OWL Taking Flight webinars are offered on the first Wednesday or most months of the year. Information about upcoming programs and their registration links can be found on the Our Whole Lives Facilitator Resources page. OWL Taking Flight webinars are free learning opportunities that can be enjoyed during live streaming or recordings.
They are co-sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ.
View recorded webinars (scroll all the way down to see additional videos!):
- Inclusive Our Whole Lives Programs (YouTube). Dan Long, Student Services Supervisor, Special Education in the Seattle Public Schools, joins Dr. Melanie Davis (UUA) and Rev. Amy Johnson (UCC) to discuss an expansive view of inclusion and accommodations for Our Whole Lives program participants and share the following resources.
- Katie Novak Resources about Universal Design for Learning
- Stanford University Overview of Inclusive Practices
- NC State document: 10 Inclusive Teaching Practices
- Deeper Joy: Games, Songs, Activities and Practices for Community-Builders! Deeper Joy is a treasure map of music, games, and activities that help foster community. Especially helpful areas to explore when starting Our Whole Lives programs: Tepid Bay (for groups of participants who don’t already know each other); Opening Up Beach; Bonding Harbor.
- Sex Ed in the South (YouTube). Tanya Bass, PhD, the Southern Sexologist(TM) joins Dr. Melanie Davis (UUA) for an engaging discussion about the state of sexuality education in the Southern US and how educators are facing new challenges.
- Building a Trans and Nonbinary-Inclusive Young Adult Library (YouTube). Youth services librarian Sloane Kazim offers a lively presentation explaining the rationale for trans and nonbinary representation in youth and young adult literature and recommends books that should be in every library. Sloan is joined by Dr. Melanie Davis (UUA) and R. Ward (UCC). During the webinar, the following resources were recommended, including Sloan’s slides:
- Read Trans Books Newsletter Signup
- Sloane’s Slides
- American Library Association Rainbow Roundtable
- Stonewall Book Awards
- We have a few of those style books collected in our resource store
- An indie store that hosts incredible virtual programming
- Our Taking Flight webinar with Arlie Anderson, author of “Neither” for preschoolers
- Interfaith Comprehensive Faith-Based Sexuality Education Partnerships: OWL in the Global South (YouTube). Through creative relationships with the Church of Sweden, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, INERELA, the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, and the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Philippines, OWL trainers have provided trainings and pilot projects that have enabled interfaith groups to provide sexuality education in a range of local and regional contexts. This webinar includes panelists who share the international impact of these trainings and projects. This webinar was hosted by the United Nations Committee for Development Policy, a subsidiary body of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It reflects international faith groups’ interest in OWL’s ability to bridge faith and sexuality education through embracing relationship, community, and empowerment.
- OWL Taking Flight: What Fresh Hell is This? The Impact of Identity Erasure (YouTube) Heather Corinna, founder of Scarleteen.com, joins Dr. Melanie Davis (UUA) and Rev. Amy Johnson (UCC) to discuss the impact of policies, laws, and executive orders on the lives of trans/intersex/nonbinary/queer people of all ages. Scarleteen is the largest online resource for comprehensive and highly inclusive sex and relationships education, information and support centering young people.
- “Under Your Wing” Videos for Parents of 4th-6th Graders (YouTube) Dr. Melanie Davis (UUA) is joined by Rev. Amy Johnson (UCC) and Kirsten deFur, co-authors of Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education for Grades 4-6, 2nd ed., discuss their new Under Your Wing videos for parents and caregivers of children in 4th-6th grades. These videos are an extension of the Under Your Wing series for adults with children in grades K-1.
- Teen Sexual Assault Prevention with SafeBAE (YouTube). Rev. Amy Johnson is joined by Shael Norris, founding executive director of SafeBAE, the only US national survivor-founded, youth-led organization working to prevent sexual violence among teens.
- Sexuality Education and Disability Justice (YouTube). Dr. Melanie Davis (UUA) and Rev. Amy Johnson (UCC) host a discussion about inclusion and accessibility with author and disability advocate Rev. Julian Jamaica Soto and Allison Connolly-Vetter, director of Children, Youth and Family Ministries, First Universalist Church of Minneapolis and member of the UCC Disabilities Ministries Board.
- Celebrating 25 Years of OWL! (YouTube). Learn how Our Whole Lives lifespan sexuality education began and has evolved over 25 years, with Dr. Melanie Davis (UUA OWL Program Manager) and Rev. Amy Johnson (UCC Minister for Sexuality Education and Justice), Nao Bethea (UUA co-director, Lifespan Faith Engagement), Rev. Rachel Ward (UCC Minister for Gender & Sexuality Justice Ministries), Judith Frediani (retired UUA Resource Development Office director), and Ann Hanson (retired UCC minister of Sexuality Education and Justice).
