In/Tend Innovators
Our Innovators
At In/Tend, we’re on a mission to enhance the sexual and reproductive health and well-being of all young people.
We believe in uplifting doers, dreamers, and changemakers—particularly those prepared to get their hands dirty, try new things, and adapt to evolving conditions on the ground.
We aim to build a world that affirms every young person, ensuring they have the agency, opportunity, and access to prioritize their bodies, relationships, and futures.
To do this, we’re cultivating teams that use participatory research and design to sow and scatter the seeds of innovative solutions to real-world challenges.
Meet Our Current Innovators
We’re excited to introduce the third cohort of innovation development teams who are bringing fresh ideas and new perspectives to the In/Tend Incubator Hub. Our third cohort is just getting started and will complete their innovation journeys in early summer 2027.
Dezjanira, Ana, and Fabiana
The 3 RHAPpers
Drawing from lived experience, youth leadership, and public health, Ana Jose Fernandez, Dezjanira Acuna, and Ana Fabiana Fernández Acuñ are passionate about advancing health equity and expanding access to sexual and reproductive health information. Together, they bring expertise in civic engagement, community outreach, and youth advocacy to create solutions that empower young people and strengthen connections to care.
The 3 RHAPpers are exploring how to help young people in Tucson, Arizona, feel more confident navigating reproductive health misinformation. They’re listening to young people to understand where they get information, what makes something feel trustworthy, and what can help them make informed decisions about their reproductive health.
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BK Pollinators
Grounded in community care, Angelina Santos, Francisco Rodriguez, and Brandin Moore bring together backgrounds in social work, science education, technology, and community engagement. Their work focuses on strengthening relationships, expanding opportunities for learning, and creating spaces where communities can connect, collaborate, and thrive.
BK Pollinators are exploring ways to build young adults’ confidence in communicating about their sexual health in different social situations. Their focus is on helping young people take greater ownership of their sexual health and wellness.
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Francisco, Brandin, and Angelina
Sarah, Rebecca, and Cindi
BodyWise
With expertise spanning nursing, social work, trauma-informed care, and community education, Sarah White, Rebecca Pearson, and Cindi Huss are committed to improving health and well-being for young people and their communities. Their work centers on inclusive, person-centered approaches that address barriers, build trust, and promote informed decision-making.
BodyWise is exploring how to better support young people with disabilities in feeling represented, seen, and prepared for sexual wellness and experiences. Their focus is on understanding what young people ages 18–24 need to feel more included and supported.
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Waking Dreamers
Bringing together experience in advocacy, education, facilitation, and community development, Destie Hohman Sprague, Bruce King, and Spencer Traylor are passionate about helping young people engage in honest conversations about gender and identity. Together, they create opportunities for connection, critical thinking, and meaningful dialogue that challenges harmful norms and strengthens community.
Waking Dreamers are exploring innovative ways to help high-school-aged teens in Maine have more open, authentic conversations about gender. Their focus is on creating opportunities for young people to engage with peers around gender and the social expectations that shape their lives—without feeling judged, excluded, or dismissed.
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Destie, Bruce, and Spencer
Meet Our Second Cohort
We’re thrilled to introduce the second cohort of innovation development teams who are bringing creativity and courage to the In/Tend Incubator Hub. Our second cohort began in the fall of 2025 and will complete their innovation journeys in early summer, 2026.
Sam, Morgan, and Maisy
CodED
The CodED team is made up of Morgan Peterson, Maisy Anderson, and Sam Wakefield of the Transformation Project South Dakota, who are working to expand access to comprehensive sex education in rural communities. Grounded in youth support, community organizing, program development, and accessible communications, the team takes a human-centered, community-led approach to addressing gaps in sex ed.
Building on early learning and feedback from young people, CodED is focused on prototyping and testing practical, responsive solutions that meet the real needs of rural caregivers and strengthen access to accurate, affirming education.
View Their Journey
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EntreNos: Parent-Youth Health
The EntreNos: Parent-Youth Health team is made up of Jazmin Pacheco, Jose Dominguez Magdaleno, and Claudio Rivera, who work at the intersection of sexual health education and mental well-being within Spanish-speaking Latine communities. Drawing from backgrounds in public health, bilingual health education, psychology, and community-based research, the team uses a social justice–oriented, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive approach to support parents and caregivers.
