For nearly 30 years, Kelly Hayes-Raitt was an advocate and spokesperson on campaigns in California to promote civil justice, equality and environmental protection. On behalf of her clients, Hayes-Raitt appeared on hundreds of public affairs shows and raised tens of thousands of dollars. In 2006, she ran for office in a highly contested primary and was the only candidate endorsed by the Sierra Club.
In 2003, she reported from Iraq – a few weeks before the U.S.-led invasion and several weeks later. She embarked on a rigorous speaking campaign, addressing audiences that included U.S. Congresswomen about the impacts of the war on women, children and the environment. Her reporting led to a Congressional investigation into how sub-contracts to rebuild Iraq were shutting out Iraqis. For her work, she was named “Women of the Year” by the Los Angeles County Commission for Women.
Hayes-Raitt has participated in nine service delegations throughout the world, including Syria, Lebanon, Mongolia and India.
Before relocating to Lisbon, Portugal, in 2022, Hayes-Raitt traveled full-time for 12 years as an international housesitter. She is the author of How to Become a Housesitter: Insider Tips from the Housesit Diva and Jump Start Your Book: Practical Tips for Harnessing Cutting-Edge Brain Science to Beat Your Writing Blocks and Unleash Your Creativity.