- Celebrating OWL for Grades 10-12, 2nd ed. & More! (YouTube) Dr. Melanie Davis (UUA) and Rev. Amy Johnson (UCC) share exciting news about OWL!
- Let’s Talk Month with Advocates for Youth (YouTube). Lauren Barineau from Advocates for Youth joins us to talk about engaging families in sexuality education.
- Advocates for Youth
- Values Expression Exercise.
- Talk More Parent Planners
- Our Whole Lives Traning Calendar
- Sign up for quarterly OWL Newslettter (open to all—not just OWL Educators)
- Raising Kids Beyond the Binary (YouTube) Jamie Bruesehoff, author of Raising Kids Beyond the Binary: Celebrating God’s Transgender and Gender-Diverse Children, joins us to discuss her book, in which she helps us dream of a church and a world transformed by the bold celebration of all children. Jamie is an award-winning LGBTQ+ advocate, speaker, and mother of three, including a transgender child. Jamie has twenty years of experience working with youth and adults and strives to create a world where LGBTQ+ people thrive.
- May is Sex Ed for All Month (YouTube) Rev. Amy Johnson (UCC) welcomes OWL trainers Rev. Tandi Rogers and Rev. Naomi Washington-Leapheart tp discuss the importance of sexuality education in faith communities. Rev. Rogers is the director of the Spiritual Direction Formation & Certification program at Meadville Lombard Theological School’s Leadership Institute for Growth, Healing and Transformation. Rev. Washington-Leapheart is a Board Member for the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) and is the strategic partnerships director at Political Research Associates.
- Yes, Your Kid (YouTube). Dr. Melanie Davis (UUA) and Rev. Amy Johnson (UCC) welcome Debby Herbenick, PhD, author of “Yes, Your Kid: What Parents Need to Know about Today’s Teens and Sex.” Dr. Herbenick is a renown sexuality researcher and provost professor at the University of Indiana School of Public Health.
- Updates to the OWL 10-12, 2nd Edition (YouTube) Rev. Amy Johnson (UCC) and Mary Benard, UUA Publications Director share exciting news about the forthcoming second edition of Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education for Grades 10-12.
- Meet Airlie Anderson, Author of “Neither” (YouTube)
Author/illustrator Airlie Anderson joins Dr. Melanie Davis (UUA) and Rev. Amy Johnson (UCC) for an engaging conversation about her much-lauded pre-K book titled, “Neither.” From the Amazon description: “In this colorful and touching story that celebrates what makes each of us unique, a little creature that’s not quite a bird and not quite a bunny—it’s “neither”—searches for a place to fit in…This story promotes diversity and offers a valuable lesson to the youngest of audiences: it is our differences that unite us.” Airlie also wrote and illustrated Cat’s Seasons, Cat’s Colors, and several other children’s books. She has won the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award, the Independent Publisher Book Award, and the Practical Preschool Award. She creates her illustrations using gouache on paper and graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design. Airlie currently lives in New Jersey. You can visit her online at Airlie Anderson - Reclaiming Sexual Identity Through Carnival (YouTube). With Dr. Melanie Davis (UUA), Rev. Amy Johnson (UCC), and guest Onika Henry, MEd, who revisits what many traditionally think about carnival. She challenges the idea that carnival is about unbridled debauchery and presents it as a time to reclaim our sexuality. Ms. Henry is an OWL trainer and sexologist with a private practice in Tobago. She has an MA in Human Sexuality from Widener University, a background in Expressive Arts, and she co-founded the top-performing arts company in Tobago. She was a US Fulbright Scholar in 2012.
- Onika Henry, Theatre Artist and Sexologist: Focusing on decolonizing sexuality, anti-racism, and reclaiming ancestral wisdom Website.
- Onika Henry’s: YouTube Channeel with TEDx Port of Spain Talk
- Additional Resources from Slideshow: “Toward a Decolonial Feminism,” by María Lugones for Hypatia (published by Wiley), Volume 25, Number 4 (Fall 2010), pages 742-759.
- “Heterosexualism and the Colonial / Modern Gender System,” by María Lugones for Hypatia (published by Wiley), Volume 22, Number 1 (Winter 2007), pages 186-209,
- “The Psychology of Rituals: An Integrative Review and Process-Based Framework,” by Nicholas M. Hobson, Juliana Schroeder, Jane L. Risen, Dimitris Xygalatas, and Michael Inzlict for Personality and Social Psychology Review (an Official Journal of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc.), Volume 22, Issue 3 (2018), pages 260–284.
