Pies with a Purpose, Georgia Sweets: Deyago and Dawn Urrutia, Jefferson County

Georgia’s Sweet Potato Pie Company was established in 2016 when Dawn and Deyago were called by a higher calling to help families and children. The Urrutia’s have demonstrated this calling in many ways by financially supporting local grassroots nonprofits, volunteering their time to work with youth from the church house to the schoolhouse, and now the Urrutia’s spend most of their time working at their mission-driven bakery and promoting their Pies with Purpose Initiative. This initiative was birthed during what was a dark time in our country but a darker time in the city of Louisville.

Being a person of action, Dawn knew she had to do something to shine light and love during this time. Dawn has over 25+ years of early childhood experience. One thing she knows for sure is that hate, racism, and biases are learned behaviors. Children are not born into this world with a sense of superiority. This character trait is learned by the unspoken word, the actions or inaction of the adults that children trust, the lack of representation, and, but not limited to, the erasure of accurate history. Dawn also knew that if these behaviors can also be taught, universal love for all people, places, and things, differences can be appreciated and celebrated, representation can be encouraged and fought for, and the uncomfortable truth about all history can be studied, discussed, and used as a guide to learn from to help shape us into better human beings.

Dawn and Deyago decided to use their bakery’s platform to support their mission of investing in the lives of children one pie and book at a time. During COVID, the Urrutia’s started their Sweet Potato Magic Virtual Story Time Series on their website. This online series allows families to log on and view inspiring and diverse stories being read. The Urrutia’s have also given over 4000+ free books that promote diversity, universal love, inclusion, and youth entrepreneurship. Georgia’s Sweet Potato Pie Company is a proud partner with the Little Library Foundation. Georgia aims to eliminate all of Louisville’s book desserts within three years.

Dawn and Deyago live out Frederick Douglass’s quote daily: “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” Georgia’s Sweet Potato Pie Company and the Pies with Purpose Initiative plants seeds in the lives of children one pie and book at a time!