Exploring Life & Business with Savannah Greene of Terplyfe

Hi Savannah, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started my journey back in 2014, graduating from GA perimeter college with a sign language interpreting degree. During my college career, I was surviving domestic violence daily for years at this point, all while being pregnant and graduating with honors, and being a guest speaker at my own graduation!

While preparing myself to have a deaf child, I began to see the way the deaf aren’t included in anything and ate almost clueless to things about everyday life depending on their upbringing. It was awful. I vowed to be a lifetime advocate of the deaf community.

All while being the support to the domestic violence community that is so hush-hush, I built a platform to help those who can’t help themselves, I was that girl, and in some ways, I still am. It’s important that while my child isn’t deaf but still is a coda (child of a deaf adult family) that I support him and his family in every way, the way society treats the deaf is sad, and I’m here to be the little change to make a bigger change!

I have a few segments, “Asl in the streets.” A segment where everywhere I go, I try to spread deaf awareness and at least show people the name and short phrases, and people really take to it! Asl on the Red carpet, a segment where I go from red carpet events all over the city and sell in other states, and I connect with the top influencers and celebrities just to shed some light on deaf awareness and to speak to everyone. You’d be surprised to know that most people know a little asl. Being in the music industry too with independent underground artists is a great field too because in very to be b inclusive… deaf rappers and rappers who want to ad sign language to there stage… its a wonderful feeling.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It hasn’t, actually… domestic violence almost killed me three times. I had to keep stopping to recover, one time for almost a year. I went back home to do that to my mom. I’m from NJ. Going to NJ added to my frustration which is why I’m back here now. I created my company in 2016, the same day I got thrown out a window and survived. I was ready to hit the ground running, but all I did was hit the ground, but I got up surprisingly, but that recovery was another long road, but I never stopped… just paused, all while being a mom of two.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Terplyfe?
Terplyfe is known for a lot of things. Maybe a public organization that tries to focus on the deaf as a whole… events… asl videos… interviews in sign Language, unique events, and of course, the music and club scene. I also teach business startup and business credit building and the Importance. I want the deaf and the hearing to know I’m here to teach you. I have been to seminars, workshops, webinars conventions for years to gain this knowledge… experience is everything, and I am so transparent they see all the struggles I go through too.

I do community events and givebacks, along with being the co-founder of DeKalb County community resource network. Teach the kids basic asl every Thursday evening at 7 pm for over a year. They love it. We had a huge tea party for the kids recently in asl… it was great. I’m known for bringing the asl and making the party live.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I had a rough childhood behind closed doors but had an amazing childhood with my parents and family. I almost feel I lived a double life. The commonalities of child sexual abuse that an unimaginable number of children face rape and just traumatic situations make me who I am… I’m here for you like no one was for me and kind of still isn’t, but it’s OK. I am here for me too. (That felt sad saying)

But I went to private school and gained an understanding of being the only black girl in an all-white school, then going to public high school to not know what to do next. It doesn’t sound great, but I’m thankful. 🙏🏼