Our History
In 2018, while working in the Health Promotions Department at the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) of Washington, DC, co-founders Angela Townsend and Noah Hughes-Dunn found that many of the youth that confided in them were lacking the information and knowledge to have healthy and safe sexual experiences. With the help of their colleagues and high school intern, Sexpectations was created. Originally, a workshop to fill the gaps and have honest and real conversations about dating, relationships, and sex.
Sexpectations has expanded from a one-workshop program to a revamped twelve-session sexual health curriculum. In 2021, we incorporated as a 501c3 organization, but we aspire to maintain our collective ideals and structure.
MEET THE TEAM
Okwuchi Onwubu
Okwuchi “Chi” Onwubu (she/her) is a nurse and sexual health educator. She received her first bachelor’s degree in Sociology at Oberlin College in 2014, and attained her nursing degree from Rutgers University in 2022. She has over seven years of experience working in sexual health, and has experience facilitating discussions and providing education on topics to people of all ages on topics such as STIs and stigma, gender, and sexuality. She has also presented her work at the S.L.A.M 4 Youth January 2021 conference, and aims to provide education from an intersectional, reproductive justice lens. In her free time, she enjoys doing yoga, spending time with her partner, and exploring new cities.
Elhom Karbassi
Elhom Karbassi (she/her) is a first-generation Iranian-American from Savannah, GA. She grew up with an abstinence-only, Bible Belt sex education which led to shame, confusion, and harm when she started exploring her sexuality. This drove her to want to ensure other young folks have the tools they need to try and avoid such feelings and trauma, so began her journey as a sex educator.
Elhom has spent the last 10 years working both in the US and internationally teaching healthy relationship building, sexual health, domestic and sexual violence prevention, and intervention. Her passion is engaging folks of all ages in shame-free, pleasure-focused, and empowering conversations about sex, health, stigma, dating, and relationships.
Elhom loves to hang out with her dogs Mushroom and Zazie, wardrobe styling folks all over the city, and spending time with her friends.
Thalia Chicojay
Thalía Chicojay (they/them) has been a part of Sexpectations since 2019 after moving to the midwest on a whim prompted by dive bar graffiti that said "Chicago ain't bad." Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Thalía is a sexual health worker that is inspired by the intersections of education, art, and reproductive justice. Their work includes youth programming, performance art, sexual health education, and sex work. Firmly rooted in harm reduction, Thalía is an educator who seeks to prompt self-reflection, consent communication, and abolitionist world-building in their classes. Born on a hot August morning, Thalía is a fiery and determined creative whose dream is to provide abortion and reproductive health services rooted in community care across the country.
jireh l. drake
jireh l. drake (written as is; pronouns: they // them) is an unapologetic queer, black, trans neurodivergent non-binary baddie and abolitionist organizer, who has been reimagining life in Chicago for the past decade. they are a drawing and sculpting artist, writer, woodworker, and facilitator who is often laughing, chanting, or freestyling healing hymns.
Growing up in a Christian household coupled with Catholic schooling, they received their first taste of the power of community + simultaneously experienced how detrimental misogynoir, homophobia, transphobia, and adultism can be. As an adult, with community support jireh has unlearned and dismantled a lot of religious shame and stigma about their body, sexuality, and community. They know first-hand that sex ed saves lives and that gospel might be the best twerking music, it's brimming with life and hope.
jireh has a decade of experience crafting radical, interactive workshops, programs, and arts-based education for black and brown, queer, and trans Chicago youth. They are excited to continue Sexpectations’ work of creating accessible, radical, trauma-centered sex education spaces for young folks. jireh is always dreaming of a world where we breathe easy.
