Baba Love’s expanded brick-and-mortar location will open soon on Wayne Avenue in downtown Dayton.
Byrd, a mother of two with a third on the way, said she was more knowledgeable about environmental toxins by the time her second child, Primrose, was born.
“I was more educated on what people call a ‘crunchy’ way of life — on what to use and not to use, even down to my birth plan. At the time, hospitals had removed Johnson & Johnson from the little bags that they sent home and replaced it with plant-based products. I was like, wow, if a hospital did this, it must be something.”
“I had a lot more time to nurture this moment of motherhood than when I had my son, Tervon. Thinking about baby essentials I was like, what if I created duel products that both babies and parents could use? I started researching suppliers, ingredients, and how miseducated my community was on the use of plant-based ingredients. How we have been brainwashed, specifically in the Black community, and how we can unlearn those things and start using something that’s clean.”
“I went from educator to edu-maker. In 2013 I graduated from Central State University with a background in Early Childhood Education. I started teaching at Dayton Public Schools right after. I went back and got my Masters in 2017 and started Baba Love. It’s not just cutesy product, it’s educating people on why we’re using clean beauty. On the things we put on our skin and in our food, and how it’s impacting our children.”
Byrd, 36, was born and raised in Dayton and lives in Beavercreek with her family.
A NEW FOR YOUTH
“About three years ago I started working on a whole other venture than Baba Love, which is an adolescent group home for young men, called A New For Youth, in West Dayton. In April we got licensed for 9 to 17-years-old. We are really changing lives and I was able to go back to my roots of education. I have been juggling motherhood and structuring the group home, being the administrator full time. That is where my day starts.”
TOUCH POINT
“My day started around 6:15 today. I had some decaf coffee. I start at the group home at 7. The boys that I work with have become family. They see my children and my significant other, they see my dad and mom - she’s our RN. I take over from my third shift staff, who work 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. When I come in the boys are up and already dressed. I pass meds and give them breakfast. We have a touch point conversation in the morning. My first young man gets on the bus at 7:30 and my two new youths go to school at 7:45. Then my baby, who’s nine, doesn’t have to go to school until 8:45.”
“When I have youth that are in school and not suspended or anything, I’m there until 9:00. I shut the house down and my second shift staff comes and re-opens and they takes over pick-ups at 3:00. They handle the evening. Depending on the needs of my youth or staff, I pop back in.”
MAKING AN IMPACT
Byrd resigned from DPS before leaving to start A New For Youth.
“When I left the classroom and came back post-Covid I saw the downward spiral that happened. I was struggling because I was so hyper focused on the basic needs that were not being met of my students. This way I’m able to make a larger impact because I only have five youth to focus on, and before I send them to school I can make sure they have showers, haircuts, clean clothes, food in their bellies. They’re getting therapy and the things that they need at home to help them once they get to the classroom.”
“It’s a good thing when a youth transitions back home, but it is hard, you get bonded and connected with them. It’s also a great impact when you have kids calling you weekly asking about your own kids and how everybody is doing. You can see the work and how it paid off.”
CRAVINGS & REST
“Today I had to go downtown to get one of my boys a bus pass. I came home. I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, two baby pickles and some ranch dressing. I’m drinking tons of water all day every day. I’ve taken a nap because I’m tired (laughs). On days that I am just extremely exhausted I honor that time to rest.”
EVERYTHING IN TIME
Byrd heads to her space to make product by hand. Her new storefront moved from West 5th Street to 200 Wayne Avenue and is slated to open to the public in Spring 2025.
“It’s so crazy how things work out for me. I looked at this space five years ago. It was extremely beautiful but I wasn’t at a place in my business to afford a build-out. Then last Spring, it fell into my lap. The key was in my hand. I’ve been getting it ready and setting my vision. I want to marinate in the space so that it will be a true reflection of who I am.”
For the first time she can create her goods on-site.
“I have taken this opportunity to make all the product I need at my new space, so that everything is stocked up before the baby is due. The same tools that you would see in a kitchen, you will see in my space. We have a commercial-grade, huge mixer. The sinks are outside in the space so people can try products. It will be interactive. We’ll have a bar where people can sit and make products at workshops.”
Cincinnati artists Molly Nagle of Spruce Nail Shop and Salena Steele of Steele Creative Co. will paint murals.
ALWAYS A TEACHER
“At 4:30 I’ll get my daughter so I can spend time with her since I won’t be able to take her to school in the morning. My son does homeschooling, so I’m here kind of proctoring him through that as well.”
“I need to eat something really serious before I head out to a prenatal appointment. Although I do not cook dinner daily, I would like to make more home cooked meals in 2025. The last meal I prepared was turkey cheeseburgers with beef bacon and fried potatoes and onions. We enjoy local dining in Dayton — I love Coco’s Bistro. Recently we dined at Joui Wine and Jollity. Both were amazing vibes.”
“My day ends anywhere between nine and midnight depending on if I have to work second shift at the group home.”
NEXT STEPS
Baba Love Organic’s new space at 200 Wayne Avenue will offer special events such as yoga, make-and-take projects, and story time, as well as availability for other makers to provide activities.
“I’m really looking forward to having more educational opportunities for young people and adults,” said Byrd.
“I want to be able to educate people on making products, like candles or Body Whip, our best selling product. It’s pretty much a chemistry experiment where I mix shea butter, mango butter, grapeseed oil and avocado oil into this nice, fluffy moisturizer that can be used head-to-toe by any member of the family. I also want to provide more offerings for youth because that is my passion. I will offer those classes at no cost to my community.”
“‘Baba’ means ‘father’ in African descent, and it also sounds like ‘baby’. It represents family bond and love. I’m deeply rooted in family. The beautiful thing about being an entrepreneur is your children have this lens into a window of your life and they are a part of it. Whether they are seeing you at the grand opening or making products, they get to watch.”
Look out for the opening of Baba Love Organic’s new location at 200 Wayne Ave. in Spring 2025. Shop handcrafted skin care at www.babaloveorganics.com and stay in the loop on Instagram at @babaloveorganics.
Credit: Contributed
Credit: Contributed
Credit: Contributed
Credit: Contributed
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