I’m a sexuality educator and violence prevention advocate with a

background in journalism and documentary filmmaking focused on

gender and sexual violence.  I bring a unique perspective and deep,

personal understanding of the issues that inform effective sexual

education and empowerment.​​​

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After writing an article titled "Comprehensive Sexuality Education Program

Called ‘Life-Saving’ by Parents," a profound calling was ignited within me,

compelling me to pursue certification in the 150-hour sexuality educator

program at Modern Sex Therapy Institutes, where I am now in the final

stages of AASECT supervision.

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Since 2022, I’ve taught 4th-6th graders through the Our Whole Lives (OWL) program and led my Building Consent Culture workshops across Chicago Public Schools and libraries, reaching over 400 students.

 

I also facilitate support groups for women survivors of sexual abuse, as well as for teens and nonbinary youth, focusing on healthy relationships, body positivity, and open conversations about sexuality.

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In 2024, I worked on a Relationship Safety program with the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence featuring Gov. Pritzker, Sen. Durbin and many more.

 

I currently serve as the Senior Special Programs Coordinator for Women, Gender & Sexuality at Bristol Community College. 

 

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My senior project at Santa Clara University was a documentary exposing sexual assault on campus, "The Morning After". I graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Italian Studies. 

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After graduating, I moved to Rome, Italy where I worked as an English teacher in a school and at the Joel Nafuma Refugee Center for one year.

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Next, I moved to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico where I worked in a school and Casa Abba, a refugee center for Central American migrants making the dangerous journey north, The Migrant Crisis: Where Can We Live in Peace? ​

Due to the 2020 Covid-19 shutdowns, I returned to Chicago to continue teaching ESL to refugees with Exodus World Service and get my Master of Science in Journalism from the Northwestern

Medill School of Journalism. I graduated in 2021 with a 3.95 GPA. 

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My master's project is a documentary about food insecurity on the West Side of Chicago. Feed 'Em All won the Virginia Dares Cinematic Award for Decolonizing and Re-indigenizing Media and was an official selection in the Oregon Documentary Film Festival, the Female Feedback Film Festival, and Austin Eats.

 

I've served as the Public Relations Manager for the One Earth Film Festival since 2022, and was a Community Relations Commissioner for the Village of Oak Park from 2021-2024. 

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​I exposed sexual abuse at Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois. Through my Youtube videos and community organizing, I got a sexual predator fired from the school. 

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Throughout the impressive list of achievements mentioned above, I was a victim of sexual violence. I battled addiction, eating disorders, and PTSD as a result of abuse starting in childhood and continuing into adulthood. Raised in the Catholic school system, I did not understand consent or what constitutes sexual abuse. I found myself trapped in an abusive cycle for many years.

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In 2021, I had a professional partnership with Injustice Watch that required me to read criminal complaints against personnel in Chicago Public Schools. This was the first time I was confronted with the laws around the sexual misconduct of minors in schools, and I related to the stories of abuse of minors behind redacted names on the court documents. Since then, I've taken all I've learned to educate people on their rights. As I work on healing myself, I'm also healing my community. ​

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I share these very personal details because my story is not uncommon, and I wholeheartedly believe that comprehensive sexuality education with a focus on consent is life-saving.

 

I believe it is sexual violence prevention, suicide prevention, eating disorder prevention, domestic violence prevention, and addiction prevention. We have the opportunity to equip the next generation with life-saving tools, and we can do it in a fun and empowering way! 

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