Growing up in the tumults of the west side of Chicago, a young Cheryl Nelson found herself up against the harsh realities of the world. A teenage mom, she faced the challenges of a less-than-ideal neighborhood, had to drop out of high school— despite being a straight-A genius— to care for her newborn, was written off by all her family and friends, and left to fend for herself. But there was no stopping her fierce determination to make it, and make it big, while also forging her path to empower those experiencing hardships just as she had. Not necessarily to prove anything to those who shunned her at a tender age, but to assure herself of her inherent worth and abilities to overcome challenges with grit and grace.
We at VEGWORLD had the immense honor of chatting with Chef Cheryl as she recounts her remarkable journey of not only overcoming societal expectations, but proceeding to stack on a row of impressive academic credentials, veganism, and her dedication to creating a space of community health and healing she wishes she had had during her rough youth. With her endeavor, Sweet Vegan Bakes, she strives on a mission to uplift those in underserved communities— as the one she grew up in—and create positive change one delicious, cruelty-free treat at a time.
From GED to PhD: Opening the Doors to Opportunity
Despite not having a formal education, Chef Cheryl seamlessly fit into educated circles and was undeniably smart and articulate. “It didn’t matter how well I could hold an intellectual conversation… without a formal education, the doors for me to pursue my ambitions and make a name for myself would remain shut,” she says. Motivated to break through the barriers, she secretly pursued her GED without letting anyone, including her partner, know. She fondly recalls the moment she got the news of passing her GED exam. “I will never forget the sense of accomplishment I felt when I got my certificate in the mail. Endless streams of tears of joy, elation, and the transformative feeling that I had finally done it. Words cannot describe the immense sense of worth that simple piece of paper afforded me.”
Following her passion for business, she pursued Associates, Bachelors, and Masters degrees in the subject and became one of the most beloved professors among her students at a local university. But might as well get a doctoral degree too, right? Right! Soon she will be Dr. Cheryl Nelson.
Health, Healing, and Veganism
Her journey into veganism began as a quest to improve her health. She was resolved not to have her existence be reduced to endless doctor’s appointments without having any answers to why she was unwell. At that moment, she decided that she would never step foot in that hospital again and she was going to get better. “I still remember the deep guttural laugh of my doctor when I said that I was going to heal, and this was the last time he would see me… best bet I kept my word,” she recalls. She did a 21-day “Daniel’s fast” as described in the bible, and over the course of the fast, realized that it was 100% plant-based. Following the transformative 21 days, she felt like a whole new person! “I could finally breathe with ease, run up and down the stairs without losing my breath, bike long distances without wheezing… I felt unstoppable!” she enthusiastically exclaims.
As a person of faith, Chef Cheryl believes that with her plant-based lifestyle, came a newfound clarity that led her to connect with the animal rights component and ethics at the core of veganism. “I had this moment of profound realization where I went, ‘Was I eating animals?!’… it brought me to tears to confront what I was participating in my entire life till I went vegan.” She remains steadfast in her mission to educate her family, friends, and community about the benefits of a vegan lifestyle that transcends one’s food choices. Her savvy approach to food as a form of activism is changing hearts and minds about what it means to be vegan.
Planting Seeds of Change: The Opening of Sweet Vegan Bakes
Soon after the lockdown triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, academic instruction shifted to a virtual model, which deprived Chef Cheryl of the cherished one-on-one connections she had forged with her students. She was also ready for her next chapter of growth, new adventures, and learning and decided to leave the academic space. What was to follow, was the tragic killing of George Floyd and the public outrage that was up, front, and center. The events that unfolded deeply impacted her and she felt called to reevaluate her purpose and explore how she can contribute to healing the pain and agony of the Black community in any capacity. In came the unexpected calling— open a vegan bakery with barely any experience baking sweets! But by now, if we know anything about Chef Cheryl, it is that once she puts her mind to something, there is no keeping her from achieving her goals. Her ethos was drawn from her personal experience—healing through food. And that’s exactly what she envisioned accomplishing by putting her extensive business knowledge into practice.
Over countless trial and error sessions and a not-so-please taste-tester husband, Chef Cheryl finally mastered the craft of baking, which she owes to the spirit of her late grandfather who was a renowned and beloved master baker back in his day. “There was something magical about being reminded of my grandfather’s legacy…it was like his skill and talent entered my body, I found a new sense of confidence and belief in my ability to create desserts that I would be proud to serve. There was no looking back. I had my dessert game down!”
Come opening day during the peak of the pandemic, Chef Cheryl had prepped several batches of different cupcakes, not expecting much traffic to come through. Lo and behold, the community showed up and she sold out in no time with love from vegans and non-vegans alike! Since then, the support has only continued to grow and Sweet Vegan Bakes is burgeoning with exciting prospects. Customers are also in for a savory surprise with Chef Chery’s delectable selection of predominantly scratch-made eats— from an innovative cheeseburger wrap to “crab” cakes, and BBQ jackfruit sandwiches to oyster mushroom tenders!
The Best is Yet to Come
Looking ahead, Chef Cheryl envisions expanding Sweet Vegan Bakes into an operation that prioritizes the health and well-being of communities where access to basic nourishment is lacking. “I know what it’s like to walk into a grocery store and smell the rotting meat, not finding fresh produce and surviving off whatever I could afford to feed my family. I do not want that to be the norm for people living in neighborhoods like the one I grew up in,” she tells us. Her plans for growing her business include establishing a large production facility at a new location in Richton Park—a neighborhood in the South Side of Chicago where food insecurity is rampant. This will be the hub from which other Sweet Vegan Bakes locations, predominantly in underserved communities, will source products from to maintain uniformity. The vision is for Sweet Vegan Bakes to become a staple across Chicagoland and beyond, offering not only delectable vegan treats but also promoting health, accessibility, and education, inviting patrons to explore the ethics of veganism, and community well-being.
Chef Cheryl Nelson’s story is one of perseverance and optimism. A journey from adversity to entrepreneurship, from hardship to healing, from knowing better to doing better. While we live in a non-vegan world and the scale of change we need seems daunting, Chef Cheryl reminds us that the impact we can have as an individual to accelerate the positive change we aspire to create is immeasurable. All it takes is a worthy “why,” determination, commitment, and perhaps some tasty vegan cupcakes.
About the writer- Shriya Swaminathan (she/her) @no.bs.veganconsulting
Shriya—a Chicago-based animal rights activist—is a certified Vegan Hospitality Consultant and founder of Nourish by Shriya. She loves traveling, exploring new vegan eats, and sharing stories of trailblazing pioneers, activists, innovators, entrepreneurs, and creatives. When she’s not volunteering with animal advocacy groups or co-hosting the Animal Liberation Hour podcast, you’ll find her hanging out with her best friend and companion dog, Halley.
