The HEAL Project is a BIPOC-led, Trans/Nonbinary-led, and Survivor-led educational initiative using media to prevent and end Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA) through healing the wounds of sexual oppression and embracing sexual liberation. Learn More here.
Testimonials
"The 'Me Too' Movement has had the pleasure of working with The HEAL Project on several endeavors. As consultants, H2E provided a voice and perspective on our Survivor Healing Curriculum that was expansive and intersectional. Their work in CSA prevention provides great insight on power, sex, and healing." ~ Tarana J. Burke | Founder of 'Me Too' Movement
"I extend my sincere gratitude for Ignacio's visit to the University of Michigan. It was clear that Ignacio's speech and personal experiences were impactful to our students. I personally learned a lot from them and appreciated our interactions for the brief time we had together." ~ Mark Chung Kwan Fan, Assistant Director for Engagement | Spectrum Center
"Thank you so much for your shared space today. I found myself shouting "yes!!" at the screen so many times. Your vulnerability, honesty and lack of filter was so helpful and refreshing, your words were crystal-clear and needed, and I agree that this conversation should be shared with everyone in our movement. I especially loved the ask to reframe how we think about sexual liberation, the challenge to our culture's hierarchy of which types of sexual abuse "should" affect us the most, and the very needed push to extend our view of consent in relationships past merely the sexual. You all are brilliant, vivid and wonderful examples of what thriving can look like." ~Jenna Cohan, Sexual & Domestic Violence Program Coordinator | Oregon Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
"I really appreciated the space you held for vulnerability and reflection. Thank you for taking care of us as participants. I left with more language for my needs and desires and a renewed intention to reach out to my connections both in gratitude and to ask for what I need. Your work is so appreciated!" ~Fati(they/them) | Workshop Participant
"Thank you so much for your keynote address at our conference! I learned so much, and I’m so grateful for the work you do and how you do it. We really honor your stories and experiences and knowledge, and we thank you for sharing them with us. We received so much positive and meaningful feedback after the session and I could feel how connected people were to it. Thank you again. And thank you to the entire team at The HEAL Project!!" ~Emily Cohen (she/her), Statewide Director of Training | Sexual Assault Center (Nashville, TN)
"Ignacio and Aredvi, I wanted to reach out personally to you and thank you for your incredible session, [Integrating CSA Prevention Into Our Movements For Justice]. It was clear from the feedback that your perspective was a new one for many, and I feel that it was well-received and planted the seeds for advocates to understand how we can start breaking out of our silos and see the interconnectedness of Childhood Sexual Abuse and so many other issues." Gwendolyn Bouchie (she/her), Chief Marketing Officer | Darkness to Light
![[ID: In the center of the graphic, there is a photograph of a child sitting at a desk with a laptop, their bedroom is in the background. On the graphic, there is text that reads, "Sexual health talks with our children must be shame-free and must include pleasure. The best way to open up the dialogue is starting early: naming their body parts, helping them connect with their feelings, normalizing masturbation and self-exploration, and talking about safe/unsafe touch so they know the difference. As they grow, the conversations and their understanding will evolve to prepare them for understanding pleasure in the context of partnered sex." ~Melissa Pintor Carnagey. How Parents Should Talk About Sex With Their Kids (hint: honestly).” In the bottom left corner there is black text that reads, '@heal2end'. In the bottom right corner, there is a black version of the heal2end logo.]](https://i2.wp.com/heal2end.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Article67-1.png?resize=1080%2C1080&ssl=1)
![[ID: In the center of the graphic, there is a photograph of a parent with their child on a gray couch. On the graphic, there is text that reads, ""Research shows comprehensive sexuality education not only reduces the number of unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), but also reduces bullying and sexual abuse, increases one’s ability to consent (or not) to sex, promotes healthy relationships, and more. That’s the life I want for my child. The one where she gets to make smart choices about her relationships and her body based upon a strong foundation of evidence-informed knowledge." ~Steph Auteri. Why It’s Never Too Early to Start Sex Ed With Your Kids.” In the bottom left corner there is black text that reads, '@heal2end'. In the bottom right corner, there is a black version of the heal2end logo.]](https://i1.wp.com/heal2end.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Article67.png?resize=1080%2C1080&ssl=1)
![[ID: In the center of the graphic, there is a photograph of the inside of a building on fire with a chair on the right side of the image. On the graphic, there is text that reads, "If it came down to my word against his, they were going to believe the benevolent relative who helped me get life-saving treatment over the word of an ungrateful non-citizen. But even if I beat the odds, his incarceration, the loss of his livelihood and social capital, is not what I recognize as justice. I don’t know what justice looks like in a society that only seeks to address harm after the fact. All I want is not to be sexually assaulted. Him going to jail is neither here nor there for me. ~Clarie Gore. The Cascading Silences of Sexual Violence.” In the bottom left corner there is black text that reads, '@heal2end'. In the bottom right corner, there is a black version of the heal2end logo.]](https://i2.wp.com/heal2end.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Article65-1.png?resize=1080%2C1080&ssl=1)