- “The Spirit of Intimacy: Ancient Teachings in the Ways of Relationships,” by Sobonfu Somi (1999).
- UUA OWL Program Manager Dr. Melanie Davis mjdavis@uua.org
- Quarterly Our Whole Lives newsletter (open to all—not just OWL users).
- LGBTQ Aging (YouTube). With Dr. Melanie Davis, Rev. Amy Johnson, and guests Rev. Willamina Perry, Dr. Jane Fleishman, and Rev. Meg Riley.
- Our Better Half (Podcast) Episode #174: Space for Trans and Gender Expansive Elders, #174 (YouTube)
- Stonewall Generation (Book, by Jane Fleishman, published by UUA Skinner House Books:
- Trans Sex (Book)
- LGBTQ-Friendly Senior Living Communities (directory)
- Ruth Frost Parker Center for Abundant Aging — United Church Homes
- The View from Here: Musing of a Sassy Sistah (Dr. Perry’s Facebook Blog)
- Tips for Successful Parent/Caregiver Orientation for OWL and SoF Programs (YouTube). With Dr. Melanie Davis and guests Kat Good, Asst. Director of Religious Education at the Community Church of Chapel Hill Unitarian Universalist, and Jenn Ringgold, Program Associate for Communication, Resource, and Youth Ministries for the Michigan Conference of the United Church of Christ.
- Trans Action (YouTube). With Dr. Melanie Davis and Rev. Amy Johnson and their guests share a wealth of inspiring programming and resources for trans youth, teens, families, and allies. Guests include Rev. Ashley Horan, UUA Organizing Strategy Director; Rachael Ward, UCC Team Lead and Minister for Gender and Sexuality Justice Ministries; Adrian Ballou, UUA LGBTQIA+ and Gender Justice Program Coordinator; and Rev. Yadi Martínez-Reyna, is bilingual Latinx gender non-binary artist and founder of Color Splash Out, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating safe and brave spaces for LGBTQ+ Youth and their ally friends.
- Our Faith Our Vote — UCC
- UCC Open & Affirming Coalition
- UU the Vote Campaign for Electoral Justice and Democracy
- Preparing for Pride Webinar
- Pastoral Care Group Space
- General UU trans/nonbinary focused resources:
- UPLIFT Action
- UPLIFT Resources to support trans and nonbinary siblings
- Report on the Experiences of Trans Unitarian Universalists | TRUUsT
- The Five Practices of Welcome Renewal
- Mental Health Awareness While Offering Our Whole Lives (YouTube). With Dr. Melanie Davis; Rev. Amy Johnson; and their guests Jennica Davis-Hockett, youth ministry specialist for the Unitarian Universalist Association; and Rev. Sarah Lund, United Church of Christ minister for mental health and disabilities. Resources highlighted in the webinar:
- Autism Inclusive OWL webinar: Autism-Inclusive OWL Programs
- Child Safety and Mandatory Reporting (YouTube) with Dr. Melanie Davis, Rev. Amy Johnson, and their guest Dr. Verena Brown, a nationally renown child abuse pediatrician and educator specializing child protection, child physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect.
- “I Heart Orgasms”: Pleasure, Sexual Health, and Consent (YouTube) with Dr. Melanie Davis, Rev. Amy Johnson, and their guests Dorian Solot and Marshall Miller, co-authors of the book, I Heart Orgasm, sharing their research and experiences as popular college campus speakers.
- The Importance of Continuing Education in Sex Ed (YouTube) , with with Dr. Melanie Davis, Rev. Amy Johnson, and guest Tanya Bass, PhD for a discussion of Dr. Bass’ research and development of the construct of “dispositional humility,” i.e., one’s commitment to ongoing learning. The following resources were shared during the webinar.
- Beneath the Sweater and the Skin poem
- National Sex Ed Conference
- NCSexCon
- S.L.A.M.
- Amaze
- Amaze Educators Conference
- Answer: Sex Ed, Honestly
- Advocates for Youth
- UUA LGBTQ and Multicultural Ministries
- UCC Trans Resources
- UCC Open and Affirming Coalition
- UUA Resources for OWL facilitators
- UCC Resources for OWL facilitators
- OWL Taking Flight: A New Breed of OWL, Formatting for K-1 and Beyond! (YouTube) , with Dr. Melanie Davis, Rev. Amy Johnson, and UUA Publications Director Mary Benard. Learn about exciting new changes coming to Our Whole Lives and Sexuality and Our Faith that will make using OWL/SoF easier. update content faster, and offer more free resources all in one place!
