You might know Jessica from our ladies powerlifting class. She is a sweet young lady with a smile that is contagious. She loves lifting, living healthy and mixes her training up with American Jiu Jitsu. What you may not know is Jessica is a veteran and spent 8 years in the Army defending our country overseas. The two tours she did in Afghanistan had a huge impact on her. The native of Delaware moved to Boston in 2013 after she retired from the Army. Here in Boston she carved out a life and began work helping other veterans through the labyrinth paperwork of getting the services they need to help them find medical care and emotional support. 

On August 30, 2021 Jessica confronted her worst fears, the Afghan comrades who had helped her and her platoon navigate and survive the Taliban assaults were left behind when our government withdrew. Thousands of families were affected and many had nowhere to go for safety. 

“As I watched it all fall apart, I knew some wouldn’t get out alive. I knew I had to do something.” Jessica recalls.

She decided to take action by collaborating with a group of veterans who were all equally devastated watching the fall out of America’s disastrous withdrawal.  What happened next is the strength of America that has come to define our unwavering spirit in the darkest of times, Jessica was part of a large group who organized through connections from all sectors, including industry leaders, government, private sector and veterans. Together, they created and organized a grassroots effort to get airplanes and passports to families in Afghanistan desperate to flee to safety.  One of those families lives here in Boston.

Since the arrival of her Afghan family, Jessica has been helping to raise funds for them. She affectionately calls them “my Afghan family.”

On Sunday, March 2nd Jessica is hosting a fundraiser at her American Jiu Jitsu gym. All proceeds will go to helping her family with essential needs like housing, food and transportation. You can sign up for the trial here: BOSTONDEFENSE

The introductory class will be held in Watertown at the Nick Theordorou Academy on Sunday at 2:30 pm.

*Where: Nick Theordorou Academy in Watertown
*When: Sunday, March 2nd at 2:30 pm
*Why: Learn something new and give back to a family in need.

Once you sign up please go here to donate: BOSTONCARES

To learn more about the devastation in Afghanistan Jessica recommends you watch “SEND ME” on Amazon Prime. The documentary gives you context of what happened as the Taliban took over and why Jessica and her veteran buddies came together to help. 

Jessica is out in our Boston community making a difference. Got a story to share about the work you do in Boston to help others, let me know.

in Health and with much love,

Coach Tina