My name is Jay, and today, a lifelong dream became a reality: I have been accepted into the Vogue Summer Program in New York City. This opportunity is the ultimate training ground for the futuristic, architectural fashion I am developing. As I prepare to graduate from Mesa College this semester, this program represents the bridge between my education and my goal of building a global fashion brand.
My path to this moment has not been easy. My creative vision is born from a place of deep, personal transformation. I am the founder and CEO of JB Empire Arts, a wellness business I built after surviving the most devastating experience of my life: the loss of my daughter, Jasmin (Jazz), to suicide. In the wake of that trauma, I had to find a way to breathe again. I chose to turn my pain into art, using fashion and jewelry design as a vessel for healing—not just for myself, but for other trauma survivors. Every "outside-the-box" piece I design carries the energy of resilience and the memory of my daughter. Overcoming that experience taught me that the future of color is always brighter, and I am determined to show the world that you can rise from the ashes of tragedy to reach the heights of the fashion industry.
As a student and a mother raising my son, Xavier, I am working to build a business that supports my family and honors Jazz’s legacy. By donating, you are helping me turn a "new chapter" where trauma is replaced by triumph. Thank you for believing in my vision and for helping me take this giant leap toward my future.
My path to this moment has not been easy. My creative vision is born from a place of deep, personal transformation. I am the founder and CEO of JB Empire Arts, a wellness business I built after surviving the most devastating experience of my life: the loss of my daughter, Jasmin (Jazz), to suicide. In the wake of that trauma, I had to find a way to breathe again. I chose to turn my pain into art, using fashion and jewelry design as a vessel for healing—not just for myself, but for other trauma survivors. Every "outside-the-box" piece I design carries the energy of resilience and the memory of my daughter. Overcoming that experience taught me that the future of color is always brighter, and I am determined to show the world that you can rise from the ashes of tragedy to reach the heights of the fashion industry.
As a student and a mother raising my son, Xavier, I am working to build a business that supports my family and honors Jazz’s legacy. By donating, you are helping me turn a "new chapter" where trauma is replaced by triumph. Thank you for believing in my vision and for helping me take this giant leap toward my future.