Our friend Jocelyn Brooks-Ezelle has been through so much this past year. After finishing law school and taking the bar exam for the first time, she found herself in a heartbreaking situation that no one should ever have to face.

Through no fault of her own, Jocelyn’s financial aid was completely messed up — she was supposed to receive a $40,000 student loan refund to cover her basic living expenses while she studied. Instead, she only received $3,000 in emergency funds from the school — barely enough to cover a fraction of her rent. Since then, she’s been fighting just to stay housed, keep her car from being repossessed, and find enough to eat while trying to hold onto her dream of becoming an attorney.

She’s now preparing to retake the bar exam this February, but she’s doing it under nearly impossible circumstances — facing eviction, debt, and the fear of losing everything she’s worked for. Jocelyn is one of the most resilient and selfless people we know. Even when she had nothing, she still found ways to help others. But right now, she really needs our help.

When a friend visited her recently, there was barely any food in her fridge. She’s been holding it together with so much grace, but it’s getting harder by the day.

Please, if you can — even a small amount — help Jocelyn get through this storm. Every dollar will go toward keeping her housed, keeping her car, and giving her the stability she needs to focus on passing the bar and rebuilding her future.

Let’s show Jocelyn that she’s not alone — that her community stands with her, just like she’s always stood for others.