Two women, connected by JWI, partner to produce a powerful play on sexual violence.

By Megan Dorward

Every year, JWI brings young women from all over the country to capitol hill to meet with senior staff and key congressional leaders. As part of our dedication to civic engagement, we meet with more than 20 Congressional offices to discuss key legislative issues including the Violence Against Women Act, Reproductive Rights, gun violence prevention, and equal pay. Read more to learn more about one attendees experience and consider joining us on April 1st from 8:00am-1:00pm.

In the last year, JWI and the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence have spent countless hours working to update the Violence Against Women Act. Here’s what you need to know before the bill is finally introduced this week.

By Sasha Altschuler and Erin McMullen

Here at JWI, several of us identify as members of Bachelor Nation, and Caelynn’s disclosure to Colton about her experiences as a sexual assault survivor deeply resonated with us. One in five women are sexual assault survivors, which means one in five women watching the Bachelor are victims of sexual assault. Caelynn’s public confession is more than incredibly brave; it’s an opportunity to open a critical dialogue.

By Monica Edelman

I don’t know the race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, ability, or personal history of the vast majority of my fundraiser’s donors. In this digital age, for me they are generous little circular profile pictures alerting me of a new donation every thirty seconds. For two days I watched their faces flash and flash, over and over, continually curating new donations on the screen of my cell phone in what was a beautiful slideshow of names, both familiar and foreign, giving what they could to help out complete strangers.

By Valerie Brown

How my mom’s civic engagement has transformed from informed citizen to activist extraordinaire - and what she’s done for her community this year.

By Idalia Friedson

We were a sight to behold:  six Jews and two Hindus standing shoulder to shoulder on the synagogue bimah (stage) , smiling and teary-eyed as we watched “Abe” receive a new Hebrew name, an important part of his Jewish identity. He  beamed as the Rabbi blessed him and gave him the new name, one that he could now use as a transgender man.

As we watch Dr. Christine Blasey Ford testify before the Senate committee, we need no further confirmation of the of the life-altering trauma that she has suffered and survived at the hands of Brett Kavanaugh, and we are outraged on her behalf. 

Yet the actions and statements made by some of our political leaders have moved us back in time – back to a time when sexual assault and domestic violence survivors were silenced and incidents where men take advantage of women were swept under the rug.

By Nancy C. Snowden

I am often asked why I work for a fraternity and what I as a woman could possibly glean, let alone benefit from, in this role. While I could provide numerous examples of what working for a fraternity has taught me, what I have learned about the desperate need for more resources and transparency around men, masculinity, and mental health often takes my breath away.  

By Sasha Altschuler

With 67 days until the midterm elections, voting is on my mind. A vote is more than helping shape the future, it's about acknowledging and honoring the past. We are responsible for continuing the legacy of the women who fought for our right to vote; we owe it to our communities to act as a catalyst for change by taking our voices to the polls.

By Erin McMullen

Here at JWI, many of us identify as devout supporters of Bachelor Nation and we’ve been watching this season of Bachelor in Paradise every Monday and Tuesday. However, we were deeply frustrated last night about Leo’s disrespectful treatment of Kendall that exhibited classic signs of gaslighting.

By Nancy C. Snowden

I remember clearly one conversation about attire, what to wear, what not to wear. The advice I was given was this: “Always wear a suit, you want to model what they wear; you want to be one of them.” I struggled with this because if you know even the smallest bit about my personality, a suit is the farthest thing from being representative of who I am.

By Steph Black

Pride is the annual round of parades and other events held this time of year everywhere from New York to Sao Paulo to Tokyo. These festive gatherings--places where LGBTQ folks can celebrate who they are and how they feel—are filled with joy and rainbows. They are also one of the few times a year LGBT people can be truly visible.

By Steph Black

Pride is the annual round of parades and other events held this time of year everywhere from New York to Sao Paulo to Tokyo. These festive gatherings--places where LGBTQ folks can celebrate who they are and how they feel—are filled with joy and rainbows. They are also one of the few times a year LGBT people can be truly visible.

By Steph Black

Pride is the annual round of parades and other events held this time of year everywhere from New York to Sao Paulo to Tokyo. These festive gatherings--places where LGBTQ folks can celebrate who they are and how they feel—are filled with joy and rainbows. They are also one of the few times a year LGBT people can be truly visible.

By Rebecca Sereboff

As a child, I understood “Love your neighbor as yourself” to mean that I needed to respect my family, my friends, and my community. As I grew older, that community expanded to include more and more aspects of a diverse world; the concept of tolerance for all became the cornerstone for how I understood Judaism and how I honor my roots.

By Sue Tomchin

Journalist Elaine Weiss thinks of herself as well-read.  She votes in every election and considers herself politically aware. But five years ago she realized there was a glaring gap in her knowledge.

By Steph Black

The Equal Rights Amendment is officially one state closer to being ratified into our Constitution thanks to the incredible work of the people of Illinois. Which means that there is one state left to go. Inch by inch, our country is moving the needle towards a more equal and just union.

By Leah Enelow

By portraying women more accurately and telling more stories from their perspective, movies and TV shows can elevate the way women are viewed by audiences and, consequently, how they are treated in society.

By Ariela Cohen

As a member of JWI’s Young Women’s Leadership Network I was fortunate to be able to attend The United State of Women (USOW) Summit that took place on May 5-6 in Los Angeles. The passion and commitment of the women I encountered galvanized me. I’m now ready to roll up my sleeves and get involved.

By Valerie Brown

This past weekend I joined a group of 15 people between the ages of 23 and 33 with Act Now Houston on a service/learning trip to Houston, Texas, to aid with Hurricane Harvey relief. Though the hurricane has disappeared from the news, rebuilding continues in Houston, primarily in low-income areas.

by Danielle Cantor

Before World War II, before she became a fashion icon, Judith Leiber, who died on Sunday, April 29, at age 97 - a few hours after the passing of her husband of 72 years - made high-end handbags in Budapest, Hungary.

Last week, we asked men why it's important to be leaders in their communities to support survivors and fight sexual assault. This week, we asked: How are you working to #ChangetheCulture to prevent sexual assault? The individuals you'll hear from below reaffirm that there are so many ways to advocate - creating cultural changes in the workplace, teaching children that they have control over their bodies, modeling healthy relationships, simply having a conversation about #MeToo - and more. 

Men and boys have a critical role to play in responding to the #MeToo movement. For Sexual Assault Awareness Month, JWI asked men how they can be leaders in supporting survivors and the fight against sexual assault.

JWI believes engaging men and boys is a key component to ending gender-based violence. Our programs Boy to Mentsch, Green Light Go, Safe Smart Dating, #ChangeTheCulture, Ladies and Gentlemen, and Good Guys provide tools to promote healthy masculinity and facilitate discussions around sexual assault and harassment. 

by Sue Tomchin

Psychologist Robin Stern is committed to empowering us to break free from the spell of manipulative relationships—whether in the public sphere or in personal lives. Her advice is something we all need to listen to.

On March 15, Stern spoke to an audience of over 200 shelter professionals taking part in one of JWI’s monthly webinars, educating them about the signs of gaslighting and how they can help clients recover from its effects.

by Rabbi Richard Hirsh

What an odd moment in American cultural history surrounds this coming season of Purim. The opening chapters of the Megillah are replete with narratives that resonate in contemporary terms. A husband orders his wife to appear wearing her royal diadem — and, in the midrashic imagination, “nothing else” — for the amusement of his banquet guests, none of whom speak to the inappropriate and degrading demand.