Loretta Ross

Activist, Public intellectual, Scholar, Educator.

Loretta J. Ross is an activist, public intellectual, scholar, the 2022 recipient of the MacArthur Foundation "Genius" award and an Associate Professor at Smith College. She has a passion for innovating creative imagining about global human rights and social justice issues and started her career in activism and social change in the 1970s. In 1978, she was the third executive director for DC Rape Crisis Center, the first rape crisis center in the country. This was her entry point into the women’s movement where she learned about women’s human rights, reproductive justice, white supremacy, and women of color organizing. Through her organizing she helped launch the movement to end violence against women that has evolved into today's #MeToo movement. Throughout her 50-year career, she has worked with the National Football League Players' Association, the National Organization for Women (NOW), the National Black Women's Health Project, the Center for Democratic Renewal (National Anti-Klan Network), the National Center for Human Rights Education, and SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective. Loretta retired as an organizer in 2012 to teach and follow her passion to educate. In 1996, she founded the first center in the U.S. to innovate creative human rights education for all students transforming social justice issues to be more collaborative and less divisive. In her work Calling In the Calling Out Culture, she transforms how people can overcome political differences to use empathy and respect to guide difficult conversations. In 2023, Loretta was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.

Sarah Curley

Prevention Coordinator

Sarah Curley (she, her, hers) is a Prevention Coordinator with the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault (WCASA). She completed her bachelor's degree at UW Eau Claire, and then moved to Sitka, Alaska, where she worked as the Children's Program Coordinator for a local advocacy organization. She returned to Wisconsin in 2016 and continued her work in advocacy and serving survivors of violence at The Women's Center in Waukesha. In 2018 she moved to Madison to complete her master's degree in public health. She has been with WCASA since 2020 and loves that her role allows her to dive into her passions, especially anti-racism work, comprehensive sex education, and social norms. In her spare time, Sarah likes to read, cuddle with her dog Evie, and travel with her husband Andrew.

Angie Rehling

Prevention Coordinator

Angie Rehling (they, them, theirs) is a Prevention Coordinator at the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault (WCASA). They received their bachelor’s degree in psychology from UW-Whitewater and their master’s degree in social work from George Williams College. They have worked with WCASA since November 2019, providing training and technical assistance to various partners and stakeholders across the state on the prevention of sexual violence, as well as providing supportive, empowering, and comprehensive survivor-centered services. Angie is passionate about shifting our cultural narrative around sexual violence, and helping people understand the connection of racism and other forms of oppression to sexual violence.

Lindsey Vang

CRAY Program Manager

Lindsey Vang is a first-generation child of Hmong refugees. She was born and raised in Fox Valley alongside her nine siblings. Lindsey has experience supporting and working with youth who have experienced sexual exploitation and trafficking and children and youth affected by gender-based violence. She has facilitated, led, and created discussions surrounding various topics such as empowerment, identity, sexuality, expression, and mental wellness. Before her current role as CRAY Program Manager, she was the Lead Advocate for Pathfinders' New Paths program directly support youth navigating challenging legal and medical systems. In her current role, she strives to connect and foster cross agency/systems collaboration, coordinate after-hours advocacy responses and empower and amplify youth voices. Lindsey is devoted to creating space for conversations and actions that can create sustainable, inclusive and equitable change. She is moving into her ninth year in Milwaukee and can be found with her wife and two kids building a bonfire, fishing or going on a bike ride.

Karen Gomez Morales

Bilingual Program Manager

Karen Gomez began her sex education career 15 years as a youth participant at Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington D.C., (PPMW), where she is now the Bilingual Program Manager. In this role, she leads community education efforts for Latino/a/x communities, including the Promotoras Program, which she launched in 2021.

Janelly Medina

Tenacious Advocate for Youth

Janelly Medina (she/her) is a tenacious advocate for youth experiencing sexual exploitation, trafficking and violence. As Senior Manager of Anti-Violence Services at Pathfinders, Janelly oversees a team of advocates providing youth with trauma-informed, wraparound services and support. Janelly empowers survivor leaders as a mentor, helping folks heal from harm while working toward their goals. She has co-led numerous collaborations, including with Milwaukee’s juvenile justice system partners to provide a seamless, less harmful response for children experiencing exploitation. She is a sought-after speaker, sharing her firsthand and professional expertise with the next generation of leaders. Janelly is proud to call Milwaukee home.

