Kyla Jada Turner

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My name is Kyla Jada Turner. I was born in Chicago, IL and raised by my mother. I have been a creative
writer since the age of seven, teaching myself how to write poetry, stories, scripts, and speeches as years
went by. I was an honor roll student for most of my K-12 years while being heavily active in sports,
poetry teams, Honors Societies, and band. I graduated from Thornton Township High School in May
2019. After I graduated from high school, I went to Saint Xavier University and declared my major in
Strategic Communications, and I do not regret it one bit. I did a lot on campus including hosting my own
Radio Show on WXAV 88.3 FM for three years, leading retreats in Michigan, becoming in an intern at
826DC, a writing non-profit organization in Washington D.C., for (4) months, participated in an
apprenticeship for the John Walt Foundation, going to Atlanta, Georgia for a weekend conference called
“Black Students Lead,” as a student, and receiving a multitude of awards such as “Outstanding
Leadership Award” and the “Dean of Students Award for Student Leadership.” On May 6, 2023, I
graduated from SXU with a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts & Sciences. Now, I am working towards
my aspirations of being a writer for entertainment, working for an apprenticeship through the John Walt
Foundation, which is a creative non-profit organization in Chicago, IL. I work as the Community
Engagement Coordinator for the South Holland Public Library. I also created a tea business called
“Local Leafer,” which is a brand that makes herbal teas and creates different blends with different
intentions and health benefits.