with Dr. Candice Nicole Hargons, PhD and Dr. Shemeka Thorpe, PhD
 
Join us for a transformative journey into the world of Black sexology, where we discuss the groundbreaking Big Sex Study, a research project that empowered Black people to know and reclaim their sexual agency and achieve optimal sexual health.
Through intimate storytelling, thought-provoking discussions, and expert insights from Dr. Shemeka and Dr. Candice Nicole, we will present how this research, guided by the Healing Methodologies research framework, has empowered both participants and researchers to embark on a path of sexual healing and liberation. Discover how the Big Sex Study has challenged societal norms, dismantled harmful stereotypes, and fostered a deeper understanding of Black sexuality.
 
This program is for anyone seeking to:
Learn about the transformative power of positive Black sexology
Understand the impact of the Big Sex Study on individual and community well-being,people. By breaking free from restrictive social norms, participants will engage with a vision of sexuality education that challenges the commodification of intimacy and prioritizes community-centered care and justice.

Drawing on seminal texts such as Good Sex Illustrated by Tony Duvert and Michel Foucault’s The History of Sexuality, as well as Tara’s rich experiences as a youth sex educator, this session weaves together theory, lived practice, and radical imagination. The workshop will interrogate how systems of policing and imprisonment perpetuate shame, surveillance, and control over young people’s bodies and identities. In turn, it will highlight abolition not merely as the dismantling of these systems but as an opportunity to radically reimagine our roles in cultivating collective responsibility and support within our communities.
 
Prepare to be inspired, informed, and empowered as we celebrate the beauty and complexity of Black sexuality research.