What does it mean to go back to school amidst a global pandemic? How can we continue to center young people in the fight for liberation? Where do collective joy and pleasure live in a time where physical distance is paramount to our health and safety?

These are some of the questions we find ourselves confronting at ICAH as we support our communities fighting for justice and step into the fall season. We don’t have all the answers, but here are some things we know:

Young people drive their own destinies and deserve abundant support on the way. 

Pleasure is not incidental but essential to our growth and learning.

Sexuality education saves lives!

These values shaped our journey to create our new comprehensive sexuality education curriculum, A Pleasure Centered Guide to S.L.A.Y.: Sexually Liberated and Affirmed Youth. Developed entirely in partnership with CHAT organizers and youth facilitators, this curriculum offers young people opportunities to communicate and explore their values, goals and options regarding all things sex and sexuality. As one of our peer educators says, it is a model to help us all “be safe, so you can have a good time!” We know that this is what revolutionary education looks like.

Now that we’ve built A Pleasure Centered Guide to S.L.A.Y., we need your help to launch and share it with our communities this year! Most schools are left without a plan for comprehensive, virtual sex education in the midst of COVID. We are asking for donations from generous supporters like you, who believe that youth have a right to sexuality education that is adaptable, accessible, and empowering.

The curriculum offers young people tools to learn the cultural, emotional, and social aspects of sexuality while using ICAH’s signature-style of game-based learning. All ICAH Curriculum reflects a youth-centered approach to sexuality education that is firmly rooted in reproductive justice and:

• Medically Accurate

• Developmentally and Age Appropriate

• Culturally Sensitive 

• Trauma-Informed

• Harm and Risk Reductive

• Sex-Positive and Pleasure-Centered

• LGBTQQIA+ inclusive

• Pro-Choice

The curriculum includes:

• 16 workshops aligned with the National Sexuality Education Standards with clearly scaffolded, adaptable lesson plans, tailored to the age, experience, accessibility needs, and comfort level of the facilitator and students (ages 12-22).

• Facilitation strategies and techniques including tips and tricks from veteran ICAH facilitators, FYI theatre artists, and youth facilitators.

• Unique arts-integration strategies using theatre and performance to explore complex topics and conversations surrounding sex and sexuality.

• Affirming messaging and a vast appendix of materials surrounding multiple identities often omitted from Sex Ed curricula, including Intersex  anatomies, trans/gender and gender non-conforming identities, and asexuality, just to name just a few.

“Consent matters. Don’t let anyone manipulate you.” - student, Tinley Park High School

[The most powerful thing I learned today is] “… that gay people can be portrayed.” - student, Tinley Park High School

[The most powerful thing I learned today is] “...to stand up for what you believe in and always stand up for your rights.” - student, Pedro Albizu Campos High School

“We, as youth, really do have a strong voice.” - student, Pedro Albizu Campos High School

“I realized during yes/no/maybe that a lot of physical behaviors are normalized socially but I don’t have to continue them (handshakes, hugs).” - participant, Young Chicago Authors

“It made me reevaluate what I thought choices meant and decision-making. I have a better meaning of consent.” - participant, Young Chicago Authors

“Theater/roleplaying can be an opportunity to open teaching [up] to the whole room.” - participant, Young Chicago Authors

“I learned a lot of choices I could do to make sure I am safe” - 6th grade student, Chicago Jesuit Academy

[The most powerful thing I learned today is] “safe sex [and] proper techniques of using condoms.” - participant, Broadway Youth Center

[The most powerful thing I learned today is] “sexual violence can happen to anybody.” - participant, Assata’s Daughters

“I think differently about my health and how to go about keeping myself healthy.” - participant, Assata’s Daughters

[The most powerful thing I learned was] “intersex parts.” - student, Fenger Academy High School

“The most powerful thing I learned during these workshops [was] safer sex and consent before having sex. It’s important because you need to protect yourself from STIs and consent because you need to have permission to have sex with someone.” - student, Excel Academy of Englewood

This curriculum needs to be shared as soon as possible. Your support to launch this will bring us closer to making comprehensive sex education by and for youth a reality. Join us in taking a small revolutionary move forward. Donations of any amount are tax-deductible and crucial in achieving this goal and can be made easily using the form above. Help us build towards a future where all young people are safe, affirmed, and healthy.

Stay tuned for details.