My name is Jason Massard, and I’m advocating for a dear family member, Jacque Cottrell — a 61-year-old woman fighting to survive after years of protecting her community. She stood up for seniors, for clean air, and for the dignity of a long-established neighborhood. Now she needs someone to stand up for her.

Jacque played a central role in opposing the proposed Love’s Travel Stop development, a project that threatened to disrupt and endanger a predominantly elderly community that has lived, raised families, and aged in place for decades. When people told her, “You can’t fight Love’s or City Hall,” Jacque refused to back down. She stood shoulder-to-shoulder with community elders whose health and safety were at risk.

To sustain this fight, Jacque helped found Neighbors Opposed to Annexation (NOAP), a nonprofit dedicated to educating residents about environmental, infrastructure, and public health impacts. She translated complex legal and technical information into plain language so seniors could meaningfully participate in public hearings. Despite political pressure, legal obstacles, and emotional exhaustion, she persisted — always choosing community well-being over convenience and long-term health over short-term profit.

Her commitment didn’t stop there. Jacque helped register more than 4,000 residents to vote, ensuring seniors’ voices were heard. She also helped raise over $180,000 for environmental awareness and education initiatives that strengthened long-term community resilience.

But while fighting for others, Jacque’s own life was upended. She was laid off from a consulting contract and, as a self-employed small business owner, has been unable to secure work for nearly two years. As a 61-year-old Black woman, she was told outright that they did not want to work with her — disguised under the label of “DEI.” After decades of experience as an IT Program Manager, she was left with nothing. Her savings — everything she had — is gone.

Today, Jacque is nearly desolate, surviving only by God’s grace. I’m asking for help on her behalf for compassion, for support, for someone to finally see her, hear her, and care enough to extend a hand. Your donation will help her rebuild, pursue legal recourse, stabilize her life, and get back on her feet after sacrificing so much for a community that deserved better.

Anything you can give — even a small amount — will make a real difference. Thank you for reading her story and thank you for caring.