Meet Jordyn Jackson

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jordyn Jackson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jordyn , thank you so much for joining us today. There are so many topics we could discuss, but perhaps one of the most relevant is empathy because it’s at the core of great leadership and so we’d love to hear about how you developed your empathy?
Having provided humanitarian aid to nine countries worldwide, I have witnessed the hardships youth my age face. In this regard, global support is a critical component of my company’s mission. As a result of cultural immersion, I’ve become aware of our ability to contribute to local and international solutions. As young activists, we have found ways to make a more significant impact together.

On my trip to Mexico to donate soccer balls and books to build a library in a foster home, I encountered a boy named Juan. I gave Juan his first soccer ball at the age of 11. When he told me that he planned to sleep with it that night, he began to cry. This simple gift was not just about having a ball; it was an opportunity to improve his quality of life. Owning his own soccer ball allowed Juan to practice at home instead of walking an hour each way to the soccer field. I was drawn to this moment when I realized how privileged I am to possess something as basic as a ball. It is difficult to imagine how much this soccer ball meant to Juan and how meaningful an impact it made on me.

Through exposure to other cultures, I have developed a heightened empathy for the conditions children our age face. I wish to continue to provide them with the necessary tools and materials to reach their full potential.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
As a person who is passionate about creating a better world, I have always tried to do so by forming solid relationships rooted in helping young people attain a better quality of life by assisting children living in foster care, playing soccer to promote a sense of community, and developing entrepreneurship skills programs.

For the past nine years, I have run my non-profit organization, Soaring Samaritans Youth Movement (SSYM), a 501(c)(3), driven by my desire to contribute to the well-being of others. This mission has led to my organization’s longevity.

Through SSYM, I provide essential humanitarian aid, teach business skills, and deliver unpoppable soccer balls to youth in vulnerable communities. To date, my sister Taylor and I have served thousands of families worldwide and delivered over 6,000 unpoppable soccer balls to kids living in difficult circumstances.

To offset the rising costs of these relief efforts, my sister and I founded SOAR Jewels, a socially responsible jewelry company. We aim to reach the broadest audience possible by producing high-quality, handmade jewelry at an affordable price. To achieve this goal and inspire young people in my community, I enlist the assistance of students from local schools. In a serendipitous turn of events, this has created a generation of “artpreneurs” at SSYM.

Through the combination of jewelry sales students design and business practices, SOAR Jewels has given rise to artpreneurs, those who use the proceeds from art sales to make a positive change in the world. Our students get to see their work go beyond providing funds and material assistance. We strive to empower the next generation to develop a business mindset and use their abilities to soar. We accomplish this through our delivery services, which involve spending the day with children completing fun and productive activities together. Together with my sister Taylor, I created “BizSense 4 Kids,” a fun and interactive workshop that helps children learn entrepreneurial skills to start their own business. With our unique, step-by-step process, we brainstorm products and talents with each child. Every delivery represents more than just a drop-o
ff; it is an opportunity to educate, inspire, motivate, and build lasting relationships.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Owning Soaring Samaritans Youth Movement and SOAR Jewels has taught me three pillars to success: openness, patience, and organization. At such a young age, managing a non-profit, a business, my academic, athletic, and social responsibilities is challenging. My advice to those just starting their journey is to research everything from organizational methods to product development.

Developing an open mindset means being a sponge willing to learn and overcome the hurdle of accepting criticism. It has become easier for me not to take criticism personally as I have grown older. Criticism is a steppingstone toward improving my products and enhancing customer satisfaction. In addition to their benefits for my non-profit and business, these three qualities have also enriched my personal life. In this way, I have evolved into a leader who is open-minded and patient, able to maintain a steady pace despite the many challenges that lie ahead.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
Despite my young age, my mother taught me that I can do anything I desire if I am willing to make the sacrifices it takes to succeed. With the help of her thinking approach, I have been able to convert my ideas into results. As a nine-year-old, I remember receiving an urgent request from the Child and Family Guidance Center in Van Nuys, California. It was a request to students in my elementary school asking if we could adopt a family needing assistance with gifts during the holiday season. I jumped at the opportunity to provide holiday joy for a family facing a difficult time. As soon as I told my mother, she offered to help me hunt down every item on the families’ wish lists. Together, we ensured that every request was met. Her enthusiasm for taking the time to give has nurtured my desire to help others.

My mother’s natural tendency to give generously of her time and be compassionate has always been apparent. Her support has been invaluable to me in my soccer games, school performances, academic interests, business initiatives, and even last-minute decisions, such as the time I decided to stand up to speak at Los Angeles City Hall. Although my mother had to be up early for a work meeting the next morning, she stayed up late into the night listening to my speech over and over again, helping me refine and hone my delivery.

I sometimes face rejection when pursuing my goals. The creative solutions my mother comes up with encourages me to think outside the box. Her confidence in my ideas helped me establish a non-profit and business of my own. Throughout my life, my mother’s commitment to philanthropy, culture, family, and leadership has shaped me into a leader of impact. I admire my mother’s dedication to putting others before herself, and I aspire to follow in her footsteps. In the same way my mother has assisted me and thousands of others, I channel my mom to continue making time to help grow my community of artpreneurs to soar good in all that we do.

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