Jess (she/her) is a chronically ill/disabled, 2-Spirit, Łingít (Tlingit), community organizer living in Port Townsend, Washington. You may know her as the founder of the Jefferson County Anti-Racist Fund, a community mutual aid project: https://www.jcarf.org .
Jess has called the Olympic Peninsula home since 2010 and is ready to put down roots in Jefferson County. Having a secure place to rest, heal, and access land as an Indigenous person would mean the world to Jess. If you know her, you know she is deeply connected to the land, plants and animals. Let's help her raise the funds needed for a substantial down payment on a house so she can live out her dream of a peaceful and accessible life in the woods!
Jess has a very meager fixed Social Security Disability income. The housing market is bleak out here right now; with folks fleeing Seattle and other cities, houses and properties have jumped sometimes as high as $100,000 more in value just since last year. There is little available that Jess can afford with a substantial down payment or ability to buy land outright.
Here's the plan for funds:
The goal is set to $100,000. Jess believes very strongly in Indigenous solidarity and the Land Back movement, so 20% of all funds raised will be given back to folks from local area tribes. If we reach our goal, the means $20,000 will be shared with these recipients.
Recipients of the 20% give back are:
~Makah Activist and educator, Sabrina Hill (McQuillen) and Family
~Chemakum, S'Klallam, and Makah community organizer, Naiome Krienke, who is building a community Longhouse; check out her Gofundme here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-build-a-traditional-longhouse
To learn more about how to support Black and Indigenous land access check out the Land Reparations and Indigenous Solidarity Toolkit here:
"Gunałcéech for your support!
<3 <3 <3" -Jess
The fine print:
***All funds collected will be withdrawn by Jess to be used for purchasing land and or a home for Jess. If we meet the fundraising goal then 20% will be redistributed to the above mentioned community members.