(Courtesy of Shalom Task Force) Shalom Task Force (STF) is excited to announce that applications are now open for the 2022-2023 Purple Fellowship cohort. This program is open to high school juniors and seniors interested in growing into leadership roles in the Jewish community. Since its launching in 2020, 121 students from 30 Jewish high schools across North America have participated in The Purple Fellowship
Fellows attend an eight-week intensive training program that covers important topics including understanding healthy and unhealthy relationships, domestic abuse and the Jewish community, and being a supportive friend, as well as advocacy, leadership and fundraising skills. Students develop skills to become active community leaders. One fellow shared: “The Purple Fellowship taught me so much about a topic I knew nothing about. It has inspired me to continue to spread awareness and the importance of being a leader in my community.”
Purple Fellows gain an extensive understanding of domestic abuse and healthy relationships while learning vital leadership skills. The fellowship culminates with the participants planning Go Purple Day, a day of awareness and education for their school. Last year, Fellows successfully planned awareness events for over 9,000 Jewish high school students.
One fellow noted that “being a Purple Fellow taught me that doing something as simple as asking students and faculty members to show up wearing purple at a fundraising event, or to help sell purple-frosted doughnuts, could inspire them to think about battling domestic abuse.”
“They felt empowered and prepared and were able to share with their fellow students. To be honest, I was a bit nervous for the students to lead the day and conversation, but I now see how powerful it is for the students to hear from their peers,” shared one school administrator about the program.
Due to the program’s growth over the past two years, STF is excited to launch Purple Fellowship Advisors, a program for college students. Following extensive training, Advisors will be leading weekly discussion groups with our fellows throughout the training. “We are thrilled to launch this new leadership opportunity for college students. It truly allows our students to see the power of peer-to-peer education,” said Dr. Shana Frydman, executive director of STF.
For two years running, the program was awarded a Purple Ribbon Award medallion in the category of Outstanding Youth Initiative of the Year by the Theresa’s Fund and DomesticShelters.org. STF is also grateful for the foundations that support this program: Hadassah Foundation, Arev Fund, Neshamot Fund (UJA Westchester), The Slomo and Cindy Silvian Foundation, and UJA-JCC Greenwich Teen Changemakers.
The application for the Purple Fellowship is now live on the Shalom Task Force website. To learn more and to apply, please visit shalomtaskforce.org/purple-fellowship.
Please call, text, or WhatsApp the confidential Shalom Task Force Hotline at 888-883-2323 or chat with a live advocate at www.shalomtaskforce.org.