Marisa Hernandez-DeWindt

Massage Therapist, Coach, Doula, Artist

Marisa Hernandez-De Windt loves wellness in all forms and finds great satisfaction as a Massage Therapist, Transformational Wellness Coach, Fitness and Movement Instructor, Birth Doula, End of Life Doula, Healing Artist/ Dancer and Poet. Marisa has a strong interest in improving skills for Mothers and humans who struggle with mental health challenges, Chronic diseases, especially those healing from trauma.

Alease Barnes

Alease the Embryologist, LLC

Alease Barnes is an accomplished Embryologist, educator and content creator. After obtaining her bachelor's degree in Genetics from North Carolina State University, she established herself as a skilled embryologist in reproductive medicine. In addition to her work in the IVF lab, Alease is a passionate educator and content creator, leveraging her extensive knowledge to educate and advocate for fertility awareness. With a strong presence on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, she has amassed a significant following and actively strives to empower individuals on their infertility journey by dispelling misinformation and providing support.

Bridgett Khoury

Founder of The School of Sexuality Project

Bridgett Khoury is the visionary founder of The School of Sexuality Project. As a first-gen Arab American and proud mom of two queer kids, her personal journey fuels her passion for comprehensive sex education. With a decade as a certified sex educator, she bridges gaps between home and classroom. Holding a BA in Psychology and Women/Gender Studies and pursuing a Ph.D. in Social Psychology, Bridgett strives for inclusivity, empowering lives, and a future where sex education unites and empowers all.

Dr KayLa Allen

Beautifully Blended - The Power of Possibility

Dr. KayLa N. Allen internationally utilizes wisdom, evidence and research-based findings, health and wellness coaching, leadership development, online messaging, and co-creation to empower individuals. Her efforts through “KayLa’s Positivity Corner,” social media @drkaylanallen, and multicultural work via “Dear Mixed Girl” combine compassion, global health, and outward challenges to encourage transformation.

Lucia Montalvo

Dual Language Education Specialist

Lucia Montalvo is a multilingual learner and educator who specializes in dual language education. She created her educational platform called @SexEduNation to reach learners across the globe. She hopes to write a bilingual (Spanish/English) curriculum across multiple age levels that teachers can access to create a more educated nation when it comes to sexual health.

Linetta Alexander Islam

Warrior Healer

Linetta Islam is a creative, critical thinking Black woman who vacillates between Afrofuturism and Afropessimism (depends on the time of day). An alum of UW-Milwaukee, she has a BS in English, a post-bac certification in education, and a master's degree in Administration and Supervision from National Louis University. Linetta has a renewable educational license for teaching grades 1-8, and lifetime licenses for Director of Instruction and Principal. For fifteen years, she has worked in educational institutions to advance adolescents and adults academically, and socially to overcome the challenges of inequity in Black-density schools in Milwaukee. She currently works with schools, foundations, and community-based organizations to implement dignity-based processes within their work. Linetta is an accomplished writer and performer, having written three stage plays that were produced in Milwaukee, WI. Using writing as a tool for healing, her memoir, "Honey and Vinegar" was published in 2012, sharing her journey of grief and recovery after the untimely passing of her father. In 2021, she directed Lauren Gunderson's "Toil and Trouble" and a four-person adaptation of "Macbeth". Linetta has also completed her first children's book, "Ella Baker", available on amazon.com, and in final revisions of her first fiction novel, "Zyanism". All her works are published through her own small press publishing company, Rebirth Ink.

Deja Taylor

Managing Strategist

Deja Taylor (she/her) is a passionate researcher, evaluator and life-long student who is dedicated to advancing Black sexual liberation. With experience co-designing participatory evaluations centered on Black community voices, she has a deep interest in gathering community insights to challenge stigmas around sex education. Deja recognizes the importance of creating safe and brave spaces to explore the history of Black womxn's leadership in kink and honor our right to radical self-expression. Deja looks forward to connecting with fellow Black, Indigenous and Queer leaders who are re-envisioning what liberatory sexual education can look like.

Koren Dennison

Joyous Black Woman & Radical Change Maker

Koren Dennison (she/her) was born and raised in Milwaukee by a village of strong Black women. Strongly believing in community and aware that her accomplishments are extraordinary for folks where she's from, it is imperative for Koren to responsibly pass the torch. As a joyous Black woman & radical change maker, Koren defies statistical odds to achieve success and currently works as an Evaluator and Communications Strategist at Ubuntu Research and Evaluation. She is committed to displaying to other young Black girls the power they possess to write their own narrative and consequently change others' lives. Koren is a first-generation double alumnus of Marquette University where she studied Corporate Communications, was heavily engaged in the on-campus community through dance and leadership, and consistently exposed the dominantly-white student body to Black Girl Magic wherever she went.

