January 2, 2025
At Healthy Teen Network, our strength lies in the passion and dedication of our team. We’re thrilled to introduce Celease, our new Program Manager, who brings a wealth of experience, enthusiasm, and creativity to our work.
Celease is deeply committed to fostering youth education, creativity, and connection while building safe spaces for young people to thrive. In her role, she manages the school component of the U Choose Program, working closely with educators in Baltimore City Public Schools to support their efforts in delivering impactful sexual health education.
I wish I learned more about birth control. There was a lot of misinformation surrounding birth control, its effectiveness, and the different types that were available. At the time, I didn’t feel safe in my class to ask for further information, and I got the impression the teacher was also a little flustered talking about it.
Reflecting on her own experiences with sex ed, Celease shared, “I wish I learned more about birth control. There was a lot of misinformation surrounding birth control, its effectiveness, and the different types that were available. At the time, I didn’t feel safe in my class to ask for further information, and I got the impression the teacher was also a little flustered talking about it. It wasn’t until I did my own research that I learned there were a lot of areas we didn’t cover on the topic. I feel like if we were able to get a full, comprehensive explanation of birth control, it would have benefited me and the other students in my class.”
A graduate of Stevenson University with a B.S. in Psychology, Celease has focused her studies on sexuality, mental health, and race equity education. These interests fuel her advocacy for diversity in professional development and curriculum implementation. Her expertise ensures that Healthy Teen Network’s programs continue to be inclusive and effective.
Celease is no stranger to the Baltimore community. Since moving to the city six years ago, she has devoted herself to making a difference by working with local nonprofits, volunteering, and supporting small businesses. She explained, “Healthy Teen Network is passionate about the same things I am—creating safe spaces for students, supporting educators in their work, promoting equity and inclusion, and giving back to the community. I want to leave my community better than I found it, so it’s important that the work I do is focused on youth because they bring about new ideas and change.”
In her role at Healthy Teen Network, Celease bridges connections between our organization and Baltimore City Public Schools. She builds educators’ capacity, evaluates the U Choose Clinic, Classrooms, and Community (3-C) program, and co-develops training sessions to ensure students receive high-quality sexual health education. “I am looking forward to all things professional development!” Celease said. “I love learning, so I will use the first couple of trainings to soak up as much information as I can. Eventually, I’m looking forward to being on the other side of things and helping with the planning and execution of the trainings themselves!”
If Celease had a magic wand, her dream for improving adolescent sexual and reproductive health would be to “improve the sexual health education experience for communities who have been subjected to systemic oppression, specifically Black, Brown, and LGBTQ+ students.”
Outside of work, Celease recharges by spending lazy days crocheting, playing cozy video games on her Switch, or cuddling with her cat. On more active days, you can find her outside gardening, roller skating, or trying new brunch spots with friends in D.C.
We’re excited to see the impact Celease will have as part of the Healthy Teen Network family. Please join us in giving her a warm welcome!
Photo Credit: Belinda Fewings on Unsplash
