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Our Work
As an entirely student-run group at Wesleyan University, ASHA works to provide young people with the resources and knowledge they need to make autonomous and informed sexual decisions. As college students ourselves, we empower young people to be active participants in their sexual education and to take charge of their bodies, as well as their emotional and physical health.
Values: Why we do it.
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Centering consent: we teach comprehensive, inclusive, and consent-based sex-ed.
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Intentional inclusion: it is essential for our members and work to reflect the many intersections of identity, including but not limited to gender, race, sexuality, sexual activity, socio-economic background, and ability.
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Rigorous representation: we strive to ensure that every person that comes in contact with ASHA’s programming feels valued and represented in our work.
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Safety & Support: we condemn sexual misconduct, violence, harm, or any other mistreatment that crosses someone’s physical or emotional boundaries; we work to provide students with the resources they need to navigate harmful experiences.
Practice: How we do it.
ASHA leads interactive workshops, taught by Wesleyan undergraduate students, at local high schools and within Wesleyan’s community that cover STIs, safer sex practices, sexual assault prevention, communication, consent, relationships, and other sexual health issues. ASHA is committed to holding events, creating content, working with other Wesleyan organizations, and bringing speakers to campus that all deal with sexual health in creative and critical ways.
1-Day, 2-Day, or Modular Curriculum
Our curriculum is entirely adjustable to meet each school's needs.
1-Day Curriculum
8 sections in 45-75 minutes.
Our 1-Day Curriculum lasts 45-75 minutes (depending on length of period) in total and discusses the following topics: (1) Difference, Power, and Oppression; (2) Desires, Boundaries, and Consent; (3) Sexual Violence and Bystander Intervention; (4) STIs, Condoms, and Contraception; 5) Body Image and Sexuality; 6) Pleasure, Orgasm, and Masturbation; 7) Media Literacy; and 8) Healthy Relationships. This workshop will conclude with an anonymous questions opportunity for students.
2-Day Curriculum
8 sections over two 45-75 minute periods.
Day 1 lasts 45-75 minutes in total and discusses the following topics: (1) Difference, Power, and Oppression; (2) Desires, Boundaries, and Consent; (3) Sexual Violence and Bystander Intervention; and (4) STIs, Condoms, and Contraception. ASHA teachers will arrive with comprehensive resource sheets and the workshops will end with an opportunity for anonymous questions from students. Day 2 also lasts 45-75 minutes in total and discusses the following topics: 1) Body Image and Sexuality; 2) Pleasure, Orgasm, and Masturbation; 3) Media Literacy; and 4) Healthy Relationships. Again, this workshop will conclude with an anonymous questions opportunity for students.
Modular Curriculum
Pick any of our 8 sections for us to cover in your classes. Each section expanded to fit one entire period. Up to eight periods possible. This option will allow for a more iterative learning process and for your students to form better connections with our teachers.
from a student
"The ASHA teachers and curriculum were very confident and helped us learn with a positive attitude. They were great and presented everything very well and always took questions...Didn’t make things feel uncomfortable, and when students would answer they would make them feel good about it and made a safe space for people to speak up. They were really down to earth with us."
from a teacher
"ASHA is an incredible addition to our curriculum...very powerful program."
from a student
"I think the presenters were very open, accepting and respectful. I appreciated their honesty on the broad range of topics covered. They covered a lot of things that are in theory commonly known. However, I think that it was important to go over these things in an informative and safe setting in order to make sure any prior knowledge we may have had was correct, as well as learn new things."
Meet the Team!
Coordinators make ASHA happen--behind the scenes, during our weekly meetings, our on-campus events, and our connections with schools. To prioritize the sustainability and institutional knowledge of how things work, our team is comprised of both senior and junior coordinators--seniors train juniors for the next generation of ASHA.
Our Work at Wesleyan
Subcommittees are run by Core, our leadership committee dedicated to running smaller interest groups and assisting in the planning and execution of everything ASHA. ASHA-Wide may not get to cover everything that pertains to sex and sexuality, so if you want to talk more about something specific: considering joining ASHA-Core and leading a subcommittee, or joining one that is already running! From open discussions on negative experiences surrounding sex, to editing our curriculum, to discussing the media and its portrayal of sex and sexual activity, there’s a subcommittee for everyone! See something that’s missing? Make one!
Dirty talks are a way to talk about whatever interests you in the safe, exploratory, and affirming space of ASHA-Wide. Whether it’s a game or a discussion, topics that range from sexting to thesis presentations—you’ll have the opportunity to sign up for a slot at the beginning of the semester so that you can discuss what excites YOU about sex and sexuality!
ASHAlumni
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
Meet our ASHA alumni making waves in related fields, from sexual health education to policy advocacy. This section highlights their journeys, showing how their work supports ASHA’s mission and inspires a new generation of leaders! Add us on LinkedIn.
Reach Out
Ask us an anonymous question! Leave your email if you'd like us to get back to you; otherwise, check our Instagram to see our answer. If you are a student or teacher who wants us in your school, please let us know here as well!
You can also always reach us at asha.wesleyan@gmail.com. We check here daily.