Sexual Health & Empowerment

Uplifting a community of women who celebrate each other, speak our truths and put forward our needs as a priority.

Upspoken is a space for Black women to come together to share our varied experiences, strengths, vulnerabilities and successes in love, relationships and sex. We believe that, together, we can build power and strength from each other, giving us the confidence to take full ownership of our sexuality and build healthy relationships that prioritize our needs.

Stories of discovering for the first time we were Black. Stories of being told to hide our bodies (and beautiful curves) because we should be ashamed. Stories of losing ourselves and finding ourselves in love. And even the hard things our community just doesn’t like to talk about—like sex.
We asked the women that came to this space “What does being Upspoken mean to you?” And this is what we heard…

RoyalTea, a sexual wellness toolkit by Upspoken, takes the innate power of Black women and brews it with sexual empowerment to pour protection and pleasure tips into our community. Sipping this Tea will equip us to:

MAKE decisions for and about our bodies without shame, stigma, or guilt
TAKE control of our sexual health and speak up for our needs loudly and unapologetically
DETERMINE our path for reproductive choices and STI prevention in healthy ways
IMPROVE the way we show up for ourselves in love, sex, and relationships

We’re here as a resource for Black women to refresh the relationship with our bodies (she misses you), at our own pace (we are not all the same), and create tactics to enrich our sexual health, sexual care and sexual pleasure (yep, that’s important too).
No longer will Black women have the highest new cases of HIV and levels of mortality for every major cause of death. Powered with RoyalTea, we’ll be armed with hot tips to sip on for our proper care.
Sisters, let’s sip together and amplify our power because like Nikki Giovanni said, there is a reason for our Ego Tripping.

To go deeper into this topic and learn more visit https://bit.ly/MoreRoyalTea and https://upspokenwomen.com

Current and Upcoming Projects, Campaigns & Events

We are currently hosting a series of vibrant and healing-centered events across the Inland Empire, Los Angeles and San Diego. Each gathering is rooted in art, culture and community, offering space for Black women (both cis and trans) and Black femmes to explore themes of self-love, sexual wellness, STI and HIV prevention, healthy relationships and more. These events are designed to spark real conversations, inspire personal growth and build collective power through storytelling, creative expression and connection.

Our work is made possible through the Setting the P.A.C.E. grant from Gilead Sciences and in deep partnership with community leaders and organizations. In Los Angeles, SistahFriends brings local wisdom and support to our efforts. In San Diego, Christie’s Place and Dr. Megan Ebor (San Diego State University) are leading impactful outreach and engagement strategies to ensure these conversations reach and reflect the experiences of our communities.

At the heart of our campaign is a commitment to storytelling that centers the voices and truths of Black women and femmes. We are creating spaces where joy, vulnerability and empowerment can coexist. By sharing our stories, we reclaim our narratives and pave the way for stronger, healthier futures.
In the fall/winter of 2025, we will continue this momentum by diving deeper into our RoyalTea Toolkit, a resource created to support ongoing education and empowerment. Through workshops, discussions and digital content, we will explore topics related to intimacy, body autonomy, emotional wellness and more.

With our partners and community, we are setting the pace for what healing and liberation can look like, led by and for Black women and femmes in California.

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Get involved:

Ways to support our aging work, mission and vision:

Donate: Your generous donations directly contribute to our programs and initiatives aimed at supporting the sexual wellness of Black women. Every contribution helps us provide essential resources, advocacy and community-building efforts.
Partner: Partnering with us amplifies the impact of our work. Collaborate with us to create tailored initiatives, events or campaigns that address the unique needs of Black women's sexual health.
Volunteer: Join our dedicated team of volunteers and actively participate in the mission to enhance the well-being of Black women. Your time, skills and passion can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.
Sponsor an event: Become a sponsor and align your brand with our commitment to bringing Black women to together to share our varied experiences, strengths, vulnerabilities and successes in love, relationships and sex. Sponsorship opportunities provide visibility, engagement and the chance to be part of a vital movement promoting well-being and empowerment.