Hey everyone,

My name is Brittain Jackson, and I’m reaching out to my community with an open heart.

Three years ago, I made the intentional decision to return to my hometown of Washington, DC. For many years, I was afraid to come back. DC is where my mother raised, protected, and nurtured me. After she passed, the thought of returning felt overwhelming. I wasn’t ready to face the grief, the memories, or the pain I had tucked away.

But three years ago, I was ready. Ready to come home. Ready to reconnect with family, friends, and memories I had long avoided.

Being back has been profoundly healing. I reestablished relationships with family I never imagined I would. I had the honor of performing a tribute for my teacher and mentor who helped guide me toward my professional dance career, something I was deeply grateful to do before his sudden passing. I also reconnected with old friends and reclaimed moments and experiences I once blocked out just to survive.

Perhaps most powerfully, I found my father’s family, a family I never knew I had. I also learned that my father passed away about a year after I was born. While that loss created a deep ache, it is through his family, now my family, that I feel whole again.

Over these past few years, I’ve been able to bring together my closest friends and family from coast to coast, creating core memories that I will carry forever. And through it all, I’ve learned something incredibly important. I now know what home feels like. And I know where home is.

For my mother, home was always Lake View, South Carolina.

For me, home is Portland, Oregon.

After much reflection, Free, my dog, and I have decided to move back to Oregon to reset, to root, and to begin this next chapter with intention. This is where I feel most anchored, supported, embraced, creative, and free.

As many of you know, moving, especially across the country, comes with real challenges. This will be the second time Free and I have driven cross country together, and the expenses add up quickly. While I originally planned to manage this transition on my own, unexpected timing and financial constraints have shifted what’s possible.

I’m humbly asking for support to help us make it home.

Funds raised will help cover:

Gas, food, and hotels during our drive west

Shipping a moving container for our belongings

Transitioning into our new home, yes, a house, finally out of basements

Medical needs related to my diabetes management

Bills and basic living expenses during this transition period

We plan to begin our journey back to Oregon the last week of January 2026.

To my village, thank you for showing up for me in ways big and small, for your encouragement, your love, and your belief in me. Any support, whether through donating, sharing, or simply sending love, means more than I can express.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story.

Happy Holidays, and I’ll see you all in Oregon.

With gratitude,

Brittain and Free