- You Know, Sex (YouTube) , with Dr. Melanie Davis, Rev. Amy Johnson, and sexuality educator Cory Silverberg, author of “What Makes a Baby,” “Sex is a Funny Word,” and “You Know, Sex” for children and adolescents.
- Amazing AMAZE (YouTube), with Dr. Melanie Davis, Amy Johnson, and Dr. Rachel Gibson, Amaze Senior Education Manager at Advocates for Youth. We explore the challenges and rewards of providing public-facing sexuality education that young people and families in the US and internationally find empowering, helpful, and fun.
- Autism-inclusive Our Whole Lives (YouTube), with Dr. Melanie Davis, Amy Johnson, OWL Trainers Ramon and Shellie Selove and their son Nathan Selove, a young adult OWL “graduate.” Ramon and Nathan are autistic, and the family shares facilitation tips based on their personal and OWL experiences.
- Addressing Anti-LGBTQ+ Initiatives (YouTube) Dr. Melanie Davis and Amy Johnson welcome Rev. Michael Crumpler, Rev. Evin Walter, Rev. Michael Schuenemeyer, and Rev. Yadi Martinez-Reyna— all of whom are on the front lines in the UU and UCC fight for LGBTQIA+ justice. We discuss where OWL fits into national LGBTQ+ advocacy efforts.
- Building an OWL Program From the Ground Up (YouTube) Dr. Melanie Davis and Amy Johnson welcome Kat Good and Jennifer Ringold to share program implementation and growth strategies.
- Introducing An Our Whole Lives Adaptation For Older Adults (YouTube) Dr. Melanie Davis explains how to adapt OWL for Older Adults for online use.
- Under Your Wing: OWL (Our Whole Lives) Taking Flight (YouTube), Introducing videos for parents and caregivers of children in grades K-1, with Dr. Melanie Davis and Amy Johnson.
- OWL Revisions: Flight Status, January 2022 (YouTube), with Dr. Melanie Davis and Amy Johnson.
- Sex Trivia!, December 2021 (YouTube), with Dr. Melanie Davis and Amy Johnson.
- Online Training Sneak Peek AND Ask Us Anything OWL!, October 2021 (YouTube), with Dr. Melanie Davis and Marshall Miller.
- OWL: Why We Do the Things We Do, September 2021 (YouTube), with Dr. Melanie Davis, Anna Bethea, Rev. Michael Schuenemeyer
- Framing Conversations About Restarting OWL Programs, July 2021 (YouTube), with CB Beal, Candace Woods, and Tina Lesley-Fox
- HIV/AIDS: What We Can Learn from the Framework for Dialogue, June 2021 (YouTube), with Rev. Arthur Butler and Rev. Michael Crumpler.
- Consensual Non-Monogamy and Faith, May 2021 (YouTube), with Vyda Ng, Rev. Michael Crumpler, and Gabriela De Golia.
- Trauma-Informed Sexuality Education, April 2021 (YouTube), with Eva Fiallos-Diaz and Rev. Dr. Sarah Lund.
- Handouts (PDF) (including a Word Cloud created by participants in the training) Speakers’ slides (PDF).
- 5 Tips for Selecting Fabulous OWL Facilitators, March 2021 (YouTube), with Dr. Melanie Davis and Rev. Kelly Burd
- Parents and Caregivers As Sexuality Educators, February 2021 (YouTube), with Robin Slaw
- New Ideas about Intimacy During a Pandemic, January 2021 (YouTube), with James Wadley, Ph.D.
- Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, December 2020 (YouTube), with Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson and Beka Choate of the UCC
Resources from the webinar include: - K-1 OWL Upcoming Revisions, November 2020 (YouTube), with authors Marshall Miller and Dorian Solot
- Racial Justice and OWL, October 2020 (YouTube), with moderator Anil Oommen and panelists Kim Kendrick, Aisha Hauser, and Cedric Harmon
- Gender and Related Language, September 2020 (YouTube)
- Maintaining OWL Connections with Youth During OWL Program Disruptions (Vimeo). (includes Jackbox demo)
- Restarting Your OWL Program (YouTube).