Sam Collier

Thriving Founder of TeamTeal365

Samantha Collier 16-year expert in the field of anti-violence work, statewide and national systems change agent. Founder and Executive Director of TeamTeal365, Inc a nonprofit organization devoted and dedicated to navigating, educating, advocating, supporting ALL survivors of sexual assault. She has over 16 years in the field of directly serving survivors and their families, of sexual, domestic violence and bachelor's degree from University of Wisconsin Parkside. She has a personal purpose to serve and be a visible witness to her community of what a Thriver looks like 365, making our imperfections shine.

Melyssa Heinz

Nurse Practitioner of Whole People

Melyssa has been a nurse practitioner at Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin for 6 years. She was a part of the pilot program for the affiliate’s Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy program and serves as a trainer and preceptor for clinicians at the affiliate in the program.

Danielle Bezalel

Sex ed with DB

Danielle Bezalel, MPH (she/her) is the Creator and Host of Sex Ed with DB, a feminist podcast bringing you all the sex ed you never got centering LGBTQ+ and BIPOC experts. Danielle earned a Master of Public Health with expertise in sexual and reproductive health from Columbia University.

Jaylin Mitchell

Youth Program Coordinator

Jaylin Mitchell is Milwaukee born and raised. They are a sex educator, freelance writer photographer, and Audre Lorde enthusiast. Jaylin is currently employed as the Youth Program Coordinator for Diverse & Resilient.

Sandra Campó

Sasá: Sexperta en Placer

Sandra Campó es escritora y educadora sexual, y experta en sexualidad femenina. Autora del libro "Today I feel like myself. 7 stories of female masturbation" (2015) y creadora de Sasá: Sexperta en Placer, un proyecto de educación sexual para mujeres centrado en el placer femenino.

Kaitlyn Wonderlin

Mobile Sexual Assault Victim Advocate

Kaitlyn Wonderlin (Bolton Refuge House) is the Mobile Sexual Assault Victim Advocate at Bolton Refuge House in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Katelyn works with individuals affected by sexual assault through providing information, advocacy and support. She also works on systems responses to sexual violence, educating the community, and on sexual assault prevention.

Mystkue Woods

#BlackWomenPrEPToo

Mystkue Woods, is a certified sexuality arts educator and consultant based in Philadelphia, PA. She is the CEO of Mystkue Publications, L.L.C, an organization focused on the innovation of expressive arts and sexuality for marginalized communities. She specializes in integrating the expressive art modalities of poetry, dance, music, drama (theater), storytelling, and creative movement to promote positive attitudes toward sexual and reproductive wellness across cultures and communities.

Ashley Hartman Annis

Full Spectrum Birth Worker

Ashley Hartman Annis (they /she) is a full spectrum birth worker (birth, abortion, miscarriage), a somatic practitioner, a fertility / reproduction educator, and a zine maker in Madison, WI. Learn more at www.ashleyhartmanannis.com

Courtney Brame

Something Positive for Positive People

Courtney W. Brame (he/him/his). "Sexual health is mental health." Founder, Executive Director, and Podcast host of Something Positive for Positive People, Courtney Brame has been interviewing people with herpes navigating stigma since 2017 learning how interconnected STI Stigma and identity are, using the information learned from his guests to advocate for the integration of their lived experiences post-diagnosis into sex education resources to support STD Prevention efforts.

Sofia Rodriguez Marquez

We are Women on Fire Collective

Sofía Rodríguez Márquez, nació en la ciudad de Tijuana, Baja California. Actualmente, tiene 24 años de edad y está cursando la carrera de Administración Pública y Ciencias Políticas en la Universidad Autónoma de Baja California. Se dedica al activismo feminista para lograr defender los derechos de las niñas y las mujeres a través de redes sociales y también de forma presencial. Es la creadora de Women on fire, la cuenta de divulgación y ciberactivismo feminista más grande en toda Latinoamérica. Sofía no solo lucha a través de redes, también lucha en las calles. El pasado 8 de marzo de 2023 (Día Internacional de la Mujer) lideró su propio contingente en Ciudad de México, donde la acompañaron más de cuatro mil mujeres marchando hacia el Zócalo. Su objetivo principal es seguir luchando y hablando de temas que no muchos se atreven a hablar. Sofía comenzó este proyecto siendo una joven más con miedo, pero ahora lo único que tiene es fuerza y una voz que ha dado la vuelta al mundo.

Lucky Tomaszek

Transitions Birth Services for Every Body

Lucky Tomaszek, LM, CPM, is a community midwife in solo practice at Transitions: Birth Services for Every Body. For 25 years as a birthworker and more than 10 years as a sexuality educator, Lucky has focused on providing excellent care and accurate information to the communities she works with.

