Peace Is Rising

Peace is… rising — like a phoenix from the ashes, wings forged in fire, carrying the memory of everything it survived. It’s not the absence of pain, but the transformation that follows it — when you’ve been through the fire and decide to build something beautiful with what remains.

For me, peace has never been a quiet, untouched place. It has been a long journey — through survival, through motherhood, through rebuilding a life that once felt impossible. There were years when peace felt like a stranger, when I carried the weight of trauma, single motherhood, and the silent ache of trying to hold everything together. But somewhere in that journey, I realized that peace doesn’t arrive when life is perfect. It begins when you decide that your story isn’t over — that you will rise, again and again, no matter what tried to burn you down.

There came a moment when I stopped asking, “Why me?” and started asking, “What now?” That shift changed everything. Healing became less about erasing what happened and more about reclaiming who I was created to be. I learned that my voice carried weight — not just for me, but for the women still searching for their own. That awakening led me to advocacy, to service, and eventually to Liluye. Every step of my leadership journey has been a reflection of that rebirth — using my pain as purpose, and my platform as a promise to others that peace is possible.

Today, I stand as a survivor leader and COO of Liluye, a survivor-led organization dedicated to empowering women and girls affected by human trafficking. Liluye means “hawk singing while soaring,” a reflection of our shared journey — women once grounded by pain now lifting their voices in strength and flight. At Liluye, I’ve seen what it means to rebuild not just a life, but a legacy. I’ve seen survivors rediscover their voices, mothers rediscover their strength, and communities come alive with compassion and hope.

As a mother, peace has also meant creating safety — not just for my child, but for every child who deserves to see what resilience looks like. It’s meant teaching that love can be stronger than fear, that healing is holy work, and that every day we rise is an act of defiance against darkness.

In my community, peace is found in the small things — the shared laughter at an outreach event, the hug between sisters who’ve overcome, the moments of faith that remind us we are not alone. It’s the ripple that starts with one woman standing up and saying, “This time, I choose to rise.”

Like the phoenix, we rise together — survivors, mothers, and leaders — carrying embers of hope that light the way for others. We are proof that peace is not a faraway dream; it’s something we build with our hands, nurture with our hearts, and protect with our voices.

Peace is Rising.

In me.

In us.

And in every woman who dares to soar again.

By Monica Griffin | Survivor Leader, Mother & COO of Liluye