History, Mission and Vision of P.R.E.T.T.Y INC.
The main mission and vision of PRETTY is to provide comprehensive sexual health and reproductive justice education to girls. Our program serves as a prevention method to many of the ills that young girls in various cities face, including but not limited to: sexual abuse, risky sexual behaviors, unplanned pregnancies, sex trafficking, predator awareness, contraction of sexually transmitted infections and mental abuse. Within the ten-week program that we offer our girls we have three (3) basic objectives:
KNOW YOUR CHOICES
Under these programs we allow anyone who identifies as female to participate in our programs. We provide a pre and post evaluation to gain insight on how we can enhance our programs.
KNOW YOUR BODY
These programs, in part, are offered to female students ages 11-18 within Chicago Public Schools as well as charter schools. To date we have served over seven hundred girls and women.
KNOW YOUR PARTNER
In addition to our school partnerships, we serve the community twice a year, with an event we call, The Cycle of Life, primarily for mother and daughter pairs to enjoy a day of learning and growing.
Our Program at a Glance (WHAT WE OFFER)
On a regular basis our students meet with staff and volunteers to learn about their bodies, including their menstrual cycles and proper hygiene, their choices regarding their sexual futures including the pregnancy process, the social emotional components of sexual relationships and influence of partners. During these workshops community volunteers provide personal testimonials to engage students in real life experiences. Volunteer gynecologists speak with students surrounding proper vaginal health care, expectations of doctors and how to properly use hygiene products. Audio visual components are used to detail the effect of sexual transmitted infections as well as sex trafficking practices that predators use to lure children. Our workshops are for one hour weekly for a course of ten (10) weeks per grade.
Services
Sexual Harassment Preventative Professional Development
Many times the start of sexual harassment is inappropriate communication. Companies hire Dr. McDowell for workshops to ensure that sexually inappropriate communication, social media communication and non-verbal communication, can lead to extreme consequences.
Coaching
Sexual communication coaching, for couples and mother and daughter pairs. Understanding how to communicate about sexual health, sexual desires and sexual preparations is difficult, because there is no “how to” guide as interactive, transparent and easy as what is offered by Dr. McDowell.
Keynote Speaking
Dr. McDowell offers forums and workshops for not only female mentoring groups within the inner city, social service agencies and schools, but to small groups of mother’s and guardians who are searching for answers and insight to communicate about sex with a generation that is staring their sexual endeavor’s earlier than ever.
