Israel “Izzy” B. Olaore Jr.

Founder and Director of Research & Strategy, CollabUs Cooperative Research Project; Band Member, LuvLocz Experiment

Based in Dayton, Ohio, Israel “Izzy” B. Olaore Jr. is a strategic communicator, social entrepreneur, community builder, and Kettering Foundation 2026 Dayton Democracy Fellow. His work sits at the intersection of democratic engagement, cooperative economics, and cultural storytelling, with a focus on helping communities build shared purpose, belonging, and civic capacity. Drawing from both global and local experience, Olaore approaches communication as a public practice—one that can invite participation, surface shared values, and strengthen collective decision-making. Olaore is the founder of the CollabUs Cooperative Research Project, an initiative exploring how locally owned businesses, cultural institutions, and residents can collaborate to create shared civic and economic infrastructure. Through this work, he studies and practices centripetal collaboration: drawing people, resources, and ideas toward a common center to generate momentum, resilience, and mutual accountability within communities. Locally, Olaore has worked across Dayton’s civic and nonprofit ecosystem as a digital storytelling consultant with Co-op Dayton, a consultant and facilitator with NCCJ Dayton (Nurturing Community Cultivating Justice), a social media specialist with the Dayton Metro Library, and a development and marketing specialist with Good Neighbor House. He has also served as a digital marketing manager with Lunne, where he applied data-informed strategy to strengthen mission-driven organizations and community-focused brands. Across these roles, Olaore has supported organizations in translating values into accessible narratives that engage the public and invite participation. Alongside his civic work, Olaore expresses his creative practice through music as Ra.Feke (“friend” in Swahili), performing with the LuvLocz Experiment band and collaborating with local and international artists. Together, his creative and civic work reflect a belief that culture, dialogue, and cooperation are essential ingredients of a healthy democratic life.