Jada (13) Selected as March 2026 Friend Mail Recipient! 💝

2 days ago
3 min read

Updated: 22 hours ago

"Big-hearted" Jada (13) endured years of racial bullying, pleading with school staff "I fear for my safety here."

13-year-old "Jada" (her real name and face disguised for safety) from Illinois is "resilient, thoughtful and kind-hearted" and - her proud mom says - she is "very empathetic." Jada wants to be a Pediatric Nurse when she grows up, specializing in labor & delivery. In the meantime, the 8th Grader loves to dance, draw, paint and read. 💌 More favorite past-times include shopping - and her swim lessons.

Beautiful Jada sets her intentions on being a good friend to others, being nice to them and often giving gifts ... even sometimes if they have bullied her. In 5th Grade, Jada (and her four younger siblings) won coveted spots at one of Chicago's most sought-after magnet schools. At first celebrating, the bullying incidents began almost immediately. A Black girl, Jada found herself standing-out as different at the majorly-white elementary school.

Her new classmates said hurtful things like "wish you never came to this school" and "why do I have to look at your face?" The 10-year-old heard demeaning racial slurs from students, and saw others laugh along. In a June 2025 feature, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that for years Jada"told school staff members that kids used racial slurs against her, body-shamed her, told her to kill herself and, in one case, touched her 'in places I don’t want to be touched.'" Jada also endured cyber-bullying on Snapchat and other digital platforms.

The empathetic, adorable 8th Grader loves to read and shop! ❤️🇯🇵

"I fear for my safety here," Jada told school staff. She was found crying in the hallway and hiding in the bathroom. She told school employees four times in fifth grade that she wanted to end her life - one time writing she “wants to die” on a class worksheet. Jada's mom tells the BAFP that she was not informed of the majority of these documented bullying incidents nor her daughter's pleas for help - for years - which has set up an ongoing legal battle with the school, and is the core of the Chicago Sun-Times feature (linked below).

Jada's attendance from 5th through 7th Grade was on-and-off again - making her one of 160,000 kids statistically in the U.S. that miss school every day for fear of being bullied. In 7th Grade, her mom removed her daughter from school for intensive mental health treatment. Jada was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Jada's mom created the “Amelia Justice Project” on Instagram @theameliajusticeproject to reflect and share the work, support and knowledge she gained advocating for her daughter so she can help other kids like her.

Finally, the school district granted the family a "safety transfer." Jada began 8th grade at a new school this fall. While the change provided a fresh start, she is still working through the lasting effects of years of being bullied simply for BEING HERSELF.