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Jennifer Torres is fast becoming one of our favorite sneaker-loving fashionistas and she’s also the health teacher we wish we’d had in middle school. In honor of HIV/AIDS Awareness Month, we’re heading to LA for a chat.

Here at CNK, it is important for us to utilize our platform to share stories of women within our community to inspire, educate, and empower one another. The women within our community come from all walks of life and yet, there is an important connection between each an every one of us. We all have a unique journey and it is important to share our stories because we can all bring value to the table.

December 1st was World AIDS Day and the entire month of December is HIV/AIDS Awareness month. Given the current state of the world (hello, global pandemic) we know that the conversation may have gotten lost in the news cycle but, one just needs to look at the numbers to dissect. In 2018, African Americans accounted for 13% of the US population but 42% of the 37,832 new HIV diagnoses in the United States and dependent areas. 11% of those cases were women. While we’ve seen advances in the way HIV/AIDS is treated and the quality of life that can be provided, there still seems to be a point of contention in having conversations that matter, especially about testing. This conversation is often times an uncomfortable one due to the stigma surrounding STD testing and sex in general. In reality, our sexual health is just as important as getting a routine check-up or going to the dentist. Unfortunately, this is not the reality. Many of us are still uncomfortable with the thought of having to talk about sex not because we ourselves may be uncomfortable with the topic, but because of the stigma society has put on the topic as whole. For Jennifer Torres, a key to making the most of these conversations is ditching the judgement and being all ears.

Our first meeting with Jennifer didn’t take place in some cool L.A. eatery or on the set of her shoot. Our interaction would be strictly digital, as nearly all nonessential meetings are these days. But even through a screen, connecting from our respective spaces (I’m in the DMV and she’s in L.A.) one thing is clear: Torres is magnetic. She’s a quiet force of femme energy who is deeply and inextricably connected to what it means to serve those of her generation with an authentic transparency felt even through a digital Q&A. There’s this gentle yet firm quality about her that became abundantly clear, with every answer to questions that bring most people back to awkward health class anatomy talks. It dawned on me, and was confirmed over and over again, that gentle yet firm is a theme for this particular moment of her career in advocacy—and in her life.

We sat down with sex educator, LA-native, and fellow sneakHERhead Jennifer Torres to talk through sexual health and normalizing sex-related topics. Check out Jennifer’s Chick Chat below as we discuss her personal story surrounding sex education, the importance of supporting our community, and how her trip to the Rec.Room is giving her new ways to create change.

THE 411 ON JENNIFER.

At the moment I transitioned my profession as a full time Community Sexual Health Educator to a freelance Community Sexual Health Educator. What I do is I teach Sexual Health Education curriculum to high school aged students. The curriculum is centered around sexuality, STDs, consent, STD Testing, birth control, and healthy relationships. Most of my sessions are based on having open, nonjudgmental conversations about sex education.

JENNIFER ON BEING AN EDUCATOR AND HER EXPERIENCE.

When I was in high school I joined a peer sexual health program that was centered around sexual health education. This program trained its students to become nonjudgmental sexual health resources on campus. Studies have shown that many young people feel more comfortable talking about sex related topics with their peers. However, this program focused on ensuring that the information that young people are spreading is accurate and nonjudgmental.

Becoming apart of this program in my teens was one of my first times entering a space where I can actively ask questions about my body and sex without being judged. The adult allies who led the program were nonjudgmental and really championed and supported their students in this program to lead and create active dialogue within their schools. Throughout high school, I became a resource of sexual health knowledge for my peers and I really loved being able to help folks out in that way. When I went to college I majored in Community Health during which I was a Peer Health Educator for my school and my expertise was sexual health. I would lead sexual health events to promote testing, consent, and using condoms as well as leading conversations about sexual health in the midst of hookup culture in college.

After college I worked at the same organization I volunteered in high school and became one of the adult allies. For about two years I would go to various schools in Los Angeles and teach Sexual Health Education. Some of my duties consisted of leading workshops, speaking at sexual health conferences, and lead their Peer Advocate program for high school students.

What led me to seek this profession was the seeing the lack of knowledge that folks in my community have around sexual health but also knowing that this lack of knowledge unfortunately is shared with widely amongst other communities around the world. This is largely part of stigma. I’ve always been curious of the topic but I never had a place to ask questions. However, once I became a part of that program in my teens I realized how important it is to have safe spaces in which young people have the ability to ask and talk about sex.