Additional Videos
- May 2025: Interfaith Comprehensive Faith-Based Sexuality Education Partnerships: OWL in the Global South (YouTube). Through creative relationships with the Church of Sweden, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, INERELA, the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, and the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Philippines, OWL trainers have provided trainings and pilot projects that have enabled interfaith groups to provide sexuality education in a range of local and regional contexts. This webinar includes panelists who share the international impact of these trainings and projects. This webinar was hosted by the United Nations Committee for Development Policy, a subsidiary body of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It reflects international faith groups’ interest in OWL’s ability to bridge faith and sexuality education through embracing relationship, community, and empowerment.
- May 2024: SIECUS Online Presents — Implementing Sexuality Education in Faith Communities (YouTube). Led by SIECUS board member Rev. Naomi Washington-Leapheart and featuring Dr. Melanie Davis and Rev. Amy Johnson from the Our Whole Lives programs at the UUA and UCC respectively, this session explores comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) within faith communities as a social justice initiative.
- August 2020: Sexuality Through a UU Lens. (YouTube). Dr. Melanie Davis preaches about Unitarian Universalism’s long support for sexual justice and education, including the Our Whole Lives lifespan curriculum the UUA co-publishes with the United Church of Christ. The script for this worship service is available to UU congregations at no cost.
- December 2019: Orientation to Our Whole Lives for Older Adults—for Facilitators (Vimeo)
Orientation Transcript (Word)
Orientation PowerPoint (PDF)
Dr. Melanie Davis, UUA Our Whole Lives Program Manager, introduces the new curriculum, “Our Whole Lives for Older Adults.” This recorded webinar is required for OWL Adult facilitators who wish their certification to include this new program geared toward adults 60+ and people who are family and caregivers to older adults. The recorded webinar contains five “clues” that together form a quotation. Facilitators must note the clues and email them toowl@uua.org ANDowl@ucc.org to demonstrate that they have attended this webinar. - November 2019: All Things OWL—for Directors of Religious Education (Vimeo)
All Things Owl Transcript (Word)
Join Melanie Davis, UUA Our Whole Lives Program Manager, for a 90-minute webinar for UU religious educators, recorded on Nov. 19, 2019. Learn about: Our Whole Lives (OWL) revisions in progress; an opportunity to field test a new OWL for K-1 program; tips for implementing the new OWL for Older Adults; new UUA safety guidelines; and, the free, downloadableParents and Caregivers as Sexuality Educators small group ministry curricula. Other topics covered include answers to questions submitted in advance related to OWL program scheduling; parent orientation; implementation; facilitator selection, oversight and training; and generally challenging situations. - October 2019: OWL Community Guidelines and Implementation Tips (Vimeo)
If you facilitate or supervise any level of Our Whole Lives (OWL) sexuality education, this is the webinar for you! National OWL staff for the UUA and UCC provide information on policies and recommended practices that will help support your efforts and enhance your program. (57 minutes) - September 2018: Informational Webinar—Pilot Program for Dismantling White Supremacy in RE (MP4)
PowerPoint (PDF)
The UUA seeks faith development professionals to pilot a structured process that will support them to lead their Unitarian Universalist communities to dismantle white supremacy in religious education programming. Requested by UU religious educators and developed in the UUA Faith Development Office over the past year, the program provides an assessment tool and facilitated peer support during implementation. The pilot will start in November, 2018 and end in June, 2019. Faith development professionals working in congregations of any size, staff configuration, geographic location, and level of anti-racism experience are invited toapply online by October 26. Before you apply, view the informational webinar (MP4). - July 2017: Our Whole Lives, 4-6, 2nd ed. Webinar for OWL Facilitators (MP4)
PowerPoint (PDF)
The 2017 edition of Our Whole Lives for Grades 4-6 includes new material. People who train facilitators or are already trained as facilitators for the OWL 4-6 program need an introduction to the new material and to familiarize themselves with it. Archived Webinar for OWL Trainers will be available on the Trainer Resources private page. - February 2017: Supporting Gender-nonconforming Children and Their Families (MP4)
Gender Non-Comformity Transcript (Word)
Gender Non-Comformity PowerPoint (PDF)
Gender Non-Comformity Resources (Word)
With Gail Forsyth-Vail hosting this webinar, Melissa James, Alex Kapitan, Lisa Rubin, and UUA Our Whole Lives Program Associate Melanie Davis discuss ways to support and welcome gender-creative and transgender children and their families in our congregations. - December 2016: Faith-Sensitive Our Whole Lives (MP4)
Faith-Sensitive Transcript (Word)
Faith-Sensitive PowerPoint (PDF)
Melanie Davis and Amy Johnson offer guidelines and support for providing an Our Whole Lives program to a theologically diverse group of participants.