Creating safer conversations: How three Public Allies turned personal experience into community education
What started with nervous laughter and hesitant introductions slowly transformed into open conversations about relationships, consent, sexual health and communication. Young people sat on beanbags and pillows scattered across the floor of Re:Frame Youth Arts Center in Phoenix, asking questions many said they had never felt comfortable asking before. Some participants admitted they knew very little about sexual health education. Others reflected on misconceptions they had carried for years. As the conversations unfolded, the space became more relaxed, more honest and more connected.
For Public Allies Arizona members Alina Hughes, Alessandra Flores and Tai Muhammad, that transformation was exactly the goal. The three Allies organized the Sexual Health & Education Game + Social as part of their Team Service Project through Public Allies Arizona. Team Service Projects are collaborative initiatives designed and led by Allies to address a community need while helping participants strengthen skills in leadership, project management, teamwork and community engagement through hands-on experience
The initiative combined interactive activities, presentations and community dialogue to create a safe and inclusive space for youth and young adults ages 18–25 to learn about sexual health, healthy relationships and available community resources.
But for the organizers, the project was about creating the kind of space they wished they had growing up.
“We had more questions than answers,” said Tai Muhammad, who serves with the Arizona Commission on the Arts through Public Allies Arizona. “I only heard about straight relationships and straight sex, and I didn’t understand how to be safe. I had to learn that throughout my adulthood.”
Addressing gaps in sexual health education
Tai said the idea for the project emerged during conversations between the three Allies about their own experiences with sex education in Arizona and Texas. As they reflected on what they had, and had not, learned growing up, they began researching sexual health education policies in both states.
“There’s still so much stigma around talking about sex, relationships and health”, Muhammad said.
That shared experience became the foundation for the event.
Alina Hughes, who serves with Arizona Center for Youth Resources, said the group wanted to create a space where young people could ask questions without fear or shame.
“Growing up, there was this stigma around, ‘Don’t talk about sex,’” Hughes said. “And I think for a lot of young people, it makes them scared to ask those questions. But it’s better to ask those questions and be safe than to not ask them at all.”
Alesandra Flores, who serves with the State Historic Preservation Office Site Steward Program, said the project was also deeply personal. “My family inspired me to pursue this topic because of how many misconceptions they believe in,” Flores said. “I wanted younger people to grow up knowing more than I did.”
Creating a space for learning and connection
Building the event required months of planning, outreach and collaboration. The Allies partnered with community organizations including Friendly House, Bloom365 and Not My Kid, all of which provided resources and presentations during the event. A doctoral student from Arizona State University also led a presentation on safe sex practices and answered participant questions throughout the workshop.
The event included group discussions, games, creative activities and hands-on learning exercises designed to make conversations around sexual health feel approachable and accessible.
One activity invited participants to practice handling condoms through a game involving oranges, an exercise the organizers said helped attendees feel more comfortable discussing protection and safe sex openly.
As the day progressed, participants became increasingly willing to engage in vulnerable conversations about relationships, boundaries and communication.
“I think one of the highlights for me was our closing conversation,” Muhammad said. “People came in saying they didn’t know anything about sex education, and by the end of the day they felt informed and more confident about communicating with partners and taking care of themselves.”
Creating that environment required intentionality. The organizers prioritized accessibility, openness and community-centered facilitation throughout the event.
Leadership through collaboration
The process had many challenges. The team faced difficulties securing presenters, coordinating with organizations and navigating university requirements for educational programming. On the morning of the event, unexpected weather also forced the team to move all activities indoors at the last minute.
Still, the Allies said the experience reinforced the leadership skills they have developed through Public Allies Arizona.
“I never thought I would be facilitating something like this,” Hughes said. “But Public Allies really taught me how to put together a project, work with organizations and create something meaningful.”
Flores agreed, adding that the program helped strengthen both her professional and personal confidence. “Public Allies encourages you to become a leader, but it also teaches you that as a leader, you don’t have to know everything,” Flores said. “You just have to provide the space for other people in your community.”
Muhammad said the experience also highlighted the importance of teamwork and recognizing each person’s strengths. “We had a great back and forth of, ‘You send the email, I can make this agenda, you reach out to this person,’” Muhammad said. “It became a really collaborative process.”
Building community-centered leadership
For the organizers, the event’s impact extended beyond the workshop itself. They hope participants leave with the confidence to continue asking questions, seeking resources and having honest conversations about health and relationships.
Through projects like this, Public Allies Arizona continues to support emerging leaders in creating community-centered solutions while developing the skills, relationships and experiences that shape long-term civic leadership.
Public Allies Arizona, a program of the ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation, places emerging leaders in nonprofit and public organizations across Arizona while providing leadership training, mentorship and hands-on community engagement opportunities.
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