Learn how SafeBAE Summer Activist Institute alum Apollo became a powerful youth voice for consent education and survivor advocacy.

Who Is Apollo?

Apollo is a student leader from Southeast Ohio with a passion for changing the way we talk about sexual violence. Their journey with SafeBAE began when they attended a presentation at the Spark Lead Conference — a space where youth from across the globe come together to share bold ideas for creating safer, more inclusive schools. That’s where Apollo first encountered SafeBAE’s mission and heard about the Summer Activist Institute.

What stood out immediately was SafeBAE’s approach: treating sexual violence not as a “gendered issue,” but as a public health crisis. Apollo saw something different — a survivor-founded, survivor-led space that felt more human than political. And for a student coming from a region where even mentioning consent or comprehensive sex education was considered controversial, this felt revolutionary.

“I felt it would almost be an insult to my own character not to apply,” Apollo said. “This was too important to pass up.”

From the very beginning, Apollo knew they were stepping into something powerful — something life-changing. What started as curiosity quickly transformed into conviction.

Apollo’s Journey Through the Summer Activist Institute

For Apollo, the SafeBAE Summer Activist Institute was a turning point.

Arriving in Portland, they were met with students from across the country, all with one shared goal: to prevent sexual violence in their schools and communities. But it wasn’t the travel, the city, or even the fun that stood out most. It was the classroom.

During a lesson on comprehensive sex education, Apollo remembers a moment that shifted everything. Surrounded by peers who were genuinely engaged — who wanted to be there, to learn, to grow — they realized how rare and sacred that kind of space is. Back home, in Southeast Ohio, conversations about consent and sex ed often led to eye-rolls or outright dismissal. But here? Their voice mattered. Their perspective was heard. “People actually cared,” they said.

The experience was both educational and healing. Through open dialogue, policy workshops, and peer-led discussions, Apollo felt validated in a way they hadn’t before. They met people from different states and school systems — some with abstinence-only education, others with none at all. These differences didn’t divide them. They sparked deeper understanding. As Apollo said, “Just being with people your age who care about humanity and violence prevention… it was such a happy, relieving moment.”

And that’s what the Institute is designed to do: connect young people across backgrounds and give them the tools, language, and confidence to lead in their own communities.

Leading Change: Apollo’s Impact Since

Since attending the Summer Activist Institute, Apollo has done more than just stay involved — they’ve become a driving force for change.

Today, Apollo serves in two major roles at SafeBAE: as a youth programming manager and as a chapter lead. In one role, they mentor other students across the country, guiding new chapter leads through starting consent education clubs in their own schools. In the other, they speak directly to classrooms — not as a guest speaker, but as a peer. Someone who understands what it means to sit in those chairs, hear this information for the first time, and imagine something better.

Their ability to connect with students is what makes Apollo so effective. “I’m like them. I’m their age,” they said. And it shows. After presentations, students often reach out via Instagram to say that Apollo inspired them to start clubs or join the movement. The ripple effect is already happening.

But it doesn’t stop there. Apollo’s leadership has opened doors far beyond the school building. They’ve now been accepted into two global youth service programs, including one that will take them to Belize for civic engagement work — a direct result, they say, of the confidence and connections they gained through SafeBAE. “It gave me this fuel,” Apollo said, “to really pursue activism more.”

From mentoring peers to building national networks, Apollo is proof that when young people are trusted with leadership, they rise.

Why Youth-Led Consent Education Matters — And How You Can Join

Apollo’s story is one of leadership, resilience, and community. It’s also a clear answer to a vital question: What impact does youth-led consent education have? The answer? Transformational.

When young people are empowered with tools, language, and a network of support, they don’t just learn — they lead. Apollo has shown us that consent education doesn’t have to be top-down. In fact, it’s often more powerful when it comes from someone who’s walked the same hallways, sat in the same classrooms, and asked the same questions.

This work matters because students listen to each other. Because culture change starts with conversations between peers. And because prevention only works when young people are equipped, believed in, and backed every step of the way.

If Apollo’s journey inspired you, take the next step:

👉 Apply to the Summer Activist Institute
👉 Start a SafeBAE consent club at your school
👉 Donate to support youth-led prevention

SafeBAE is building a generation of peer educators, activists, and changemakers. You could be next.

Reach out directly at info@safebae.org