Participants work together to define intimacy and examine behaviors they find important in friendships and romantic relationships. They identify healthy and unhealthy relationship characteristics and learn how to nurture healthy relationship behaviors and address unhealthy ones.
Join the shOUT Coaliton for a conversation among young adults as we explore the needs youth have compared to the education and access they get to sexual and reproductive health education, care, and resources. Registration is required.
Join facilitator Yanik Lazarov for RISE’s third and final workshop in the Identity Outlaw series: “Navigating Trans-ness” When you received your transgender acceptance card in the mail, they didn’t include Transgender for Dummies to explain how to actually navigate hospitals, families, partners, work, coming out, HRT, deadnames, legal rights, health insurance, culture wars. Yanik has you covered, though! sAll that plus free food and a free book when you attend this workshop!
In this class, we will learn about the muscles and structures that make up the pelvic floor for all genders. Participants will learn what the pelvic floor is, why it’s important, and how to support pelvic floor health.
Join facilitator Yanik Lazarov for RISE’s second workshop in the Identity Outlaw series: “Queer Sex Safety.” “Don’t have sex or you will get pregnant and die!” Is a quote you might have heard in a sex education class, or maybe you haven’t had any sex education at all! If you’re curious, want to stay safe, or have no idea what is going on outside of “penis + vagina = sex” then this is the workshop for you.
This series is an 8-week relationship, healthy bodies, and human development education program for Kindergarten-2nd graders.
A mandatory orientation for families and kids will take place Saturday March 2 from 1-3. Classes for kids begin Saturday March 9 and run from 1-3 p.m. Youth will get the most out of the class if they attend all sessions.
The final class, April 27, will involve children AND their adults exploring what the kids have learned and celebrating their participation in the class.
Spots are limited; registration closes Feb. 29 at midnight.
“Coexisting,” a curriculum developed by Mattie Raza, gives survivors access to support and resources they need to connect with others, build resilience, create effective safety plans, and seek the mental and medical healthcare they need to thrive.
Join us for a free facilitator training by Raza and Marissa Kluk that is especially effective for certified peer recovery specialists and others who work with clients at the intersection of domestic violence and substance use disorder.
Preregistration is required.
Sensuality plays an important role in how we feel in our bodies each day! Discover Your Senses is a workshop that is intended to enhance control of your senses through mindfulness practices, such as meditation and journaling.
We are calling a general membership meeting on Wednesday, Feb 7 from 10-11:30 a.m. This will be a Zoom meeting—register to receive the link.
The Appalachian Highlands shOUT Coalition works to transform community systems to better serve the sexual health needs of youth in the Appalachian Highlands of Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. The shOUT Coalition centers youth voices and best practices.
If you or your organization serve youth of any age and want to ensure a healthy future free of shame and stigma around relationships, bodies, health, and sexuality, please join us as we work to change culture in our region. Change from within is the most powerful change of all!
Join facilitator Yanik Lazarov for RISE’s first workshop in the Identity Outlaw series: “Gender 101.” Are you feeling unsure of how to navigate all this gender stuff? Why isn’t pink for girls and blue for boys anymore? What’s the deal with folx changing their pronouns every other day? And how do I help others understand this? All that plus free food and a free book when you attend this workshop.
This training will prepare facilitators to provide Stellar Sex Ed to high-school youth and adults AND to "stellarize" other curricula so it is more affirming, accessible, and trauma-informed while adhering to local and state restrictions.
Facilitator training will cover curriculum content as well as facilitation best practices and tips for making any sex ed more accessible to all neurotypes. Electronic access to the curriculum for each organization whose trainees effectively complete the course is included. Register Here.
Youth will learn about the power of language, anatomy, puberty, body image, gender, attraction, bias, consent, relationship dynamics, porn (it is adult entertainment, not youth education), media literacy, pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes, STIs, and prevention.
Join Jess and Cindi to make vulva ornaments. This is a gift that keeps on giving: Vulvas are great all year round, and each one has a clitoris so the uninitiated have a road map!
This fundraising event is open to people of all genders and for ages 16 and older.
Suggested donation, but pay what you can:
$20 general
$5 student
Can’t come but want to support us anyway? Donate here!
Join facilitator Yanik Lazarov for RISE’s third and final workshop in the Identity Outlaw series: “Navigating Trans-ness” When you received your transgender acceptance card in the mail, they didn’t include Transgender for Dummies to explain how to actually navigate hospitals, families, partners, work, coming out, HRT, deadnames, legal rights, health insurance, culture wars. Yanik has you covered, though! sAll that plus free food and a free book when you attend this workshop!
