Rising at the Rio for the Holidays: Joy is Everywhere!
Rising at the Rio for The Holidays: Joy is Everywhere!
Prevent Child Trafficking • Support Survivors • Reclaim Joy
This holiday season survivor-artists take the stage to share their journeys through music, movement, and storytelling.
“In our darkest times, when joy seems nowhere to be found, we come together, and we create it.” ~ Jess Torres poet, survivor-leader and educator
Live Music – Spoken Word – Comedy – Auctions – Rising Global Marketplace – Wine & Beer – Holiday Cookie Bar
The proceeds of the event support Rising Safe and Sound, a child trafficking prevention program. Launched in 2015 in Santa Cruz, Rising Safe and Sound is one of the first prevention programs created and led by survivors of human trafficking in schools in California. The goal of the training is to provide prevention education that equips youth with the information and tools needed to identify, understand and navigate potential human trafficking.
More about the Performers: Survivor-Artists Center Stage
Many of the evening’s performers are survivors of human trafficking or interpersonal violence, artists who use creativity not only to heal, but to lead. Through song, poetry, and comedy, these survivor-artists will share powerful reminders that joy is not the absence of hardship, but a practice of resilience.
The evening will be emceed by Venus Morris, an Oakland-based actress and comedian whose humor illuminates the transformative power of laughter. Headlining the show, Venus will invite the audience into joy through her signature blend of storytelling and bold comedic insight.
Another powerful voice in the lineup is 3LISE, whose neo-soul sound fuses mystical, metaphysical instrumentation with contemporary R&B and rap. Rooted in church choir harmonies and Oakland sideshows, she blends the grit of Oakland and Richmond with ethereal textures, channeling emotion to stretch the heart and spark transformation.
Acclaimed poets and survivor leaders Jess Torres and Mercy Gray will share spoken-word pieces celebrating joy and survival. The evening also features a special original song written for the event and performed by Djide Koffa, a vocalist from Cameroon. California Assemblymember Gail Pellerin will welcome guests with opening remarks.
Join Rising Worldwide to end human trafficking and celebrate the artistry of survivors across the globe.
