Grantee Spotlight: Meet Jewish Women International (JWI)
SRE Network invests in strengthening the capacity of Jewish organizations through grantmaking so that Jewish communities will be strengthened, become more cohesive, experience healing, and have deeper trust in each other, their institutions, and leaders. Over the past six years, SRE has invested over $6.5M across 108 projects and 52 organizations through its grantmaking, technical assistance, and partnerships.
Throughout the year, we provide grants to outstanding Jewish organizations whose organizations and projects focus on advancing the safety, respect, and equity across North America’s Jewish communal landscape. Over the coming weeks, we will shine the spotlight on SRE's twelve extraordinary spring 2024 field building grant recipients.
This week, we are excited to introduce you to Jewish Women International (JWI).
About JWI
JWI is the leading Jewish organization championing women and girls by preventing domestic violence and sexual abuse; addressing the intersection of domestic violence and gun violence; building pathways to long-term economic security, and strengthening access to every level of leadership in our communities, workplaces, and country.
About the Grant
With a two-year grant, JWI will continue its Here for You program, which offers trauma-informed, survivor-centered trainings for Jewish organizational staff, administration, and security teams, focusing on policies and procedures that support survivors of domestic violence and their children. Currently, JWI supports 50 organizations across 19 states with the Here for You program. This year, JWI will focus on launching additional Here for You Communities, aimed at fostering collaboration between local Jewish organizations and domestic violence agencies to create supportive environments for survivors and their families.
Q&A with JWI
SRE: Why is JWI excited to receive this grant? What change do you hope this grant will bring to your organization and the important work it does?
JWI: Here for You is a response to our 2021 needs assessment of domestic violence survivors and advocates who serve them. Survivors shared they felt not only unsupported, but shunned and shamed by their Jewish community. Here for You not only provides Jewish community organization staff with trainings to help them understand what it means to be a survivor of domestic violence, but how trauma might show up for children who are witnesses, helping organizations become truly supportive. Through work with security teams and senior staff, JWI helps organizations become safe spaces for survivors and families. Here for You is a community’s way of shifting from shame to support. We are grateful to SRE for being among the first supporters of Here for You and of continuing that support so that we can move from training individual organizations to creating whole community response and support. Funding this project meant that SRE understands that in order for organizations to be safe, respectful, and equitable for all staff, the community needs to be a place of safety and support for survivors of all forms of violence and abuse.
SRE: How has being a member of SRE Network impacted JWI?
JWI: SRE Network has provided a community of like-minded organizations and allies. Rather than feeling like we are working in silos, we know we have others to partner with and learn from.
SRE: What is your hope for the future of the broader Jewish nonprofit landscape?
JWI: In recent years, I have seen the Jewish community move closer together – finding ways to partner and support rather than compete and silo. It is my hope that we continue to move together – for the betterment of our community and people.
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Photos provided by JWI staff.
SRE Network promotes Jewish workplaces and communal spaces in becoming safe, respectful, and equitable through network building, resource sharing, and community investments. As a network of over 175 Jewish organizations, we are working towards a Jewish communal landscape where people are free from abuse, engage one another with dignity, and are treated fairly. Learn more at: www.srenetwork.org.