WASHINGTON, DC, April 9, 2025 – Eighty-five percent of young adults (ages 18-26) want to talk more openly about sexual health and relationship topics with partners, according to a national survey recently published in the American Journal of Sexuality Education. These conversations can open the door to better relationships, sex, and sexual health, yet they are often anxiety-inducing, awkward, or avoided altogether. Own the Awk, a new multimedia campaign launched by the National Coalition for Sexual Health, aims to change that by building confidence and empowering young adults to navigate difficult, embarrassing conversations head on.

The need for this campaign is clear. Compared to other age groups, young adults are more likely to experience unhealthy relationships, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and unplanned pregnancies.  At the same time, young adults report many barriers to open, honest communication, including fears that partners might judge or reject them, or that they might hurt a partner’s feelings. Yet 97% believe better communication skills would lead to better relationships, including increased safety and trust, getting closer to partner(s), determining if you’re on the same page about the relationship, and a better sex life.

However, according to this new research, many young adults never received comprehensive sex education and don’t have access to positive role models in their lives for healthy relationships and effective communications. So, when it comes to these awkward conversations, 40% turn to Google searches for help and one in three (33%) get advice from their female friends.

“Young adults today navigate a complex landscape of relationships without adequate preparation. Sharing is incredibly vulnerable – it can be really hard to do,” according to Shadeen Francis, Board Certified Sex Therapist, and President Elect of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT). “The Own the Awk campaign is about equipping young people with skills that lead to stronger emotional connections, more satisfying sexual experiences, and better physical health.”

The “Own the Awk: Real Talk. Real Connection.” campaign offers interactive tools, practical tips, and actionable advice from certified sex educator and intimacy expert, Shan Boodram. Through humor, awkward portraits, and real-life scenarios, the campaign demonstrates how better, and even more intimate connections can emerge from awkward conversations on topics, including defining the relationship, sexual desires and pleasure, feelings, wants, and needs, safer sex, boundaries and consent, STIs, and communications 101.

Own the Awk’s engaging, interactive and free tools include:

• The “AwkLine” Videos – A couple, one awkward topic, and Shan Boodram, celebrity sexual health and relationship expert. Watch how healthy communication saves the day with the “AwkLine” in this five-episode video series on hot-button topics.
• “Gimme That Ask” Card Game – Fun, flirty and entertaining digital card decks with nearly 140 questions from spicy to sweet to spark conversations about sex, relationships, and dating. Great to play on your own, with a partner, or with friends.
• “Awk Talk Starters” Scripts – Feeling tongued-tied? Prepare for convos with 14 realistic scripts to help break the ice and keep talking about a variety of relationship and sexual health topics (in English and Spanish).
• “Own the Awk” Website – Build knowledge and skills on a variety of sexual health and relationship topics. Find practical tips, convo starters, and dive into discussions with confidence (in English and Spanish).
• Spread the Awk-Word – To promote Own the Awk on social media and other channels, use campaign graphics, captions, GIFs, stickers, and videos (in English and Spanish).

Ready to Own the Awk? You can access all of these resources and more at OwnTheAwk.org.

About the National Coalition for Sexual Health
The National Coalition for Sexual Health (NCSH) consists of over 300 leading sexual health organizations and individuals (e.g., Advocates for Youth, Futures without Violence, American College Health Association, Planned Parenthood, The Kinsey Institute, Power to Decide), working together to normalize sexual health conversations and improve the sexual health and well-being of people nationwide.

About the Own the Awk Campaign and the AJSE Research Publication
The Own the Awk campaign and its comprehensive online educational resources were created by NCSH in collaboration with experts and young adults, and in response to extensive research conducted by NCSH to explore young adults’ communications and relationship experiences.

Consisting of an online survey of 900 young adults and 16 focus groups with 79 additional young adults, the research findings were published in the American Journal of Sexuality Education, an academic peer-reviewed journal. You can access the article here, Uncovering What Matters to Young Adults: Communicating About Sexual Health & Relationships.

