Leveraging GroupMe for Safety and Community

Oct 21, 2024


In January 2023, students from Louisiana State University founded LSU Girls Rides, a GroupMe community chat designed to provide a secure way for female students at Louisiana State University to find and offer rides. This initiative was inspired by the tragic death of Madison Brooks and the shared experiences of young women feeling unsafe in rideshares. After tragic events occurring on her campus, Alisha Ortolano was on the GroupMe app for another class and this idea struck her, what if women had a way to get safe rides from each other?

Alisha along with now President Adriana recently appeared on TigerTV to discuss the group’s growth and future plans. She highlighted the group’s expansion and introduced their mascots, symbolizing the group’s vibrant and supportive community.

LSU Girls Rides is a shining example of how a simple idea can grow into a vital community resource. By leveraging GroupMe, LSU Girls Rides have created a platform that not only addresses the immediate need for safe rides but also fosters a supportive and connected community for female students at LSU.

Here are some of the ways Alisha leverages GroupMe to foster a safe and secure ride sharing community at LSU:

Ease of Use: GroupMe makes it simple for members to join and chat, which is crucial for coordinating last-minute rides and ensuring immediate responses in emergencies.

Topics for Specific Needs: LSU Girls Rides created topics within GroupMe for different purposes, such as emergency rides, which ensures that help is always available when needed.

Community Building: Beyond ridesharing, the GroupMe chat has become a support network where members can seek advice on various topics, fostering a sense of community among LSU’s female students.

How to Join: For those interested in joining LSU Girls Rides, more information can be found on their Instagram page @lsugirlsrides. The group continues to welcome new members, aiming to provide a safe and supportive environment for all female students at LSU.

Want to start a safe ride program on your campus? Here's how:

Get the app: Download the GroupMe App or navigate to GroupMe.com and create an account.

Create a Group Chat: Once logged in, create a new “Group Chat”. This will be the central hub for all communications. 

Invite Members: Send out invites to your friends + fellow classmates. You can do this directly within the app by sharing a join link or entering their phone number.


In January 2023, students from Louisiana State University founded LSU Girls Rides, a GroupMe community chat designed to provide a secure way for female students at Louisiana State University to find and offer rides. This initiative was inspired by the tragic death of Madison Brooks and the shared experiences of young women feeling unsafe in rideshares. After tragic events occurring on her campus, Alisha Ortolano was on the GroupMe app for another class and this idea struck her, what if women had a way to get safe rides from each other?

Alisha along with now President Adriana recently appeared on TigerTV to discuss the group’s growth and future plans. She highlighted the group’s expansion and introduced their mascots, symbolizing the group’s vibrant and supportive community.

LSU Girls Rides is a shining example of how a simple idea can grow into a vital community resource. By leveraging GroupMe, LSU Girls Rides have created a platform that not only addresses the immediate need for safe rides but also fosters a supportive and connected community for female students at LSU.

Here are some of the ways Alisha leverages GroupMe to foster a safe and secure ride sharing community at LSU:

Ease of Use: GroupMe makes it simple for members to join and chat, which is crucial for coordinating last-minute rides and ensuring immediate responses in emergencies.

Topics for Specific Needs: LSU Girls Rides created topics within GroupMe for different purposes, such as emergency rides, which ensures that help is always available when needed.

Community Building: Beyond ridesharing, the GroupMe chat has become a support network where members can seek advice on various topics, fostering a sense of community among LSU’s female students.

How to Join: For those interested in joining LSU Girls Rides, more information can be found on their Instagram page @lsugirlsrides. The group continues to welcome new members, aiming to provide a safe and supportive environment for all female students at LSU.

Want to start a safe ride program on your campus? Here's how:

Get the app: Download the GroupMe App or navigate to GroupMe.com and create an account.

Create a Group Chat: Once logged in, create a new “Group Chat”. This will be the central hub for all communications. 

Invite Members: Send out invites to your friends + fellow classmates. You can do this directly within the app by sharing a join link or entering their phone number.


In January 2023, students from Louisiana State University founded LSU Girls Rides, a GroupMe community chat designed to provide a secure way for female students at Louisiana State University to find and offer rides. This initiative was inspired by the tragic death of Madison Brooks and the shared experiences of young women feeling unsafe in rideshares. After tragic events occurring on her campus, Alisha Ortolano was on the GroupMe app for another class and this idea struck her, what if women had a way to get safe rides from each other?

Alisha along with now President Adriana recently appeared on TigerTV to discuss the group’s growth and future plans. She highlighted the group’s expansion and introduced their mascots, symbolizing the group’s vibrant and supportive community.

LSU Girls Rides is a shining example of how a simple idea can grow into a vital community resource. By leveraging GroupMe, LSU Girls Rides have created a platform that not only addresses the immediate need for safe rides but also fosters a supportive and connected community for female students at LSU.

Here are some of the ways Alisha leverages GroupMe to foster a safe and secure ride sharing community at LSU:

Ease of Use: GroupMe makes it simple for members to join and chat, which is crucial for coordinating last-minute rides and ensuring immediate responses in emergencies.

Topics for Specific Needs: LSU Girls Rides created topics within GroupMe for different purposes, such as emergency rides, which ensures that help is always available when needed.

Community Building: Beyond ridesharing, the GroupMe chat has become a support network where members can seek advice on various topics, fostering a sense of community among LSU’s female students.

How to Join: For those interested in joining LSU Girls Rides, more information can be found on their Instagram page @lsugirlsrides. The group continues to welcome new members, aiming to provide a safe and supportive environment for all female students at LSU.

Want to start a safe ride program on your campus? Here's how:

Get the app: Download the GroupMe App or navigate to GroupMe.com and create an account.

Create a Group Chat: Once logged in, create a new “Group Chat”. This will be the central hub for all communications. 

Invite Members: Send out invites to your friends + fellow classmates. You can do this directly within the app by sharing a join link or entering their phone number.

✦ EST 2010 ✦ NEW YORK CITY
✦ EST 2010 ✦ NEW YORK CITY
✦ EST 2010 ✦ NEW YORK CITY
✦ EST 2010 ✦ NEW YORK CITY