![[ID: In the center of the graphic, there is a photograph with a purple background. There are large mushrooms with people standing in a circle holding hands. On the graphic, there is text that reads, “If there was a sexual abuse case in your community, consider holding a community circle to process it collectively. Just as you might integrate a psychedelic experience by looking at what happened and seeing how this might inform your life and decisions going forward. A community circle offers the chance for people to share what they need and what they can offer in the way of help, action and change. Leia Friedwoman, How the Psychedelic Community Should Respond to Sexual Abuse.” In the bottom left corner there is black text that reads, '@heal2end'. In the bottom right corner, there is a black version of the heal2end logo.]](https://i1.wp.com/heal2end.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Article63.png?resize=1080%2C1080&ssl=1)
![[ID: In the center of the graphic, there is a black and white photograph of a person with long hair in a hospital room looking out of the window with an IV next to them. On the graphic, there is text that reads, “Dowe is one of at least 40 Irwin County Detention Center survivors who underwent invasive gynecological procedures without their full knowledge and consent. In a recently published report, another survivor shared that after finding out her fallopian tube had been removed without her consent, she was extremely distressed and suffered periods of depression and anger knowing that she could not naturally conceive children anymore." ~Priyanka Bhatt. Survivors of Medical Abuse at ICE Jail in Georgia Are Still Waiting for Justice. In the bottom left corner there is black text that reads, '@heal2end'. In the bottom right corner, there is a black version of the heal2end logo.]](https://i1.wp.com/heal2end.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Article60-2.png?resize=1080%2C1080&ssl=1)
![[Image Description: In the center of the graphic, there is a photograph of yellow mannequins with red tape on their bodies with text such as “Don’t be an asshole, #metoo, justice, stalking, etc.” At the top of the graphic is a white background with black text that reads, "Since 1994, the year that the Violence Against Women Act passed and the criminalization of domestic violence truly began, rates of intimate partner violence in the United States have fallen. So has the overall crime rate. Over the last 30 years, the two have decreased in tandem, notwithstanding the billions of dollars dedicated to criminalization during that time. Arguably, criminalization has bought us no greater decrease than if we had done nothing." ~Leigh Goodmark” At the bottom of the graphic is a white background with black text that reads, “Is Criminalization The Right Response To Domestic Violence?” In the bottom left corner there is black text that reads, '@heal2end'. In the bottom right corner, there is a black version of the heal2end logo.]](https://i0.wp.com/heal2end.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Article60-1.png?resize=1080%2C1080&ssl=1)
![[Image Description: In the center of the graphic, there is a photograph of a Black person with rays of color shooting out of their eyes. In the background, there is a patient chair at a doctor’s office. At the top of the graphic is a white background with black text that reads, "For other teachers, however, engagement tanked in virtual classes. Milstein said some of her college students felt pressure to hide who they were. "Storytelling has allowed me to speak up in a lot of different ways—I’m able to have trauma talks with my families and friends. I’m able to call out behaviors we’re normally told to be ‘hush-hush’ about. It also holds space for people to learn and grow. Sometimes you really don’t know until you hear someone else’s story." ~Interview with CoWanda, 22, Texas, article written by Danielle Campoamor.” At the bottom of the graphic is a white background with black text that reads, “Young People Talking About Their Abortions Could Change Everything.” In the bottom left corner there is black text that reads, '@heal2end'. In the bottom right corner, there is a black version of the heal2end logo.]](https://i1.wp.com/heal2end.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Article60.png?resize=1080%2C1080&ssl=1)
![[Image Description: In the center of the graphic, there is a photograph of a police siren on top of a police car. At the top of the graphic is a white background with black text that reads, “Many domestic-violence survivors face something similar once police enter the scene, viewed by the criminal-justice system as abusers for actions taken in self-defense. Four women a day are killed by their intimate partners, and countless others experience subtler forms of abuse. When domestic-violence victims are arrested, research has found that they become less likely to seek assistance from the legal system. In effect, they become even more alienated from the system supposedly set up to help them. ~Melissa Jeltsen.” At the bottom of the graphic is a white background with black text that reads, “Maybe Cops Shouldn't Handle Domestic Violence Calls.” In the bottom left corner there is black text that reads, '@heal2end'. In the bottom right corner, there is a black version of the heal2end logo.]](https://i0.wp.com/heal2end.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Article59-1.png?resize=1080%2C1080&ssl=1)
![[Image Description: In the center of the graphic, there is a photograph of R. Kelly with a black background. R. Kelly is a Black man with a backwards facing baseball cap, black sunglasses, a short beard, and an orange top. At the top of the graphic is a white background with black text that reads, "For other teachers, however, engagement tanked in virtual classes. Milstein said some of her college students felt pressure to hide who they were. "We can’t get rid of prisons without getting rid of the abusive culture that relies on them, and so there is no void prison abolition leaves behind that we should fear will be filled with more abuse. The void is prisons, and they are already being filled with the abuse of Black people and children everywhere. When prison abolition is here, the state that teaches men like R. Kelly that they can abuse Black children without facing accountability is abolished too, because prison culture is central to that state."~Hari Ziyad.” At the bottom of the graphic is a white background with black text that reads, “What Do We Do With Abusers Like R. Kelly If We Abolish Prisons?” In the bottom left corner there is black text that reads, '@heal2end'. In the bottom right corner, there is a black version of the heal2end logo.]](https://i2.wp.com/heal2end.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Article58-1.png?resize=1080%2C1080&ssl=1)