Neil Reyes

Health Educator

Neil Reyes graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Health Science with a focus on Community Education from California State University Long Beach. He is a Health Educator with Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties. Neil is passionate about providing sexual and reproductive health for all people.

Cris De La Cruz

Bi-lingual Health Educator

Cris de la Cruz is a Health Educator at Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernadino Counties (PPOSBC), where he has 2 years of experience providing Sexual and Reproductive health education in classrooms, community organizations and juvenile justice systems. He works with the Marketing team to create content for the PPOSBC Instagram, TikTok and YouTube accounts. Cris’ communication skills provide Spanish-language education for parents, caregivers and students. He adopted the Male Involvement program and successfully obtained new contacts, finalized the curriculum and provided training for new staff. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health from The University of California – Irvine and is working on his Master of Public Health at Baylor.

Rachel Dyer

Pro-abortion scholar-clinician-activist

Rachel Dyer (she/her) is a pro-abortion scholar-clinician-activist working at the intersection of abortion and mental health. Trained as a researcher and psychotherapist, Rachel focuses on how dominant sociocultural narratives impact pregnancy and family-building desires, decisions, and experiences, and how mental health and other care providers can support patients around these experiences. Rachel will be graduating with her PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison this summer and will begin a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Psychology position at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin this fall.

Laura Roqueta Fernandez

Cultura Consentimiento

Laura Roqueta Fernandez, born in Barcelona in 1991, is an educator in sexuality consent and the creator of the Instagram account @culturaconsentimiento. Her focus is on disseminating information about sexual consent, advocating against sexual violence, and providing support to survivors. Laura has a degree in Advertising and Public Relations from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and a master's degree in Institutional Relations, Events and Protocol Management from the Universitat Ramon Lull. She is also a monitor in sex education with a gender perspective by the Sexpol Foundation. Currently, she is continuing her studies in the master's degree in Women's, Gender and Citizenship Studies at the Interuniversity Institute of Women's and Gender Studies (IIEDG). Laura is also the author of "Paula's Journey: Life After a Sexual Assault", a book published by Editorial Descontrol. This book, aimed at young people, aims to raise awareness and awareness of the challenges.

Lily Katz

Healthcare Quality Improvement Professional

Lily Katz, M.H.M., B.S. (they/them) is a healthcare quality improvement professional with a passion for LGBTQ+ health equity. Lily is coming to the role with a master's in healthcare management and over eight years in the healthcare industry in both clinical and nonclinical roles. When not at work, you can find Lily cooking elaborate meals, reading a book, or hanging out at the community garden. They are excited to be joining the team at the Center for Patient Partnerships and increasing access to gender affirming care in Wisconsin.

Katrina Becker

Gender Services Nurse Navigator

Katrina Becker, RN/BSN (she/her), graduated from UW-Madison in 2011 with a dual degree in Nursing and Gender and Women’s Studies. She has been at UW health since 2013 as a nurse working in an IMC unit, pre/post-surgical care unit, and now gender services. Her current role as Gender Services Nurse Navigator enables her to provide care and guidance to patients pursuing both surgical and non-surgical gender affirming care. She has a passion for equal access to equitable health care for all, involvement in community education, and providing patient centered care.

Callen Smith

Gender Services Program Coordinator

Callen E Smith (they/them) has been at UW Health since 2016 where they started their nursing work with transgender and gender diverse patients in the pediatric and adolescent transgender health clinic (PATH clinic). In 2018 they became UW Health’s first gender services navigator providing guidance for patients pursuing gender-affirming surgery. Callen completed their master’s degree at Edgewood College in Nursing Administration in 2021 and is now the Gender Services Program Coordinator at UW Health. Callen has presented at trans health conferences across the country Callen’s work includes educating staff across the organization, supporting the growth of UW Health’s Gender Services program and partnering with DEI initiatives to support LGBTQ+ patients and staff.

Miriam Rodriguez

Promatora de Salud

Soy promotora de salud en PP desde hace 3 años y también estoy en una organización que se llama educando con amor me encanta estar en contacto con las personas y ayudar a la comunidad.

Tanya Atkinson

President and CEO Planned Parenthood of WI

Tanya has been with PPWI for almost 20 years (in April) and has been the President and CEO for 7 years.

Maria Barker

Vice-president of Education and Training

Maria Barker is the Vice-President of Education and Training for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, Inc. (PPWI). She is a bilingual (Spanish/English) certified sexuality educator of Mexican origin who has been with PPWI since 1983. Maria is keenly aware of the need to provide support, education, and services in a culturally responsive way to resonate with those we serve.