Have you been struggling to navigate this new world of changing pronouns, new gender identities, and orientation? Or have you struggled to explain these things to family and friends? We’ve got you!!!
Supper provided; childcare provided with preregistration by 5 p.m. on Nov. 9.
There will be no Dress-up Story Time on Sat. Oct. 28—we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause AND we look forward to seeing you at our remaining Story Time events Nov. 4, 11, and 18!
Do you struggle to know how to approach “the talk”? Do you wonder what is the right age to begin talking with your child about sex and sexuality? Are you worried about sharing information that is not age appropriate? We can help calm your anxiety and empower you to be your child’s primary sexuality educator.
Join facilitator Yanik Lazarov for RISE’s second workshop in the Identity Outlaw series: “Queer Sex Safety.” “Don’t have sex or you will get pregnant and die!” Is a quote you might have heard in a sex education class, or maybe you haven’t had any sex education at all! If you’re curious, want to stay safe, or have no idea what is going on outside of “penis + vagina = sex” then this is the workshop for you.
Six Wednesday afternnons this fall, Access ETSU sponsors Stellar Sex Ed, a program by RISE: Healthy for Life, a local nonprofit that transforms culture round bodies and beings from fear-based to fact-based, oppression to affirmation. Preregistration is NOT requited.
RISE will participate in a panel on “Addressing Sexual Health Disparities for Gender Minorities on ETSU’s Campus” as part of ETSU’s 5th annual Equity and Inclusion Conference, Sept 28-30, 2023. The panel for the student conference will take place on Saturday Sept. 30, 2023, from 10:35-11:30 a.m.
RISE is participating with Maggie Wood from A Step Ahead Tri-Cities, and Rebecca Strasser and Mattie Raza from Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) at ETSU. Phyllis Thompson, former head of WGSS and current chair of ETSU’s Department of Counseling and Human Services will moderate.
Registration is now open for the conference. What a wonderful world this will be!
RISE will participate in a panel on “Addressing Sexual Health Disparities for Gender Minorities on ETSU’s Campus” as part of ETSU’s 5th annual Equity and Inclusion Conference, Sept 28-30, 2023. The panel will take place on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, from 10-10:50 a.m.
RISE is participating with Maggie Wood from A Step Ahead Tri-Cities, and Rebecca Strasser and Mattie Raza from Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) at ETSU. Phyllis Thompson, former head of WGSS and current chair of ETSU’s Department of Counseling and Human Services will moderate.
Registration is now open for the conference. What a wonderful world this will be!
Free workshop and pizza for ETSU students on Wed. Sept. 27, 360 Culp!
We’ll see you at this year’s TriPride!
TriPride is requiring FREE tickets to enter the festival grounds. Tickets are available online and will be available at the security gates on the day of the event.
Join facilitator Yanik Lazarov for RISE’s first workshop in the Identity Outlaw series: “Gender 101.” Are you feeling unsure of how to navigate all this gender stuff? Why isn’t pink for girls and blue for boys anymore? What’s the deal with folx changing their pronouns every other day? And how do I help others understand this? All that plus free food and a free book when you attend this workshop.
Dress-up storytime is coming to RISE: Healthy for Life Sept 9, 16, 30; Oct. 21, 28; and Nov. 4, 11, 18!
Join RISE volunteers and staff for some great storybooks, songs, crafts, and snacks Saturday mornings this fall—and go home with the book we read!
Dress-up storytime is perfect for kids about 2-6 years old. Older and younger siblings and friends are welcome as well. Adults must remain with the kids they bring.
Calling all teens who are passionate about having access to fact-based information about bodies, relationships, identities, and resources! Teens RISE provides a safe, inclusive space for teens of all backgrounds to connect, learn, and advocate!
Come hang out with us on September 2nd from 12 PM to 3 PM to learn more about Teens RISE and how you can get involved! Food, games, and lots of laughs will be provided.
Join friends of RISE for an inclusive, affirming, FUN evening working on the craft of your choice and/or playing games! Bring your UFOs (no UAPs here!) or get started on something new. Bring games to share. Snacks to share are welcome as well. RISE will have water, coffee, tea, and seltzer.
Join the shOUT Coalition, represented by RISE: Healthy for Life and the YWCA of NETN/SWVA, for a conversation among clergy, people of faith, and sexual health educators as we explore the tensions and compatibility between faith and sexual health.
Join RISE staff and volunteers on Saturday, Aug. 19 from 11-1 for family fun and to learn more about RISE programming. Families with kids of all ages are welcome, and we will have snacks, games, and activities suitable for all ages.
Bingo with the Little City Sisters at New Beginnings—all proceeds donated to RISE. Come out an have fun while driving positive change!
