Jada Renee shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Jada, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
I think whats misunderstood about the nonprofit business in general is that from the outside looking in it may look like organizations get instant funding or community support and that is not the case lol it takes long term strategy before laying the foundation , marketing and positioning yourself and your organization in a place that best fits for the longterm.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jada Renee, and I’m an artist, curator, and community builder dedicated to using creativity as a tool for healing and opportunity. I’m the founder of the Destination Dream Foundation and The INDI Art House, both rooted in Cleveland’s Buckeye neighborhood. Through these platforms, I create spaces where youth and emerging artists can explore art, entrepreneurship, and self-expression in a way that feels accessible and affirming. What makes this work special is that it’s community-led and impact-driven—we’re not just hosting programs, we’re building pathways, restoring underused spaces, and showing young people that their dreams are valid and achievable. Right now, I’m focused on expanding the INDI Art House as a creative hub and growing Destination Dream’s youth programming to reach more families through art, education, and joy.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A moment that shaped how I see the world would be getting the opportunity to travel to South Africa Johannesburg and Botswana at the beginning of my artist journey and getting to see the difference of how my life looked in a small town like Cleveland , Ohio from traveling on a 16 hour flight to Africa for my first flight ever. This shaped my outlook on possibilities and the world that I was able to cultivate for myself by focusing my intentions on ,manifesting the future I wanted.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self I would say that younger Jada is a beautiful wild card soul with a unique artistic flare and she never did too much and was always enough.
I think as a child I was very outgoing with my artistic abilities and based on the time and environment I was raised in there were not many inner city art opportunities to get involved in which resulted in me having a lot of self taught moments when it came to creating or expressing my artistic nature. These random hobbies such a fashion design , writing, photography, video editing , graphic design and creating concepts came naturally and always fueled me in a way no other interest did and thankfully I have been able to hold on to my inner child making it easier for me to work from the heart while having fun with my business structure.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
A cultural value I protect at all costs is saving the youth—not in a savior sense, but in the sense of protecting their imagination, their confidence, and their access to opportunity. In many inner-city communities, young people are surrounded by talent but limited by exposure and resources. I believe the arts and entrepreneurship are powerful tools to interrupt that cycle. Through creative programming, mentorship, and real-world business opportunities, we give youth a chance to see themselves as artists, owners, and leaders—not just survivors of their environment. Saving the youth means meeting them where they are, investing in their ideas early, and building pathways that allow them to dream beyond what they’ve been told is possible.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
That question sits at the core of my work. I’m choosing to do what I was born to do, not what I was told to do. I was told to play it safe, follow a narrow definition of success, and fit into systems that weren’t built with people like us in mind. But my purpose has always been rooted in creativity, service, and building something bigger than myself. Through the arts, entrepreneurship, and community spaces like Destination Dream and the INDI Art House, I’m honoring that calling—creating pathways where others can do the same. For me, choosing what I was born to do means trusting my intuition, breaking cycles, and giving the next generation permission to live in their purpose too.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.destinationdream.org
- Instagram: @destinationdream.foundation
Image Credits
INDI Media
