Hey family and friends, I’m reaching out with love and an invitation to stand in solidarity with my nephew, Jahmez Mitchell, aka Jay.

Jay is my third nephew, born on Valentine’s Day, which feels fitting because he has always had a lot of heart. He is a caring, generous soul. He's resilient, and he's still dreaming of a brighter future for himself and his son, even as he navigates a world that has placed a lot of barriers in his path as a young Black man.

Recently, Jay has been carrying a heavy load:

He asked me to create this GoFundMe, and while I said yes, part of me was reluctant because I know most folks ain’t out here trying to support a young Black man who has had run-ins with the law.

Then, I remembered who I’m in community with - people who will see and hold him in his full, beautiful, and brilliant humanity. And people who know that the root causes of our struggles as BIPOC families and communities are the same. Contributing to this fund isn’t charity. It’s mutual aid and care. It’s a way to say: we see you, you are not alone. And he could really use that kind of hope right now. We all could.

Every amount helps. Maybe it’s the $5 you’d spend on coffee, or the $10 on a sandwich, or the $20 you might put toward an Uber Eats order. Or maybe it’s even more because you got it like that and why not use it to help a young brutha out! It all adds up to something powerful: hope, healing, and breathing room.

Your gift will help cover some of Jay’s expenses, and just as importantly, it will remind him that community care is real, and that love can outweigh struggle.

So, if you can, please give. If you can’t, please share this campaign. Either way, know that your solidarity is deeply felt and deeply appreciated.

With love and gratitude,

Tamara