![[Image Description: In the center of the graphic, there is a photograph of a person with brown hair ina bun in a blue suit jacket and blue skirt. They are holding a sledge hammer and hitting a wall with the Porn Hub Logo. At the top of the graphic is a white background with black text that reads, "The war on porn and sex work may be dressed up as child protection, but it is nothing of the sort. And ultimately, it is based on a lie: it is possible to separate pornography from child sexual abuse, and it’s important that we do so. Lumping them together results in over-censorship of sexual expression, including educational content and prevention resources. It feeds harassment cults in fan communities. It harms sex workers, exploits survivors, and ultimately fails and harms children." ~Jeremy Malcolm.” At the bottom of the graphic is a white background with black text that reads "The War On Porn Does Not Help Children." In the bottom left corner there is black text that reads, '@heal2end'. In the bottom right corner, there is a black version of the heal2end logo.]](https://i0.wp.com/heal2end.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Article25.png?resize=1080%2C1080&ssl=1)
![[Image Description: In the center of the graphic, there is a photograph of a gray concrete floor with white arrows pointing in different directions. In the middle bottom of the image, there are two feet with gray sneakers and blue pants. At the top of the graphic is a white background with black text that reads, ""When children know they have choice and the power to lead how they wish to interact with others, no matter who that person is in their life, they get the chance to practice life skills that support bodily autonomy, safety, and interpersonal communication." ~Melissa Pintor Carnagey.” At the bottom of the graphic is a white background with black text that reads "Creating Consent-Conscious Holidays." In the bottom left corner there is black text that reads, '@heal2end'. In the bottom right corner, there is a black version of the heal2end logo.]](https://i2.wp.com/heal2end.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Article19-3.png?resize=1080%2C1080&ssl=1)
![[Image Description: In the center of the graphic, there is a photograph of the bars of a jail cell. At the top of the graphic is a white background with black text that reads, ""I didn’t know what I wanted to happen to Archie. I didn’t know what I wanted because no one asked me, and there were no options, but I couldn’t shake the guilt I felt, and that guilt only contributed to the shame I felt about the entire thing. I had no solace; my “telling the truth” had made it worse." ~Camonghne Felix.” At the bottom of the graphic is a white background with black text that reads "Aching for Abolition: As a survivor of sexual violence, I know prison isn’t the answer." In the bottom left corner there is black text that reads, '@heal2end'. In the bottom right corner, there is a black version of the heal2end logo.]](https://i1.wp.com/heal2end.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Article15.png?resize=1080%2C1080&ssl=1)
![[Image Description: In the center of the graphic, there is a photograph. The background is a blue sky with clouds. In the center of the photograph, there is an American flag on a flag pole with a black and white filter and a fire-filled letter ‘Q’ in the center . At the top of the graphic is a white background with black text that reads, ""When we recognize that most “sex trafficked” children are not kidnapped into slavery, but rather turn to sex work out of necessity, we can address the underlying failures that forced them to make that choice—such as a lack of stable housing and employment, and the homophobia and transphobia of the foster care system." ~Jeremy Malcolm.” At the bottom of the graphic is a white background with black text that reads "The Truth Behind QAnon." In the bottom left corner there is black text that reads, '@heal2end'. In the bottom right corner, there is a black version of the heal2end logo.]](https://i2.wp.com/heal2end.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Article14.png?resize=1080%2C1080&ssl=1)
![[Image Description: In the center of the graphic, there is an image with a black background with a brain blue outline. At the top of the graphic is a white background with black text that reads, ""The study's findings align with the scientific literature on health psychology and abuse, and once again highlight how important it is to consider the relationship between physical and mental health," said Vézina-Gagnon. A holistic approach (body-mind approach) is therefore needed to help girls recover from sexual trauma, she maintains." ~Julie Gazaille.” At the bottom of the graphic is a white background with black text that reads "Childhood Sexual Abuse: Mental And Physical After-effects Closely Linked" In the bottom left corner there is black text that reads, '@heal2end'. In the bottom right corner, there is a black version of the heal2end logo.]](https://i0.wp.com/heal2end.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Article13.png?resize=1080%2C1080&ssl=1)
The HEAL Project's Sexual Liberation Calendar is an evolving project to include events, the remembrance of which advances movements for liberation, in particular Sexual Liberation. At The HEAL Project, we journey towards Sexual Liberation as a path that must include liberation from systems of oppression such as racism, sexism, queer/transphobia, abelism, classism, xenophobia and the like.
If you think an event is missing from our calendar, kindly write to info@heal2end.org for your request to be considered.
Click on "+Google Calendar" at the bottom right of the calendar to add The HEAL Project's Sexual Liberation Calendar to yours.