You might know Jess from our ladies powerlifting class — the one with the contagious smile. What you may not know is the eight years she spent in the Army, and what she did when Kabul fell.
The smile that hides a soldier
You might know Jess from our ladies powerlifting class. She's the one with the contagious smile — she loves lifting, lives healthy, and mixes her training with American Jiu Jitsu. What you may not know is that Jess is a veteran who spent eight years in the Army defending our country overseas, including two tours in Afghanistan that left a lasting mark.
A Delaware native, Jess moved to Boston in 2013 after retiring from the Army and made West Roxbury home. Here she carved out a life helping other veterans navigate the labyrinth of paperwork between them and the medical care and emotional support they've earned.
August 30, 2021
When the United States withdrew from Afghanistan, the Afghan comrades who had helped Jess and her platoon navigate and survive Taliban assaults were left behind. Thousands of families were affected, and many had nowhere to go for safety.
"As I watched it all fall apart, I knew some wouldn't get out alive. I knew I had to do something," Jess recalls.
So she did. Jess joined a group of equally devastated veterans and helped organize a grassroots effort — pulling in connections from industry, government and the private sector — to get airplanes and passports to families desperate to flee. One of those families now lives here in Boston. Jess affectionately calls them "my Afghan family," and she has kept raising funds to help them with housing, food and transportation ever since.
Strength that shows up for people
That's the thing about the strength we build in this gym — the barbell is just the practice. Jess trains with us, rolls at her jiu jitsu academy in Watertown, and spends her days making sure other veterans and her Afghan family are taken care of. She is out in our Boston community making a difference, and we're proud she calls Iron Grit home.
Got a story about the work you do in Boston to help others? Tell us — we love shining a light on our members.
Train alongside Jess — see our powerlifting programLocal Next Step
Ready to put this into practice in West Roxbury? Powerlifting at Westie Barbell Club or book a free goal review at Boston Iron Grit.
FAQ
Yes — our powerlifting program, part of the Westie Barbell Club, includes a strong women's crew. Jess is a regular. All strength levels welcome, with coaching on squat, bench and deadlift technique.
Yes — our Heroes Platinum membership ($225/mo) gives veterans, first responders, military, teachers and nurses unlimited classes at a discounted rate.
