Name: Taylor Grenga
Year: Junior
Major: Political Science
Hometown: Cranston, RI
Tell us about your involvement and fundraising with JWI and Safe Smart Dating.
Jewish Women International is one of SDT’s national philanthropy organizations. One of their main goals is preventing domestic violence, so they’re working on educating teens and young adults about healthy relationships. Last year, we ran a program called “Safe Smart Dating,” which is JWI’s curriculum for college campuses. It helps students figure out their communication style and learn to improve communication with their partner. It also teaches students how to identify potential red flags in their relationships or their friends’ relationships.
JWI also does work with domestic violence survivors, including sponsoring children’s libraries in domestic violence shelters. To help support their work, SDT fundraises through our annual “Love Shouldn’t Hurt” chocolate rose sale and by selling JWI’s signature OPI nail color, Girls Achieve Grapeness.
You’re involved with a club called SHARE. What is SHARE and what do you do with them?
SHARE stands for Sexual Health Advocacy, Resources, and Education. We’re affiliated with Planned Parenthood, so a lot of what we do is educational programming and meetings around safe sex–you may have seen us around campus handing out Sexual Health Resource Guides and free condoms. We focus on other issues related to sexual health and reproductive justice as well, like affirmative consent, access to health services, and comprehensive sex ed.
What does women’s empowerment mean to you, and why is it so important to you?
To me, women’s empowerment means making sure that every woman has the knowledge and resources she needs to make decisions about her own life. It’s important to me because women are still often undervalued in our society, especially women who are also marginalized in other ways. I want to help work toward a society where every woman has the opportunity to achieve her goals and make her own choices, and where women are recognized and respected for their tremendous contributions to society.
What’s the most important piece of advice you can give to us about healthy dating and relationships?
I’m by no means an expert on dating or relationships, but so far what I’ve learned from these programs is that respectful communication is incredibly important. It might not solve every problem, but being honest with your partner and being willing to listen to their thoughts and feelings can only help.