Three years ago, Young Adult Trenton Public Library associate Stephanie Hampton had an idea to host a sex education presentation to help local teens.
“My goal initially was to inform the teenagers of this community of all the resources and information available within walking distance of their homes. I knew there was a need in this community,” said Hampton, the head of the library’s young adult services.
After contacting Planned Parenthood of Northern, Central, and Southern New Jersey Inc.’s Trenton-based health center, Hampton said she learned about its “Spill the T.E.A. (Teen, Education and Advocacy)” program.
The peer education program run by Planned Parenthood of Northern, Central, and Southern New Jersey — a nonprofit that provides reproductive and complementary health care services throughout New Jersey.
“It empowers high school students in the greater Mercer County area to demonstrate leadership, serve as valuable sources of sexual health information for their peers, and gain personal and professional development skills,” said Casey Olesko, the nonprofit’s vice president of communications.
As part of the program, Olesko said high school students who join the program become peer educators and deliver presentations about various subjects pertaining to sex education or teen-related topics, like media and relationships.
The library will host its next program presentation on Thursday, Jan. 15, from 4-5 p.m., at the library’s young adult lounge, at 120 Academy St., in Trenton.
Hampton said during each presentation peer educators are accompanied by a staff member from the nonprofit to ensure all facts discussed are accurate.
Since 2024, Hampton said the program has received 10 to three attendees per presentation.
The program, Olesko said was initially launched during the 2022-2023 school year, and the first full cohort of peer educators joined the program in the Fall of 2023.
Olesko said the program’s peer educators play a vital role in their communities by helping peers access sexual and reproductive health information and health care.
“Since 2022, our students have connected with more than 3,000 people across Mercer County through dozens of community partnerships and workshop presentations,” said Olesko.
Hampton said in the midst of her learning about the nonprofit’s program in 2024, two students, who were members of the program, approached her at the library about hosting a presentation.
“After I received their resumes and an overview of their proposed presentation, they mentioned their advisor was the same person I had been emailing with to plan the special event,” said Hampton. “It was easy to organize after that.”
Hampton said the library co-hosted its first presentation in November 2024, and has continued to co-host presentations throughout each year.
“I learned over the course of that year that misinformation is dangerous, but being in New Jersey, we were lucky to have some protections,” said Hampton. “The library had the space, time, and ability to hold programs like this, and we also have access to more information for those who need it.”
Last year, Hampton said the library co-hosted six presentations events on different topics ranging from menstruation to abuse in teen dating.
Ali Glaser, the nonprofit’s chief training and community engagement officer, said, “Young people deserve to have the information, resources, and skills they need to protect their health and build their future — without shame or judgment.”
The nonprofit, Glaser said is proud to provide these student leaders with the opportunity to develop their skills and interests and equip them for a healthy future.
Olesko said to participate in the program students must go through the nonprofit’s application process, and 10 students are selected for each year’s cohort.
“Students have held one-on-one conversations with peers, both in-person and virtual,” said Olesko. “They have also partnered with other local community organizations, and led workshops with a variety of youth-serving groups.”
Olesko said the program is focused on the Mercer County area, but the nonprofit hopes to expand it into other areas of the state.
To learn when the next presentation will be, visit the library’s website.
For more information about the program, visit nonprofit’s website or email education@ppncsnj.org.
