Founder/Executive Director

Stephanie has a comprehensive background in sexuality education having worked in community, and with non-profits, in the US and South Africa. Stephanie's sex ed career began over 20 years ago when Stephanie started working as a street outreach worker in Philadelphia. After doing street outreach for only a few months, she was asked to facilitate her first sex ed workshop. It was for a group of 20- to 40-year-old Black and Latine women. She still recalls their interactions with participants that day. A few Black women came up to Stephanie afterwards and shared how happy they were to learn new info, and be in dialogue with another Black woman. For most of them, it was the first time they had a Black educator and the first time they felt free to talk about themselves, their relationships and their bodies. And that was it. At that moment, Stephanie knew this was exactly what they wanted to do with their life. Over the next couple of years, Stephanie continued to work doing street outreach and facilitating workshops in various Philadelphia schools and community spots. A couple of years later she was promoted to Youth Education Coordinator and began developing programs and managing volunteers and other educators.

Board Member

Avery Heimann (they/them pronouns) has been teaching sexuality education for 12 years with Masakhane. Avery has their Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Gender and Sexuality and a Master’s Degree in Sex Education from Widener University. Avery was a counselor for Trans and Gender Non-Conforming individuals at The NJ Center for Sex Therapy in Chester, NJ. They provide lectures, talks, and teach workshops up and down the East Coast. Avery created a psychoeducational Health and Wellness group for a major rehabilitation organization for five years. Avery is an AASECT (American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists) member and is working towards their certification in counseling. They are a certified trainer with the Transgender Training Institute and is a member of both the Triota Honor Society as well as Gamma Eta Rho Honor Society for Gender and Sexuality. Avery has been published in the first edition of the Trans Sex Zine and has spoken on sex-positivity in The Conscious Consumer Network’s “For the Love of Learning” Podcast. Avery is attending the Rutgers School of Social Work to pursue their MSW with a focus on LBGTQ communities. Avery is also interning for HiTops in Princeton, NJ working with LGBTQ youth and they work as a Patient Service Representative for PROUD Family Health at RWJBH Somerset Hospital. They run a blog, ThePalimpsex.com, geared towards sex toys, accessibility, and social justice.

Board Member

JV (pronoun JV) is a Newark native, first generation child of Andean immigrants. JV has worked in Sexual and Reproductive Justice in Newark for over 12 years, has been featured in media surrounding the impact of Environmental Racism on Reproductive Health, and has served as a sexuality educator for youth, Spanish speakers, and adults with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities.

JV is currently serving as Frontline Communications Lead for Ironbound Community Corp’s Environmental Justice team, threading together a passion for Environmental Justice and public health.

Board Member

Chanta is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Certified School Social Worker in the state of New Jersey. She has a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Child Development from Spelman College in Atlanta, G.A. Chanta also has her Masters of Social Work from Rutgers University and her Masters of Education in Human Sexuality from Widener University. Chanta has been providing psychotherapy to adolescents and adults for the past 10 years in various settings, including schools, community mental health agencies, and HIV/AIDS prevention organizations. For the last eight years she has been a mental health counselor in a public high school where she is also the co-advisor for a comprehensive sexual health program called Teen PEP. Chanta is also an adjunct professor at Bloomfield College, teaching courses related to general, social, and developmental psychology as well as human sexuality. In addition, Chanta is the co-founder and lead sex & relationship therapist at Blue Counseling and Wellness Center in Montclair, NJ.

Board Member

celeste (she/ella) is a Board Member and Sexuality Educator. celeste started with us in summer '18 as an intern and has loved every moment since. Ella holds a bachelor's degree in public health from Rutgers University and graduated with a minor in women's and gender studies and certificate in health disparities. She would like to go back to school eventually to earn a master's degree in public health or human sexuality - once ella figures out to how fund it, of course. Her interests in the field of sexuality education include reproductive justice, pleasure, and the sexual liberation of marginalized communities, especially that of youth and folks of color who were socialized as women. In addition to her work with youth in Newark, celeste has experience facilitating sex ed for youth in Paterson and Jersey City and has received training in support for survivors of domestic violence and youth suicide prevention. In celeste's spare time, she enjoys collecting books ella might never get to, buying herself flowers and way too many candles, and scrolling anti-capitalist Twitter. You can connect with celeste on Instagram at @celestialvulva.​

Zine Project Manager/Sexuality Educator

Sabriya (she/her) is a Sexuality Educator Intern. She has a B.A. in Psychology and Political Science with a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies from Stony Brook University. One of her future goals is to go back to school to earn a master’s degree in Public Health. She is interested in studying reproductive justice, sexual liberation, and health disparities in marginalized groups, especially the disparities within the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities. During her free time, she likes to draw, binge a lot of Korean dramas, and read fantasy novels.

