time of economic insecurity (NYC Small Business Services).

Many youth start as interns—and stay on as permanent employees. “I usually hire these young adults and pay them a fair wage,” Kelly said. For her, the choice is clear: “To whom much is given, much is required… Youth are often unemployed in our community, so we serve as a culinary and hospitality internship training ground. When the internships are over, we hire the young people.”

Kelly’s role in the community extends far beyond her storefront. She serves as a mentor with WE NYC, a program under the NYC Department of Small Business Services that supports women entrepreneurs. She also uses The Nourish Spot’s platform to share job listings, promote civic participation, and amplify essential local updates such as voting information, census reminders, and public health alerts. Her work has earned her numerous honors, positioning her as a vital community advocate (The New York Times).

Now entering her fifth year in business—and having survived the turbulence of a global pandemic—Kelly has no plans to slow down. She is preparing to launch a signature line of salad dressings and hopes to expand into major venues and airports, including Yankee Stadium and Barclays Center. Her long-term dream? “I hope to see our brand around the globe just like other food and beverage brands,” she said.

Dawn Kelly is proving, every day, that nourishment goes beyond food—it’s about opportunity, access, and collective growth.

Congratulations, Dawn. Because of you, we can.