SafeBAE’s free programs are empowering Massachusetts teens to lead on consent.

Sparking Action at the Healthy Youth Conference

This week, SafeBAE arrived at Boston’s massive convention center for the Healthy Youth Conference—an electrifying gathering of over 300 students convened by the governor’s teen health task force. 

For our presenters we had SafeBAE alumni Arturo, Dorie, and Maria. Just two years ago, as timid sophomores at our Summer Activist Institute, they absorbed lessons on consent and advocacy. Today, they stood before hundreds of their peers, delivering powerful talks on bystander intervention, survivor support, and the importance of consent education—sparking dozens of sign-ups on the spot. Watching their transformation from shy students into confident change-makers reminds us that SafeBAE’s programs aren’t just workshops, but launch pads: places where young people find their voices, claim leadership, and drive real change in their communities.

Extending the Launch Pad—Free Programming Across Essex County and Beyond

Building on that momentum, SafeBAE already provides free dating violence and consent education programs to schools in Essex County—no fees, no barriers. Through our county-wide partnership, any district can bring SafeBAE’s peer-led workshops and faculty trainings directly into their classrooms at zero cost.

Now, as part of the governor’s teen health task force, we’re expanding statewide. Whether you’re in Boston, Springfield, or the Berkshires, your school can tap into the same launch pad that transformed Arturo, Dorie, and Maria. From one-day intensive workshops to multi-week peer educator training, our resources equip students and educators with the tools, curricula, and ongoing mentorship needed to sustain a culture of consent and bystander action.

This means every Massachusetts teen—regardless of ZIP code—has a clear path: sign up, train up, and lead change. No student should ever have to navigate these conversations alone, and no school should face the cost hurdle when it comes to keeping students safe. With SafeBAE’s fully funded model across Essex County and growing partnerships across the Commonwealth, we’re ensuring that the next generation of leaders has both the opportunity and the support to carry the torch forward.

Your Turn to Become a Change-Maker

Ready to take the next step? Whether you’re a student eager to find your voice, an educator looking to strengthen your school’s support network, or a district leader committed to student safety, SafeBAE has a pathway for you. Apply today to our Summer Activist Institute and spend four transformative days building the skills you need to lead consent education back home. If you’d rather dive in sooner, register for our Peer Educator Training and start facilitating workshops in your own hallways—completely free to any Essex County school and available statewide through our growing partnerships.

Want to bring SafeBAE directly to your campus? Reach out at info@safebae.org to schedule a faculty training or student assembly. And if you believe in the power of youth leadership, please consider donating to support scholarships, program development, and the growing network of peer educators who are refusing to let sexual violence go unchallenged. Together, we can turn today’s momentum into tomorrow’s culture of respect, one school—and one student—at a time.

 

Join Our Summer Activist Institute. Spend four days in Portland alongside peers from across the country learning to lead consent education in your school. You’ll leave with the confidence, skills, and network to build lasting change.

Start a SafeBAE Chapter at Your School. We provide exactly what you need—step-by-step guides, training materials, and ongoing mentorship—so you can launch peer-led consent workshops, bystander intervention trainings, and survivor support groups on campus.

Access Our Survivor-Created Toolkits. From lesson plans on healthy relationships to protocols for trauma-informed reporting, our free digital resources equip educators, parents, and students with the tools to believe survivors first and act safely.

Host a SafeBAE Speaker. Bring a SafeBAE expert into your classroom, community meeting, or parent night to share research-backed strategies and spark the conversations that protect young people.

Donate to Sustain Youth-Led Prevention. Your support ensures that Free programming, scholarships, and aftercare partnerships continue—so no survivor ever faces abuse alone, and every student has the chance to learn what consent really means.