Workshops
Start with a story.
Make room for conversation.
Up to Us workshops bring sexual health education to life through short films, honest conversation, and creative activities.
Written by justice system-impacted young people, the films open up conversations about identity, relationships, consent, pregnancy, and STI prevention. Trained educators guide participants through discussions and hands-on activities that connect the stories on screen to their own questions and choices.
The program can be adapted for settings, including reentry programs, schools, and community organizations. Workshops supplement comprehensive sexual health education with an inclusive, nonjudgmental approach.
Real questions.
Shared exploration.
Identity
We explore how gender roles, stereotypes, and self-expression shape how we see ourselves and connect with others.
Pregnancy & STIs
We break down the facts around contraception, STI prevention, and reproductive health — without shame, stigma, or judgment.
Consent
We highlight how clear, ongoing communication builds trust, safety, and respect in every kind of relationship.
Flexible formats.
Spaces to connect.
Up to Us has been piloted in three formats. We recommend the longer engagement of a weekly series, while offering single-day options to meet the needs of different groups and settings. The Educational Guide can be adapted to each format.
OPTION A · PREFERRED FORMAT
Three-week workshop series
Three weekly sessions · Two hours each
Each session pairs one film chapter with discussion, creative activities, and theater games.
The series gives participants and facilitators time to build trust, return to questions, and deepen conversations. Pilot feedback highlighted the value of repeated visits, especially for younger groups.
We recommend this format whenever your schedule allows.
OPTION B
One-day workshop
One session · Five hours
A single-day experience with all three film chapters, discussion between chapters, and interactive activities, including body mapping. This format brings the program together when multiple visits are difficult to arrange.
OPTION C
Screening + discussion
One session · Two hours
A condensed introduction with a brief creative activity, community agreements, a screening of all three chapters, and facilitated discussion. An option for groups with limited time.
Shaped by respect.
Workshops begin with community agreements and encourage inclusive language, curiosity, and care for one another’s privacy. Participants can pass on any activity or discussion. No one is expected to share personal experiences.
Watch. Discuss. Create.
Learn together.
The films are a starting point. Participants help shape the conversation through questions, reflection, movement, and creative expression.
The Educational Guide gives facilitators a clear framework, while participants shape the experience through conversation, movement, and creative expression. It pairs each film with adaptable discussion prompts and creative activities that can fit the group and time available.
Depending on the format, workshops may include:
Body mapping
Use drawing and writing to reflect on identity, relationships, aspirations, and personal commitments.
Film discussion
Explore the characters’ choices and connect their experiences to questions about sexual health.
Hands-on learning
Practice condom-use skills and identify local clinics and sexual health resources.
Theater & reflection
Use games and improvised scenes to examine gender expectations, communication, and patterns participants want to change or carry forward.
Developed with communities.
Informed by their feedback.
Across the three pilot formats, interviewees valued the films’ relatable stories and the opportunity to talk together. Body mapping was a recurring highlight, helping participants feel more comfortable before discussing sensitive topics.
“It was really helpful to see it, not just say it.”
— Pilot participant, three-week series
Feedback supports keeping all three options available. The weekly series offers more opportunities for discussion and relationship-building; the shorter formats help organizations work within their schedules.
Read our full Pilot Intervention Qualitative Report to explore detailed findings and participant stories.
Bring the conversation
to your community.
Start by filling out the form with details about your group, setting, and available time. We’ll follow up regarding access to the films and Educational Guide. If your team plans to facilitate, we’ll make sure you have the materials needed to prepare.
Planning your workshop
The program works in classrooms and community spaces. A flexible room with movable chairs helps the group shift between screening, discussion, and activities.
- A screen or projector with sound for viewing the films
- Space for conversation and creative activities
- Activity materials suited to the chosen format
The Educational Guide walks facilitators through the setup and preparation for each workshop.
Built in partnership.
Backed by vision.
Combining the power of storytelling with a commitment to equity in education, we created Up to Us to engage justice system-impacted youth in honest, inclusive conversations about sexual health.
The UCLA Art & Global Health Center creates arts-based public health interventions. Our work blends community engagement, arts activism, and research to advocate for comprehensive sexual health education, women’s empowerment, gender equality, LGBTQ+ identity and inclusion, anti-racism, and mental health.
The UCLA Prison Education Program makes post-secondary education accessible to women and young people who are currently incarcerated, and brings UCLA faculty and students to learn alongside them, thereby challenging bias, discrimination, and injustice in a shared and collaborative learning experience.
