Meet Jane Cavarozzi: The Woman Behind Dirty Girl Coffee
Cultivating Community in Appalachian Ohio
Jane Cavarozzi didn’t plan on putting down roots in a rural Ohio community. Her journey to becoming a social entrepreneur and community advocate began in the corporate world, where she honed the skills that would later fuel her mission in Appalachia.
“In my professional life, I worked in operations for companies like the Gap, Athleta, Crafts Group, and Highlights for Children,” Jane explains. This background in operations and logistics gave her the project management expertise she now applies to community development. But it was a personal health crisis that initially shifted her path.
A Life-Changing Diagnosis
In 2008, Jane was diagnosed with cancer. During her recovery, her CEO at Athleta gave her advice that would change the trajectory of her life: “Put some more life in your work-life balance.”
Taking this guidance to heart, Jane and her partner purchased 10 acres near Burr Oak State Park in 2009. By mid-2010, they had built a cabin in the woods—a pole barn structure that became their sanctuary.
The Encounter That Started It All
What was meant to be a year off in 2015 quickly transformed into something much bigger. A chance encounter with a vulnerable woman on the streets of Glouster sparked something in Jane.
While stopping for gas in Glouster, Jane encountered a woman walking with a kitten in a baby carriage. She noticed the woman had developmental disabilities and appeared to lack resources, support, and a proper safety net. The woman had rescued the kitten despite her own challenging circumstances. This chance meeting deeply affected Jane, prompting her to consider how communities can better support their vulnerable members and what role she might play in creating those support systems.
Jane couldn’t stop thinking about the encounter. “Who is looking out for this person?” she wondered. Within days, she was drafting a business strategy to improve women’s economic opportunities in Appalachian Ohio.
Building a Social Enterprise
After falling in love with the area, Jane and her partner recognized that building relationships within the community would take time as newcomers or “flatlanders,” as locals sometimes called them. They were drawn to starting a business that would allow them to genuinely connect with their neighbors.
Coffee felt like the natural choice—a universal product that facilitates conversation and brings people together. They began at the Athens farmers market, where they gradually built relationships with customers from all walks of life, including local elected officials and nonprofit leaders who shared their interest in community wellbeing.
“We believe in the power of social enterprise,” Jane explains. “Our coffee business creates opportunities for meaningful connections that extend far beyond what’s in the cup.”
Community Leadership
Today, Jane serves on multiple boards that allow her to create systemic change:
- Founding Board Member of the Ohio Women’s Coalition, the largest collective of women-owned businesses in Ohio, which established a $20 million state-funded women in business loan fund.
- Board Member of the Athens County Foundation, supporting county-wide initiatives to improve economic conditions and build on the strengths of community.
- Founding Board President of Glouster Revitalization Organization, a 501(c)(3) focused revitalization and building venues for small businesses.
Through these roles, Jane has helped create a vision to secure a $21 million Appalachian Community Grant Program award to impact several projects county wide and for her part, renovate the Knights of Pythias building into a food collective and remote work hub—a project that will generate an estimated $1.6 million in annual revenue for a community with 27.4% of residents living below the poverty line, more than double the rate in Ohio.
“I believe in listening first and supporting community-driven initiatives,” Jane explains. “Our role is to be good neighbors and partners, recognizing that the best ideas and solutions come from the people who have lived here all along.”
Looking Forward
Jane’s vision is to turn Dirty Girl Coffee into a business that can employ more local residents and eventually be run by the community it serves.
Connect With Jane
