Praise for AMAZE! by Emma Milkin

Happy November everyone! In addition to being hard at work in the classroom, MTSE facilitators have had some exciting professional development opportunities to share. 

Last month I attended AMAZE’s SexEdCon and have nothing but positive things to report back.

A little bit about AMAZE, in case you aren’t familiar. AMAZE is an open, free platform with videos and content all related to sexuality education. It is a resource for teens, educators, parents and caregivers. These videos answer virtually every question imaginable regarding sexual health, gender identity, relationships, doctor visits, and much more. They were developed under Advocates For Youth, another favorite trusted sex ed org of ours.

Just a couple of weeks ago, I got the chance to take part in a virtual conference hosted by AMAZE. The event was organized and run by LeKara Simmons and Victoria Ogunleye – program managers and two of my favorite people I’ve met in recent history.

In just two two-hour sessions, the AMAZE team and their guests were able to cover an impressive amount of information in their presentations. Some highlights:

On day one, we learned about the importance of building sex ed programs that center racial justice in a discussion led by Nakisha T. Floyd and Brittany Broaddus- Smith. They demonstrated the use of their fascinating virtual classroom professional development software, which you can learn more about here.

On day two, keynote speaker Judy LoBianco led a discussion around the idea that teaching Sex Ed does not have to be complex. Judy shared with us the frustratingly relatable experience and impact of being a queer kid being taught strictly heterosexual-focused sex ed.

In a breakout session, we were given some valuable tools by Jess McIntosh when it comes to defending against disinformation. Jess guided us through building your message to support your values for your sex ed curriculum in the face of adversity. 

I am feeling equipped with lots of helpful resources and am thankful to the AMAZE team for organizing such an awesome event.

MTSE is proud to have a connection to this wonderful organization. Visit amaze.org to check out all of the exciting educational content AMAZE has to offer!