By creating accessible, holistic workshops, EntreNos aims to equip families with the tools and confidence to start meaningful sexual health conversations with young people—while intentionally engaging caregivers of all genders and roles.
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Jose, Cloudio, and Jazmin
Miriam, Nty, and Elle
The Rooted Collective
The Rooted Collective team is made up of Elle Lynn Quimpo, Miriam Perez, and Nty Diakite, who work at the intersection of adolescent sexual and reproductive health, mental health, and community care. Drawing from their shared experiences bridging cultures and supporting young people from immigrant families, the team creates spaces grounded in connection, joy, and collective healing.
Together, they are working to address the needs of young people from immigrant families by tackling two key challenges related to sexual and reproductive health: the lack of culturally and linguistically responsive resources and the shortage of trusted, relatable mentors.
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Waking Dreamers
The Waking Dreamers team brings together leaders from Hardy Girls, Maine Boys to Men, and youth education spaces to help young people build community and communicate more openly about gender and sexuality. The team includes Destie Hohman Sprague, Bruce King, and Oronde Cruger, who blend feminist activism, masculinity work, and neuroscience-informed facilitation to support honest, brave conversations.
Together, they are exploring how aligned organizations with distinct missions can co-create shared programs that strengthen connection, challenge harmful gender norms, and empower young people to engage with one another more thoughtfully and authentically.
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Destie, Orande, and Bruce
Katie, José , and Wren
YOUniversal Education Services
The YOUniversal Education Services team are all members of a youth-centered organization of the same name that is focused on healing-centered health and wellness and long-term, community-rooted sex education. The team includes José Garth, Katie Horowitz, and Wren Ritchie, who bring over a decade of shared experience in positive youth development, sex education, evaluation, and curriculum design.
Together, they are working to address the gap in long-term, youth-led, community-rooted, and holistic sex ed programming.
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Meet Our First Cohort
The first cohort of innovation development teams in the In/Tend Incubator Hub led the way, kicking off their innovation journeys in the fall of 2024 and wrapping up in the early summer of 2025.
Sam, Maisy, and Morgan
CodED
Rooted in community, Sam Wakefield, Maisy Anderson, and Morgan Peterson focus on creating safe, affirming spaces for young people—particularly in rural communities—through education, mentorship, and support. Their work is grounded in social justice, collective care, and helping youth live as their authentic selves.
CodED explored how they might empower 15 to 17-year-olds to minimize internalized stigma and encourage identity exploration so that it is inclusive to young people in rural South Dakota.
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Direct Healing Action
A multidisciplinary team of educators, advocates, and policy-minded changemakers, Julia De Jesus, Angie Tamayo León, and ShaLisa Peterson are dedicated to strengthening community-driven sexual and reproductive health education. Their work centers on empowering underserved communities and fostering inclusive environments where young people can thrive.
Direct Healing Action focused on making reliable, trustworthy, and factual sexual health information more accessible to empower young people to make informed decisions about their bodies.
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ShaLisa, Angie, and Julia
Lesley, Dawnyéa, and Allison
Safe GameCOCKS
With deep expertise in research and public health, Allison Parsons, Dawnyéa Jackson, and Lesley Archabal advance equitable sexual and reproductive health outcomes through data-driven and community-informed approaches. Their work emphasizes social determinants of health and amplifying lived experiences to challenge systemic barriers.
Safe GameCOCKS worked to improve the lack of integration between mental health and sexual and reproductive health.
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The Sandlot
Steph Zapata and Melissa Pintor Carnagey are nationally recognized sexuality educators reimagining sex education through inclusive, honest, and shame-free approaches. Together, they create transformative learning spaces that center the whole person and support youth and families.
The Sandlot wanted to address misinformation and the lack of reliable and safe information online, while also supporting emotional learning.
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Melissa and Steph
Kiria-Leah, Liz, and Kate
Young Parents: Stigma to Strength
Combining lived experience and research, Kiria-Leah Johnen, Kate Westaby, and Liz Burnette are committed to uplifting young and student parents by addressing stigma and expanding access to resources. Their work focuses on building supportive communities and advancing equity in education and reproductive justice.
Young Parents: Stigma to Strength explored how to improve the healthcare experiences of young pregnant and parenting individuals.
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Notes from our garden
The Healthy Teen Network In/Tend Incubator Hub is supported by the Office of Population Affairs (OPA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $1,886,783 with 100 percent funded by OPA/OASH/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, OPA/OASH/HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit opa.hhs.gov.