By Naya Seth

Photo courtesy of Opportunity Community Justice

A senior at Pinnacle High School, 17-year-old Jadyn wanted to reach the community in a way that may have been overlooked in the past. Writing has always been a passion of hers and she’s had some of her work published, so she decided to start a writing contest as a way for kids to share their stories and be creative. The contest is called Between the Spaces because Jadyn thought of stories as a way to connect people, saying that it’s not about the words you say, but about the message you are sending.

When she started this writing contest, Jadyn felt it would be a great way to incorporate two of her passions: writing and giving back. She decided to partner with Opportunity Community Justice (OCJ) Kids, an organization created to give foster and at-risk kids the tools and relationships they need to succeed in life. Jadyn began working with them when she joined her school’s Key Club around three years ago, and she has loved it, saying, “It’s an amazing feeling to go back and see the kids recognize you.” One of her favorite memories there was getting to know three sisters throughout the year. She would talk to them and ask how their day was, enjoying the chance to connect. Jadyn wants to spread that feeling to others, so the winners of the writing contest will have the opportunity to read their stories to kids from the OCJ Kids organization.

Starting a writing competition while being a senior in high school with extracurriculars is a lot to juggle, but Jadyn’s love for writing and her connection with the foster kids keep her motivated. She plans to continue the writing contest in the future, even while she’s in college, hoping to partner with more philanthropic organizations.

Jadyn has been spreading the word through her school and community. She also has a social media page on Instagram (@betweenthespaces), where the link to enter your work is located. Through her networking, she has been able to find a panel of judges, including two former Olympians. The contest is open to kids ages 12 to 17 with a deadline of Sept. 30, and she’s looking for inspirational or uplifting writing with a theme that kids can learn from.

Some of Jadyn’s other interests are playing the guitar and volunteering. She has one younger brother, and two dogs named Stormy and Thor.