Get to know the #HealthyTeen19 Featured Speakers:

For the closing session of the 2019 conference on Wednesday, October 30, facilitator Jennifer Driver, and panelists Tanya Bass, Brittany Broaddus-Smith, and Shawn Kelly will challenge you on how you can work together with groups who are consistently left out of the sex-positive discussion. Policymakers, schools, and faith communities are often hesitant to embrace sex ed because of fear of sexual promotion. This panel discussion, titled “The Church and State: What I Can Do Now to Promote Sex+,” will connect the ways in which the three worlds can work together to advance sex-positive sex education for young people.

Jennifer Driver is the Director of State Policy with the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS). In this position, she is responsible for overseeing state and territory policy analyses, planning and managing research, and state policy development across the organization. Prior to joining the team at SIECUS, Jennifer served as the Manager of Training and Education for Welcoming America, where her work focused on the intersection of immigration, racism, education, health, and policy. Her previous experience also includes working for Power to Decide (formerly the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy) and the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power and Potential. Utilizing public health and intersectional frameworks, Jennifer focuses much of her work on advocating for the health and well-being of young people—paying particular attention to youth of color, immigrants, youth in care, and LGBTQ communities—as she shapes and advances public policy efforts at SIECUS.

Tanya Bass, MS, MEd, CHES®, CSE, is the founder of the North Carolina Sexual Health Conference (NCSEXCON). With over 20 years of experience, she is a subject matter expert in the field of health education, minority health, pregnancy preventions, HIV/STIs, reproductive health, and sexual health. Tanya is a member of the Women of Color Sexual Health Network (WoCSHN), the Association of Black Sexologists and Clinicians (ABSC), the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT), and the North Carolina Society for Public Health Education (NCSOPHE). She is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and an AASECT Certified Sexuality Educator (CSE). She is a current member of the editorial board for the American Journal of Sexuality Education. Tanya is an alumna of North Carolina Central University’s Department of Public Health Education, where she has served as an adjunct instructor for the past 15 years. Currently, Tanya is the lead instructor for Human Sexuality. She enjoys planning as well as attending professional development events. Tanya is committed to sexual health equity and is pursuing her PhD at Widener University in Human Sexuality Studies.

Brittany Broaddus-Smith is the founder and lead educator of The Intimacy Firm. The Intimacy Firm is an intimacy consulting and sexuality education organization. Brittany earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degrees in both social work and sexuality education. As a licensed social worker, she has experience providing both individual and couples counseling. With her unique personality, she is willing to tackle those “taboo” subjects head-on with comprehensive sex education, coaching, and counseling for groups and individuals. Working in the intersection of sexuality and faith, Brittany aims to use both evidence-based and biblically sound practices to empower individuals to discover, embrace, and navigate their sexual selves without compromising their values.

Shawn Kelly is an organizer, trainer, and advocate for social change. Shawn was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. Growing up in New Orleans, Shawn saw firsthand how important community activism and organizing was to growing movements and reshaping communities. As soon as Shawn got to college, he started becoming involved in student leadership and activism. He interned at the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights and helped with the “Raise the Age” campaign. Shawn has worked and been involved in numerous campaigns, but he tries to focus on sexual public health and youth development. Shawn focuses on trying to innovate, create, and bring new ideas to the spaces of organizing and activism. Shawn currently works in Sexual Public Health as a trainer working to reshape how Louisiana looks at STI/HIV. He is also a fellow at the New Orleans Youth Alliance, where he and other young people fight on behalf of the youth of New Orleans to combat the numerous issues that they face as a community and as a generation. Shawn is keen to use his voice, mind, and body to provoke change, progress, and movement and he will continue to do so as long as he is able.

Read on about our other #HealthyTeen19 featured sessions:

• Sex-Positivity: It’s Super Simple
• Melanin Poppin’: Colorblind Politics Plaguing Sexuality Education

Will we see you in New Orleans in October? Don’t delay—early bird savings end August 30!