Help our student Jayden go to law camp

My name is Brendan and I got the chance to meet Jayden Ferrell when I was one of his counselors at law and trial camp last summer. It was a truly incredible experience for him, and this summer I'm helping him raise funds to go again — to build on what he's learned and get one step closer to achieving his dream of practicing law.

Working with Jayden last summer it was clear that he was getting the most out of the opportunity this camp provides. At the Intensive Law and Trial program put on by Envision, campers learn from Stanford law professors while preparing a fictional legal case over a 10-day timespan, then perform as attorneys and witnesses in a mock trial. Jayden excelled in his legal performance, but even more than that I witnessed him grow as a person: bonding with other students with his quick wit and spot-on sense of humor.

Over the past year I've grown very close with Jayden, and I had the great joy to be at his high school graduation this May along with another of his counselors from the camp. I've heard his excitement to attend FIU this fall to study political science, and his plans to go on to law school afterward. And of course, I've shared in his hope for him to come back to law camp this summer.

Returning to the program would be a crucial chance for him to build on everything he's accomplished, strengthening the connections he's made and leaning into his passion for law. He's continued exploring this type of work in a mock trial program at his high school, but this sort of activity tends to have built-in barriers for him as a blind student that organizations often aren't set up to address. At the camp, though, we have counselors who love Jayden and are ready to listen to his needs and do everything we can to meet them.

The problem is money. Tuition for the camp is expensive, as are the travel expenses from Jayden's home in Florida to Stanford's campus. Unlike many campers Jayden doesn't come from a background with the resources to cover this sort of cost, and his own income is limited by the obstacles he's faced in getting jobs as a blind person. So after trying every other way of getting Jayden back to camp, we realized we might need to turn to others for support: I offered to make Jayden a GoFundMe and share it with people who'd care.

It's hard asking for help. But if there's anything you can give to support Jayden and his future in law, we'd all be so immensely grateful.