Kyla Jada Turner
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.