Welcome to Shelf-Rising  

All of us are more than one passion, one goal, one memory, and dare I say, more than one version of ourselves. Shelf-Rising reflects that. It pulls from the girl who counted down to weekly library trips and checked out more books than she could carry; the same girl who found freedom in dance; the teenager who discovered joy in her first bakery job; and the adult working in philanthropy who cares deeply about justice and community and who hasn't stopped questioning the systems that shape both.

One day, I dream of creating a physical space. A café bookstore that's a gathering place, rooted in community and care, with a nonprofit arm that supports access to books, food, and belonging. But this digital space is where I'm starting. A place to return to a rhythm of reading and writing. A place to connect. A place to let ideas rise ✨

Who are you?!

Honestly, that's a bit of an existential question and one I'm working on understanding every day. But in the straightforward sense: hey, I'm Jess!

I studied English and writing once upon a time. In my 20s, commuting from Jersey to the city every day, I was reading 60+ books a year, covering them in Post-it notes, feeding something in myself with every page. Then life happened, as it does. The push to make it, to become someone, took up most of the air.

Now in my 30s, things have shifted. The urgency of proving myself has melted away, replaced by bigger questions: Am I being a supportive daughter? How am I impacting the planet? Am I doing anything that actually matters? After years of running hard, I'm more interested in slowing down and going deeper into myself, into my community.

I believe stories, care, and connection can make a difference. Not in a sweeping, fix-everything way but in small, heartfelt ways. This is my space to lean into that belief. I hope it becomes yours, too.