CONNECTIONS (Working title)

CONNECTIONS is a short documentary that explores how comprehensive sex education can be implemented in such a way as to be inclusive of and responsive to the experiences of youth of color, LGBT youth, and specifically Latino/a youth.

This film will allow Latino/a youth to have their voices heard, open up the lines of communication between students and educators and allow for more mutual understanding, and enable educators to examine how dominant culture may result in the alienation of certain students in sex education. The film will benefit the field of sex education by making what's typically invisible more visible and recognizing students who are excluded from an assets-based approach. 

The goal of our film is to:

• Empower sex educators with insights and tools to facilitate comprehensive sex education programs that are inclusive of and responsive to the experiences of youth of color; gay, lesbian and transgender youth; and challenge gender roles, and
• Empower Latino/a youth by providing the space for them to share their perspectives on sex education, thereby raising awareness about larger issues and assets that can influence approaches to sex education.

We hope to accomplish this goal by:

• Including youth perspectives that illuminate how some approaches to sex education can be alienating and  articulating what youth really want incorporated in sex education curriculums.
• Spotlighting practices, qualities and qualifications that make for engaging and effective sex educators who connect well and are trusted by youth. 
• Placing youth sexuality in the context of their broader experiences living in their communities and how those experiences impact how they perceive and relate to sex education.

We hope this film will be an educational tool to help sex educators create a comfortable space for discussion, and to advocate for teens excluded by the normative practices of sex education.

The filmmakers

• Mahn Hakchareun
• Nissa Poulsen 
• Natalie Teter
• with Itatiaia Daniel as a principal researcher

Learn about how we work and how to get involved.

Films will release May 2012!

Save the Date: Documentary for Health & Social Justice Film Screening

Thursday, May 17, 2012
Reception at 6:30pm
Screening at 7:00pm
Location: Coppola Theater (Fine Arts 101)
San Francisco State University