Arik Housley · Author of Always November
A School & Campus Keynote on Grief, Loss, and Coming Back
Students carry more than they show — the loss of a parent, a friend, a sense of safety.
Arik Housley speaks directly to students and the educators who support them, turning his own story of loss into a message about resilience that meets young people where they are.
Why Schools & Universities Book Arik
Arik Housley lost his daughter, Alaina, in the 2018 Borderline Bar & Grill shooting — a tragedy that touched schools and communities across Southern California. Rather than let it define him, he wrote Always November: Lessons in Loss, Love, and Resilience, an Amazon bestseller, and built a keynote that speaks honestly to students, staff, and families about grief without being heavy-handed or clinical.
His message has been featured by Pepperdine University and resonates with audiences from middle schoolers to college freshmen to the faculty who care for them.
Schools and universities bring Arik in for:
- Assemblies and all-school gatherings
- Wellness weeks and mental health awareness events
- Staff and counselor professional development days
- Freshman orientation and campus wellness programming
- District-wide events following a community tragedy or loss
What He Covers
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Grief in schools
How loss shows up in the classroom, and what teachers, counselors, and administrators can do about it
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Student mental health and resilience
Practical, age-appropriate tools for processing hard things without shutting down
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Loss and healing
An honest, non-clinical conversation about grief that students actually connect with
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Living with tragedy, not in it
Arik’s framework for carrying loss while still showing up for school, friends, and the future
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Building a culture of care on campus
Helping educators recognize when a student is struggling and respond with confidence
The Arik Housley Story
Arik Housley is a father, husband, and community leader from Napa Valley whose family chose — deliberately, and daily — to find the positive in every moment after losing their daughter Alaina.
His book, Always November, and his ongoing work through the Alaina’s Voice Foundation, have made him a trusted voice for schools and universities looking to talk honestly with students about grief, mental health, and resilience.
What People Say
As a high school principal, his message of love, compassion, family, faith and community captured the heart of a room full of teens.
Maria Cisneros Principal, Valley Oak High & Napa Valley Independent Studies
Arik has made the admirable commitment to speak, share, and educate with courage and transparency… his words resonate powerfully.
Mark Shapiro, MD Producer/Host of Explore The Space Podcast
Give your students and staff a keynote that treats grief and resilience with honesty, not a script. Available for school assemblies, campus wellness events, and staff trainings nationwide.
Contact Form
Contact Arik and he’ll be back to you 24‑48 hours.