Sexuality Educator Intern

Jaelyn (she/her) is a Sexuality Educator Intern. Jaelyn is finishing her undergraduate studies in sociology and women and gender studies at the City University of New York. She is committed to learning, specifically through anti-oppression frameworks, and would love to be an educator herself in the future. In her free time, Jaelyn enjoys cooking her favorite cultural dishes and listening to music, (often at the same time).

Sex Ed Volunteer

Madeleine (she/they) is a Sexuality Educator Intern based in Brooklyn, New York. She has a B.A. in Sociology and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Goucher College. She intends to pursue a master's degree in social work with the ultimate goal of becoming a LCSW, providing sex-positive sex therapy within her community. Madeleine's interests within the field include polyamory & non-monogamy, kink & BDSM, and the queering of sex education. In her spare time you can find Madeleine annoying her cats, squeezing her friends, meticulously de-seeding pomegranates, and basking in the sunshine.

Sex Ed Volunteer

Vivian, who goes by she/her pronouns, is a sex ed volunteer based in Philadelphia, PA. She is currently pursuing a dual degree program at Widener University, working towards a Master's in Social Work and a Master's in Education in Human Sexuality. Her ultimate objective is to attain licensure as a clinical social worker with a specialization in Sex Therapy, with a primary focus on providing support to Queer Latine youth. Her long-term aspiration involves establishing and overseeing a non-profit organization in the Dominican Republic, dedicated to the empowerment and assistance of LGBTQ+ and gender-nonconforming youth.

Sexuality Educator Intern

Shiloh Gordillo is an agender, queer, and Latinx Sexuality Educator Intern currently studying at Union County College with a focus on graphic design. They have previous experience working as a peer educator with Teen PEP in high school and wish to use their experience and art to include people on the discussion of sexuality in an informative and fun way! Shiloh enjoys spending their time supporting their communities and creating art and bold looks to demonstrate their pride in their individuality in hopes of showing others the fun in being different.

Sexuality Educator Intern

Daniela is a Sexuality Educator Intern at Masakhane. Daniela is currently finishing her undergraduate degree in Public Health with a Psychology minor. Hoping to further her education, Daniela continues to put effort in educating herself outside of school and try to help those in need. She hopes to not only educate herself but those around her as well.

Sexuality Educator Intern

Im Elysia and I’m from Queens, NY, now living in Upstate NY. I’m currently a sophomore in college, slowly making my way to making the world a better place!

Sexuality Educator Intern

My name is Emily Guerrero and I am a current junior attending George Washington University. I am majoring in Public Health with a double minor in Emergency Health Services and Psychological & Brain Sciences. I am deeply interested in infectious diseases and research as well as disaster response and emergency management. I have been a registered Emergency Medical Technician in two states for the past two years. I am originally from Munster, Indiana, and have visited over half the country, but have never been to the west coast. I enjoy being outdoors in my free time and am a big fan of hiking and skateboarding. I am very excited to be a part of the Masakhane Center team!

Sexuality Educator Intern

Liz is a student based in Pittsburgh studying community psychology. She is passionate about community outreach and human sexuality. When she's not doing projects for Masakhane, you can find her crocheting, baking, or working as a barista at local coffee shops.

Sexuality Educator Intern

Momo Ramstedt (they/she) is a sexuality educator intern who is queer, an abolitionist, and a lesbian of mixed white american and Japanese heritage dedicated to the sexual liberation of all oppressed peoples. Momo is especially passionate about Asian American sexuality, critical education, and the racial and queer politics of genitals. They love cheesy foods, family recipes, conversations about feelings, the color red, and being a lesbian!

Sexuality Educator Intern

Pallavi (she/they) is a Sexuality Educator Intern based in Boston, MA. She is currently working towards a Masters in Public Health in Biostatistics and Epidemiology, with a context in Sex, Sexuality, and Gender. Pallavi is passionate about reproductive rights and sexual health education, with the hopes of finding a career related to the field. She spends most of her free time painting, petting every dog she sees on the street, or drinking (too much) coffee.

Sexuality Educator Intern

Riddhi (she/her) is a Sexuality Educator Intern. She is finishing up her undergraduate degree in Public Health and plans to apply to graduate schools soon. She is deeply committed to serving the community around her and getting involved in missions that spark conversations, incite curiosity, and seek to uplift. When she's not learning or working, Riddhi enjoys reading, hanging with friends, baking cookies, and writing :)