Jan 27, 2021
When you think of sex education (particularly at the K12 level), how often do you think of the policies and practices that inform how that education gets doled out? For this particular episode, Dr. G interviews Jennifer Driver, an award-winning advocacy expert and the founder of Take Root Strategies, a consulting firm that assists communities in accessing strategic guidance on reproductive health care policy. In this conversation Jennifer helps us understand why policy matters in sex ed, and explains how and why Black people must take active steps to become more involved in enacting sexuality-related policy.
(Click to download the episode transcript.)
Episode Question to Ponder: What kind of sex ed should be standard in the U.S.?
Homework: Research Activity
Guest Bio:
Jennifer Driver is an award-winning reproductive health, rights,
and justice policy and advocacy leader with nearly 15 years in the
field. Her work centers on addressing systems that add burdens or
barriers to accessing full reproductive health information and
services— paying particular attention to communities of color,
immigrants, system involved youth, and LGBTQ communities.
Jennifer currently serves as the Senior Director of Reproductive
Rights with the State Innovation Exchange (SiX). Prior to joining
SiX, Jennifer served as the Vice President of Policy and Strategic
Partnerships with SIECUS (the Sexuality Information and Education
Council of the United States), where she provided leadership to
drive the organization’s federal and state policy and advocacy
efforts. Prior to joining the team at SIECUS, Jennifer worked for
Welcoming America where her work focused on the intersection of
immigration, racism, education, health, and policy.
Her previous experience also includes working for Power to Decide
and the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power and Potential.
She is the Founder of Take Root Strategies LLC, a consulting firm
providing strategic guidance on reproductive health care policy.
Jennifer serves on the board of the Alexandria Campaign on
Adolescent Pregnancy Leadership Council.
A dynamic trainer, presenter, and spokesperson on reproductive
health, rights, and justice, Jennifer has been featured and quoted
in national media, including The Washington Post, Vogue, The New
York Times, Rewire, The Hill, CNN, The Harvard Political Review,
MSNBC, and Politico. She was also recognized in 2019 as one of 50
impactful creators, artists, and activists by B*TCH Media.
Learn more about Jennifer Driver at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-driver-ba44a170/.
References (Content)
Wilkerson, I. (2011). The warmth of other suns : The epic story of America's great migration. New York: Vintage Books.
References (People)
Bass, T. The Southern Sexologist. https://www.tanyambass.com/