Jessie McLachlan was working with leading musicians and artists in the US until lockdowns had her deported back to Australia.

While in the US, Jessie co-founded a carnival for the homeless called the "Skid Row Carnival Of Love” which is a unique event created for disadvantaged and homeless youth. 

The event connects underprivileged individuals to recourses such as health care, behavioural counselling, stoke education, DV services and Dental hygiene.

Jessie is launching a similar concept in Australia called “We Are Altru” given that over 3.3 million people in Australia live below the poverty line and more are at risk with the host of living crisis. 

In 2014, Jessie was living in NY and almost became medically bankrupt. She received a medical bill of $586,000 USD (whilst having medical insurance) which gave her an even deeper appreciation of how easy it can be to slip between the cracks. 

When she moved to LA, she decided to start celebrating her birthday each year with a carnival for the homeless called the Skid Row Carnival of Love. It is a day of pure joy where happiness is not a limited resource. Altru Festival is inspired by this same event and is coming to Australia to celebrate the humanity within homeless.