For Media Inquiries:
Lisa Guiterman
Email: lisa.guiterman@gmail.com
Cell: 202-330-3431

Young people ages 14-24 can apply by May 28 for funding, mentorship, and networking to support civic engagement projects they lead to improve their communities

PRINCETON, NJ, April 3^rd, 2025 – The Institute for Citizens & Scholars has launched an open call to find the next generation of changemakers ages 14-24 for the 2025-2026 cohort of The Carnegie Young Leaders for Civic Preparedness. The program is seeking aspiring changemakers who are enthusiastic about building bridges and bringing people together, physically or virtually, to address real-world challenges their community faces.

This new initiative is looking for young people across the United States from all backgrounds, ideologies, and experiences, with a focus on ensuring diverse representation, including racial, geographic, and socioeconomic diversity, as well as communities where youth face barriers to civic development opportunities. Proposal topics can include but are not limited to climate change, criminal justice, education, community health & wellness, economic opportunity, environment, immigration, transportation, and/or elections. Applicants can learn more and apply here by May 28th at 9am ET.

Carnegie Young Leaders is funded through a $2,050,000 grant from the philanthropic foundation Carnegie Corporation of New York. One hundred teams will be accepted into the program with team leads receiving $2,500 and their team members receiving $1,000 in stipends as well as an additional $1,000 to support project implementation costs. Selected teams will receive regular coaching from experienced and influential mentors to build their civic skills and knowledge, join a hands-on community of practice to learn from cohort members as they launch their respective projects, and join the growing Citizens & Scholars network, which includes 27,000 fellows across education, policy, and the private sectors.

This work is informed by recent insights from the Institute’s Civic Outlook of Young Adults in America, where 57% of the 4,000 respondents ages 18-24 stated they are dissatisfied with American democracy. Additionally, the report found that this younger generation is more distrustful of government institutions, less likely to vote than the general population, and lacks the critical civic knowledge needed to navigate the systemic problems they are facing. However, they also exhibit a lower degree of ideological and partisan polarization, are proud to be American, reject political violence, and collectively prioritize democratic values. As America approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, the Carnegie Young Leaders for Civic Preparedness seeks to empower a network of leaders with the tools to collaborate productively, have difficult conversations, understand others, and make a lasting impact on the future of our nation.

“Young people aren’t waiting to lead—many already are,” said Audra Watson, Chief of Youth Civic Programs at the Institute for Citizens & Scholars. “With the Carnegie Young Leaders for Civic Preparedness, we’re growing and investing in the next generation of civic leaders in every corner of the country. By 2026, we envision a youth-led movement that reflects the full diversity, creativity, and power of this generation.”

“As a young person, I know that my peers and I are constantly seeking out ways to positively impact our communities,” said Kilan White, a recent youth civic program participant of the Institute for Citizens & Scholars. “The Carnegie Young Leaders for Civic Preparedness program invests in young people and empowers them to make big changes while growing as leaders.” “We are delighted to support the Institute for Citizens & Scholars in bringing young people from a wide range of backgrounds together to make meaningful contributions to their communities,” said Dame Louise Richardson, president of Carnegie. “We believe that programs such as Carnegie Young Leaders for Civic Preparedness will help to mobilize the innate idealism of young people and inculcate an appreciation of our democracy which will in turn reduce the corrosive effect of political polarization.”

“Young people bring an important perspective to address challenges and identify opportunities in their communities,” said LaVerne Evans Srinivasan, vice president of Carnegie’s National Program and program director of Education. “This initiative centers youth voice, providing the next generation with the support and tools to turn their ideas into meaningful action. Carnegie Corporation of New York is proud to support these emerging leaders dedicated to strengthening their communities and advancing our democracy.”

Learn more about the Carnegie Young Leaders for Civic Preparedness program: ctzn-schlr.org/cyl

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About The Institute for Citizens & Scholars

The Institute for Citizens & Scholars (Citizensandscholars.org) equips young people with the civic skills necessary to navigate a divided country and become effective leaders. We partner with leaders in higher education, business, and philanthropy to design programs that build Gen Z’s abilities to find and use reliable information, engage in productive conversations, and collaborate across differences to strengthen America.

About Carnegie Corporation of New York

Carnegie Corporation of New York (Carnegie.org) was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding. Today the foundation works to reduce political polarization through philanthropic support for the issues that Carnegie considered most important: education, democracy, and peace.

Media Contact

communications@citizensandscholars.org