Meet Jayden Watkins | Minister, Author & CEO of Higher Is Waiting Nonprofit Organization

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jayden Watkins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jayden, what role has risk played in your life or career?
To me, a risk means making a bold move that can result in a loss or a win. When I was given the vision to start a teen Bible study and mentorship group for my community, I had to defeat the ideas that came into my head that tried to deter the vision. I didn’t think teens would come on a Friday night to an event that would empower them to be Christian leaders. Not only that but the vision required all of my money and money I didn’t have! By taking the risk of investing in my God-given vision, the vision became a reality in January 2024, and currently (July 2024) I have over 90 teens apart of EMPOWERED. Teens have decided to abandon addictions, pursue careers, and become change agents. Those accomplishments became so because I focused more on the potential positive impact that outweighed the potential negative outcomes of my risk-taking!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
During the global coronavirus pandemic, I dreamed of incorporating a nonprofit organization that provided necessary resources and faith-based events for my community. There were many nonprofit organizations within my community but many were either inactive or did not align with the mission of my dream organization. The fact that I live in a community that is often highlighted for high crime rates or drug activity is disheartening when there are so many gifted people in my community. Therefore, I knew I would have to defeat stereotypes and break down barriers before I could truly accomplish the mission of my organization. Although I am currently 16 years old, I recognize the truth; and the truth must be accepted by us all. The truth is that many of us talk about the needed change, but very few of us take action to make the change by being the change! That truth ignited a burning desire for me to make risky yet bold moves to use my God-given talents/gifts to improve the condition of my community.

I knew I needed to become more educated on what I was about to set out to do, so I contacted various lawyers and organization advisors near me. I asked them about the steps I needed to take to have my organization registered in North Carolina with the necessary paperwork to avoid legal conflicts. Many of the professionals I reached out to used my age as an excuse for me to not become a CEO as a teenager. I never thought that it would take two years to make my dream come true but I stayed steadfast. My steadfastness led to my paperwork being approved by the NC Secretary of State on January 4th, 2024; birthing Higher Is Waiting Nonprofit Organization.

The main problem that I have been experiencing with operating Higher Is Waiting is receiving enough funds to operate it with excellence. One day I sat down to contact successful businesses in my community to find those who were willing to sponsor one of my organization’s events/programs. 90% of those whom I emailed didn’t acknowledge the email or phone call I made. That caused me to doubt the God-given dreams that I had. I knew what I was called to do, but it felt like things weren’t adding up or making sense. Although the dream-filled child in me was dying, there was still a sense of hope within me because of the God who worked things out before me. Then, there was a business leader who came to mind at this desperate moment. My lack of belief that the CEO would support me came from an experience with a person of a different race than me who treated me as less than. I took the lack of belief I had that the business leader would support me and combined it with the little faith I had left to reach out! My decision to reach out caused me to get the funds I needed for my organization but more importantly, pushed me toward being resilient in a way that I never was before!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Two of my favorite spots in North Carolina are Sarah P. Duke Gardens and Sadie’s Coffee Corner.
Sarah P. Duke Gardens is a beautiful place for photos and a walk/run. The garden is very clean and well maintained which can bring a smile to one’s face.
Sadie’s Coffee Corner uses local businesses for its goods. Buying a pastry or coffee from Sadie’s puts money back into the community. As a consumer, you have many options to choose from. Sadie’s is committed to keeping it local while providing the very best in food and service. Their home time feeling gives a welcoming environment for meetings or an amazing stop for refreshments.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate this interview to my EMPOWERED: Teen Bible Study & Mentorship Group. Every member of the EMPOWERED family has shown me that my labor is not in vain. Every tear I’ve shed trying to keep the group going and every restless night have all been worth it! Just to see them evolve into the amazing leaders that they have been created to be, gives me hope and another dose of resilience!

Website: https://jaydenwatkins.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjaydenwatkins/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamjaydenwatkins/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamjaydenwatkins/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQs4Q9umW7ddB20zZTPYi5w

Image Credits
Quincy Hargrove of onQ Images & Gia LPhoto