Episode 53 -Breaking the Silence: How Callisto Is Empowering Survivors & Preventing Campus Sexual Assault with Tracy DeTomsai

By Jessica Garrison

Breaking the Silence: How Callisto Is Empowering Survivors & Preventing Campus Sexual Assault with Tracy DeTomsai

By Jessica Garrison 

Trigger warning: sexual assault

It’s Podcasthon season! Last year, we featured HerStory Writers Network, “a nonprofit organization that utilizes the art of memoir writing to connect with people in the community.” This year, we are dedicating our episode to Callisto, featuring their CEO Tracy DeTomsai. Tracy had her own episode in September of 2025, and we’re thankful to have her back to speak on such an important organization. 

Callisto was created by Jess Ladd after she had a negative experience reporting her own assault, and she took this as an opportunity to create a safer world for women. It’s a nonprofit organization that not only supports survivors of campus-based sexual assault, it also connects them with others survivors if they choose to do so. This is possible through their privacy-enhancing technology, offering a way to discover if your perpetrator is a repeat offender by entering the information into an encrypted database. It’s a secure way for anyone to record their sexual assault without it being reported to the police and dealing with everything that might come with that. 

It’s important to know that sexual assault laws vary by state, so Callisto does whatever they can within rules of the state you are living in. There are many different offerings when you report to Callisto, such as an option to meet with an advocate, options for resources, and support in making decisions. They empower survivors to make the decision that is healthiest for them, whether it be to pursue legal action or to seek counseling. They also are there to remind survivors that no matter the external factors involved, it is not their fault. According to Callisto’s site, 2.5 million college students are sexually assaulted each year, with 90% of offenses committed by repeat offenders, and only 6% of student survivors report to Title IX or the police. Survivors aren’t keen to come forward because of shame, blame, or because they don’t see positive outcomes of similar situations. Many times assault accusations are buried and people go on with their lives, forgetting about the trauma and hurt that the survivor must deal with every single day.

It’s up to us as a community to provide resources for women and offer a safe space for them to share, which is exactly what Tracy and Callisto are doing. This is an organization that all genders and identities should know about, and if you have the opportunity to donate or get involved, it will go a long way to help expand the organization and strengthen the programs they have already developed. There is a lot of work to be done, and you can also become part of the solution by donating today. Any amount helps to support and advance this important work. 

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Ways to Engage: Visit Callisto’s website today and donate to this important and necessary organization. Every amount helps!

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