“Understanding and knowing one’s sexual health can empower people to take their own bodily autonomy and that is what really matters. My job is not to tell people what they should do but rather provide information and resources. They get to decide on what they want to do with their bodily autonomy.”

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SEX IS NORMAL. SO, LET’S TALK ABOUT IT.

These types of conversations are vital to have. However, there often comes a shame when we talk about sex, sexuality, getting birth control, getting tested, using protection, etc. At the end of the day all these things are normal and we need to normalize them. I do understand that most adults are uncomfortable having these conversations with young people but most adults have also never had a positive experience surrounding sexual health education. This is why it’s so important to implement nonjudgmental, inclusive sexual health education at schools and hire folks that are professionals in the field. Machismo and Toxic Masculinity within our society is very much to blame when it comes to why we don’t talk about these topics. In California, the California Healthy Youth Act was passed which “Requires school districts to ensure that all pupils in grades seven to twelve, inclusive, receive comprehensive sexual health education and HIV prevention education.”

STD TESTING IS NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF.

Getting tested for STDs is a form of self care. Knowing one’s status helps keep you safe as well as being a safe partner. Having an STD it is nothing to be ashamed about. STDs are more common than we think. In fact, 1 in 3 sexually active young people will get an STD. Most STDs are curable and the rest are treatable. When it comes to HIV/AIDS, we are living in a time in which folks who are HIV/AIDS positive can live long, healthy lives with medication. However, there is a medical disparity when it comes to having access to these medications that I feel needs to also be apart of the conversation. Make medication accessible to EVERYONE just like testing is easily accessible.

CREATING A NEW NORMAL.

Some of the misconceptions that need to end is that having an STD makes someone dirty, a slut (we don't slut shame in this household) or unlovable. Nope, it does not. Having an STD is both normal and common. Having one does not make you anything less than human. Many folks believe that STDs won’t affect them but, like I said before, STDs are very common. This is why it's important to get tested regularly or when you get a new partner(s). Hookup culture means having no prior conversation about protection and your current health status. NOPE. It’s so important to have that initial conversation about protection and your health.

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COMMUNITY FIRST. ALWAYS.

Well, for me I love working with teens and being an adult ally for them. Just like I had really amazing adult allies and mentors growing up, it’s so important to really empower and support the youth. There's such a big misconception that young people don't care about anything and that is a lie. We have seen Gen Z and the other generations after them being the most vocal as well as the most mobile when it comes to organizing.

For me, the only way community will ever heal is through work done by its own community members. I love my community and carry so much pride for the city I grew up in. I've never been embarrassed to tell people I am born and raised in South Central Los Angeles or Watts. There is so much beauty in my streets and so much community love that has helped and molded me to be the person that I am today and I feel that it’s my turn to give back in anyway I can. My goal is create a virtual or in person (when rona is over) sexual health workshop for young people and bring other sexual health educators that have their own expertise to share their knowledge.

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HEY REC.ROOM, WE SEE YOU.

Working as a creator for Foot Locker’s Rec.Room is truly a dream! Rec.Room is a collective of creators that create awesome content for Foot Locker Women and Nike. The vision behind Rec.Room is creating content that authentically and genuinely represents each of the creators. There are 5 creators and each and every single one of us brings something different to the table and has their own individuality. For me I do a lot of styling, creative directing, and photography aside from modeling. Or like Anissa who is the DIY QUEEN! We hope to keep building and creating more and more content for folks in which they can truly relate to and see themselves in. Representation matters! It’s super dope that we have a whole team behind us that supports and helps with our creative ideas. We are truly grateful! It’s beautiful to see and be apart of these spaces and learn so much. POC, Womxn belong in these spaces!

YOUR SNEAKHER ROTATION, WHAT’S THAT LOOKIN’ LIKE?

As of now it’s been the Air Jordan 1 Lucky Greens, Nike Dunk Low Retro 'Syracuse' and the Sisterhood Nike Air Force 1s. I’m a big fan of color so most of my favorite sneakers usually have a lot of color.

WHAT DOES ‘SNEAKHER’ CULTURE MEAN TO YOU?

SneakHER culture to me means bringing your own individual flair in everything that you do but making sure that we also uplift each other at the same time. I would want to see more sneakers designed by women! WE NEED MORE!