Those of us who love the Annex Teen Clinic know that part of what makes us so special is our focus on providing sexuality education and sexual health care by partnering with young people. Partnering. Not directing or making their decisions for them. We do what we do through a positive youth development lens because we know that it is more effective, more engaging, and ultimately more empowering for the people we work with.
When the opportunity arose to submit a proposal to SXSWEdu, Hannah Mikhelson (Brooklyn Center Health Mentor) and I decided to take the chance to share what we’re doing and why it is so important. We submitted a proposal about facilitating sexuality education through a positive youth development lens, something that is near and dear to our hearts. And, we were chosen!
The SXSWedu® Conference & Festival fosters and celebrates innovations in learning by hosting a diverse and energetic community of stakeholders across a variety of backgrounds in education. The annual four-day event affords registrants open access to engaging sessions, immersive workshops, interactive learning experiences, film screenings, early-stage startups, business opportunities and networking. Through collaboration, creativity and social action, SXSWedu empowers its global community to Connect. Discover. Impact. SXSWedu is a component of the South by Southwest® family of conferences and festivals.
It is such an exciting opportunity for Hannah and me to share something that we are so passionate about with others who are invested in education that is innovative and engaging! It’s also our chance to brag about what the Annex and others in Minnesota are doing, and hopefully engage others in recognizing that sexuality education is essential to healthy youth development and can be delivered in a way that is engaging and meaningful to young people.
