Meet Our Staff

Amaha Sellassie

CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

amaha sellassie is a peace builder, social healer, freedom fighter, network weaver and lover of humanity. amaha is a practitioner scholar dedicated to building bridges of trust, healing historical wounds, and harnessing the unique gifts and talents of every human being as we press towards a just and equitable society. A lifelong community organizer, amaha currently serves as president of the Gem City Market board and as a founder and leader of many other community initiatives. amaha is also the Director of the Center for Applied Social Issues and a professor of sociology at Sinclair Community College.

Lela Klein

CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

A native Daytonian, Lela’s career has been dedicated to fighting for economic justice for working people. Prior to co-founding Co-op Dayton, she served as General Counsel to the IUE-CWA, a 45,000-member manufacturing union, where she led major strategic projects, advocated on behalf of workers, and created a mentorship program to foster leadership among young manufacturing employees. Lela was also an organizer, and later an Attorney, with the Service Employees International Union. After witnessing the devastating impacts of the global recession on blue collar communities like her own, Lela returned to Dayton in 2012 to use her legal and organizing training to support community economic development and worker empowerment in her hometown. Lela received her JD from Harvard Law School and her BA from Cornell University.

Cherrelle Gardner

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Cherrelle joined Co-op Dayton in 2020 to help build the just economy that we need and deserve in Dayton, Ohio. Originally from Columbus, Cherrelle moved here to study as an undergraduate at the University of Dayton and has since made Dayton her home. She earned her Master’s Degree in Education at Wright State University and worked in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at local universities. Cherrelle came to Co-op Dayton as a member-owner of the Gem City Market cooperative, and a facilitator and leader of other co-op projects, including a trucking co-op, fitness co-op, and real estate investment cooperative.

Erica Bruton

ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER

Erica Bruton stands as a highly accomplished administrative/project management professional with an illustrious track record spanning over two decades in public administration, community organizing, and political activism. Fueled by an unwavering passion for empowering individuals as agents of change, Erica has held key roles in various capacities within Dayton City Government and local community activism.

Throughout her career, Erica has set herself apart through tireless advocacy, strategic planning, and effective management of initiatives focused on critical areas such as voting, fair housing, fair lending, equal access to opportunities, and co-op development.

As a co-founder of Co-op Dayton, Erica has played a pivotal role in supporting residents, contributing significantly to this cooperative incubator's goal of stimulating economic growth and community development. Moreover, she has served as a project manager for the Gem City Market, where her expertise in project management has been instrumental in the successful establishment of this community-owned grocery store. Widely recognized for her contributions, Erica is affectionately referred to as the "Mother of the Gem City Market.

Anita Armstead

COOPERATIVE DEVELOPER

Anita Armstead joins the Co-Op Dayton team as the Cooperative Developer, a role that aligns with her calling, and she is committed to developing cooperative businesses that meet our community-based needs.

Anita is enthusiastically ready to develop, engage, and support cooperative synergy to nurture new co-ops and direct them for optimal growth rooted in collaboration.

Anita is the founder and energetic visionary behind Eden’s Harvest, a 3.5-acre start-up Regenerative Urban Farm located in Northwest Dayton. 

Not only is she an exceptional farmer and community leader with a strong faith and a deep intellectual fire and drive, but Anita also serves as an educator, mentor, mother, aunt, healer, community herbalist, and doula-in-training. 

She is passionate about creating intentional growth-oriented connections and maintaining positive relationships. She strongly believes that if we [as a people] seek to heal our connection with the land, we will be empowered to heal our relationships with each other, and, as a result, we will have the proper foundation upon which to build economic power for our communities.

Kacey Trueblood

OPERATIONS ADMINISTRATOR

Kacey Trueblood is a Dayton native and first-generation farmer with dedication deeply rooted in fostering community well-being, including support for food access and security, education, and mental health. She joined Co-Op Dayton as co-founder and farm manager of NuSol Farms, a collaborative farm in West Dayton, with a professional background in administration and operations. Her philosophy centers on advocating for regenerative practices that nurture the land and our community, aiming to establish shared success and sustainable growth in Dayton. Kacey strives to help create an equitable and just economy alongside a thriving ecosystem, prioritizing both human well-being and environmental health in the pursuit of overall prosperity.