More Than Sex-Ed Class
Body Image and Disability (Online)
During Scientia Sexualis, ICA LA partners with More Than Sex-Ed to offer fun and educational classes for adults and teens. These classes are online, please RSVP for the Zoom link.
More Than Sex-Ed programs align with the requirements of the California Healthy Youth Act, as well as the standards set by the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) and the most current understandings in the scientific community about human sexuality.
Classes aim to build decision-making abilities and healthy attitudes by focusing on safe-space discussion that allows participants to practice communication skills around important personal topics.
Teen Class (TEENS ONLY; 16-18 years)
IMPORTANT NOTE TO PARENTS/CAREGIVERS: To respect the privacy of youth participants, parents/caregivers are not permitted to observe youth sessions. We are committed to both safety and transparency and our program team is happy to answer any questions about our content or approach. Thank you for your understanding. For questions or additional info, please contact Emmalinda MacLean, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, More Than Sex-Ed at emmalinda@morethansex-ed.org.
Body Image and Disability
- Participants analyze media images for messages about bodies, and discuss how those messages align or conflict with their own personal values
- The group explores some of the diverse experiences of, and assumptions about, bodies with different abilities, including sexual attitudes, needs, and expression
- Identify the health impacts of positive and negative body image, consider the benefits of “body neutrality”, and share ways to cultivate a positive or neutral self-image
- Participants consider how pornography shapes viewers’ beliefs and expectations about bodies and sex
- Discuss the difference between pornography and art, and brainstorm ethical considerations for the creation and consumption of this type of content
Emmalinda MacLean, co-founder and Director of Curriculum and Instruction, More Than Sex-Ed
Feliks Eskilson, Client Program Coordinator and facilitator, More Than Sex-Ed
Dr. Allie Melendez, Adult Education Coordinator and facilitator, More Than Sex-Ed
Emmalinda MacLean, co-founder and Director of Curriculum and Instruction for More Than Sex-Ed, was a participant in the Our Whole Lives sexuality education program as a middle schooler at her childhood church, and as a teen she became a resource for friends’ questions about sex, bodies, and relationships. As an adult, she is a highly respected sexual health educator and has facilitated thousands of hours worth of conversations with youth covering every topic surrounding human sexuality that you can imagine. She leads Our Whole Lives trainings around the country, coaching new sex educators on our inclusive, values-centered approach. Her prior work with children, youth, and families has included religious education, theater, clowning, and summer camps—joy, play, community, and justice are some of her core values. She is especially proud of her work on consent education, from the creation of the bubble-wrap game to the publication of her children’s book, Everybody, Every Body! California born and raised; UCLA graduate; horror movie fan; plant nerd. Pronouns: she/her.
Feliks Eskilson, Client Program Coordinator and facilitator with More Than Sex-Ed, is dedicated to making the world not only a safer, but a more affirming and empowering place for all youth to be themselves. They hold a M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles, where they specialized in LGBTQIA+ Affirmative Psychology and Applied Community Psychology. Feliks has been working with young people of all ages for over 10 years, and is particularly passionate about delivering a LGBTQIA+ inclusive sex and relationship education to today’s generation. Pronouns: they/them or he/him.
Dr. Allie Melendez, Adult Education Coordinator and facilitator with More Than Sex-Ed, specializes in teaching comprehensive sexuality and substance education using harm reduction and trauma-informed strategies for students, educators, and caregivers in Los Angeles. Allie is also an intimacy coordinator who trained under Chelsea Pace, the founder of Open Intimacy Creatives. Allie holds a bachelor’s degree in strategic communications from the University of Kansas, a master’s degree in education and teaching from Alliant International University, and a doctorate in human sexuality from the Parkmore Institute. Allie’s doctoral dissertation, From ABC to STD: What You Didn’t Learn in School, explores human sexuality from in-utero development to age 18 to give educators and caregivers an understanding of why comprehensive sexuality education is both essential and developmentally appropriate at every age. Pronouns: she/her.
