Common Threads Connects Refugees to Work, Community and New Beginnings in Northeast Ohio

This local thrift shop reflects a larger mission in support of the region's immigrant community.

by Christina Rufo | Jun. 2, 2026 | 5:00 AM

Joy Yokie | Photographed by Kevin Kopanski

On a typical day at Common Threads, nestled in an unremarkable suburban strip mall in Fairview Park, Joy Yokie moves between racks of donated clothing, helping sift through secondhand finds. To most, it appears like any thrift store, a place for a good deal. But for Yokie, the work carries a quieter weight, shaped by her own journey to Cleveland and the community that helped her get here.

A Liberian native, Yokie arrived in the United States in 2005 as a refugee after a decade-long process. A connection through her sister and the Hope Center for Refugees and Immigrants led her to Common Threads. What began as a job became something more personal, a continuation of the same network that supports refugees and immigrants.

Years of study and work in libraries have shaped how Yokie moves through the store. With a master’s in library and information science from Kent State University, she brings a curator’s eye to the book section, sorting donations and relishing the autonomy to decide what makes it on a shelf.

“Dealing with books gives me an appreciation for knowledge, learning, imagination and adopting curiosity,” she says.

Common Thread Thrift Building Hope in the City

Photographed by Kevin Kopanski

That sense of purpose is woven into the fabric of the store. Many employees have come from the Hope Center, a hub offering English classes, legal assistance and job support before opening pathways into work through Hope Works’ businesses. For Yokie, it shows up in the people around her, coworkers navigating their own transitions, and in the rhythm of the shop, where each purchase feeds back into the community.

Net proceeds support Building Hope in the City, a Cleveland nonprofit serving underserved communities through housing support, workforce initiatives and more.

Now with locations in Fairview Park and Brook Park, Common Threads is expanding its reach, with a third location on the way in Cleveland’s Clark-Fulton neighborhood.

Cleveland Nonprofit Consignment Northeast Ohio Building Hope in the City

Fairview Park Common Threads Staff | Photographed by Kevin Kopanski

Since joining in November 2022, Yokie has found pride not just in the work, but in the environment it creates.

“I want people to know that, yes, getting the experience of shopping and thrifting and all of that is a good thing,” she says. “But I think sometimes people miss the greater purpose of this job, which is to spread goodwill. It’s not just about what you purchase or how much you give. It is about making sure that it goes forward to help others.”

For more updates about Cleveland, sign up for our Cleveland Magazine Daily newsletter, delivered to your inbox six times a week.

Cleveland Magazine is also available in print, featuring immersive stories, helpful guides and beautiful photography and design.

Christina Rufo

Christina is a passionate reporter on Cleveland's culture and dining scene, compiling Cleveland Magazine's monthly dining guide. A graduate of West Virginia University's journalism school and the New York University Publishing Institute, her work celebrates the people, plates and parties that make Northeast Ohio shine.