News

12-year-old South Ender Jay'dha Hosting Self-Care Workshop

by Submitted by Slowey McManus Communications
Thursday Feb 11, 2021

This article is from the February 11, 2021 issue of South End News.


Jay'dha Rackard
Jay'dha Rackard  

Community activism started for 12-year-old Jay'dha Rackard after seeing the effects of the opioid academic right in her backyard. Living in, and at the time also attending school in, the South End, Jay'dha and her peers had to grapple with used needles on their playground and walking past individuals in need of help. These difficult first-hand experiences that Jay'dha and her peers were being thrust into sparked the realization of the importance of self-care.
Knowing that not everyone has access to self-care tools, and how in the age of covid self-care is as important as ever, Jay'dha got the idea for a workshop for girls her age. After applying for—and winning—a $20,000 grant, Jay'dha has organized a self-care workshop for girls aged 10-14 over February break. Girls will be given supplies to make face and body scrubs, lip gloss, bath bombs, t-shirts, as well as take lessons on self-care, self-expression through poetry, dance and yoga, and participate in a photoshoot.
All supplies, including PPE, will be provided for the participants. Girls in the workshop for 12-14 year olds will even be given their own laptop.
This program is just the start for Jay'dha, who has recently given Boston Mayoral Candidate Andrea Campbell a tour around the neighborhood she lives in. She is also soliciting donations of feminine hygiene products to donate to those who need it, and dreams of saving up enough money to travel the world and help children in need.
The program is at a studio in Hyde Park next week from 11am-3pm Monday-Wednesday for ages 12-14, and Thursday-Friday for ages 10-11. It's a large space with social distancing protocols.
If you're interested in the program or would like to donate items, email jbrackard@gmail.com