Rising together is not a metaphor
The mission
words that open doors
Kelly Justus
Kelly Justus writes because silence is not neutral. Every story she tells is an act of advocacy — for survivors, for communities that have been told their pain is private, and for the young women who need to see themselves in the pages of a book.
Like Water, I Rise is not only a memoir. It is a call to action — a reminder that healing is communal, that rising requires witnesses, and that the act of naming what happened is the first step toward changing it.
Causes & community
where the work lives
- ALTERISTIC programsWe specialize in delivering data-supported programs focused on preventing concerning behaviors including harassment, bullying, and hazing. Using a bystander framework, participants are taught skills that will allow them to do their part to create environments that maximize the wellness, performance, productivity, and success of each person
- Post-Trauma support with RAINNAs the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization and operator of the National Sexual Assault Hotline, RAINN's mission is to stop sexual violence by supporting survivors, holding perpetrators accountable, and creating safer communities.
The community
no one rises alone
The book is a beginning. The conversation it starts — in book clubs, classrooms, and living rooms — is where the real work happens. Kelly is available for speaking engagements, community events, and educational partnerships.