Since 1996, the nonprofit reproductive health organization, Power to Decide, has been working to advance sexual health and reproductive care for all. Initially named ‘The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy,’ the organization focused on combating the causes of teen pregnancy. By 2005, the group rebranded as ‘Power to Decide’ to address both teen and unwanted pregnancy among young people more broadly.
Despite this advocacy, a gap in access remains. A recent report from the nonprofit Advocates For Youth and reproductive health clinic Hey Jane surveyed 500 people aged 18-24 across 11 states and found that over 75 percent agreed it was “very important” to have access to sexual and reproductive health care services on college campuses. However, a significant 55 percent of respondents felt uncomfortable seeking those resources on school grounds.
Specifically, Black students and other students of color face unique barriers when acquiring reproductive health resources, such as contraception. Naomi M. Hall’s book, Sexual Health and Black College Students, highlights that Black students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) disproportionately experience poorer sexual health outcomes than students at predominantly white institutions (PWIs). Individual and systemic risk factors place Black HBCU students at an increased risk for HIV or STIs.
The facts were clear; the research had been examined. All that was needed was a platform designed to educate and empower HBCU students about sexual and reproductive health. In 2023, Beyond The Sheets, a student driven initiative by Power to Decide, stepped in to fill that void.
“[We] are filling in a gap that’s needed on HBCU campuses, and young people need to be at the forefront,” JeNeen Anderson, Founder and Program Director of Beyond the Sheets, told GU.
For Anderson, a “God given vision” combined with her passion to combat health inequality led to five initiatives at HBCUs: Tuskegee University, Xavier University, the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI), Florida A&M University (FAMU), and Tougaloo College. Each college offers an ambassador program where two students educate their peers about reproductive wellness while promoting accessibility to health services.
“As a Beyond the Sheets ambassador, we take what’s necessary for students to understand about handling our sexual health as college students in this world. We present it in a way for them to grasp [the information],” said Angel Mayfield, a senior health care administration major at FAMU.
The organization hosts impactful on-campus events, including pep rallies and open forums, that offer essential resources like women’s menstrual products, free condoms, and services like STD/STI testing.
Despite the initiative’s on-the-ground success, systemic hurdles persist. Jada Romer, a nursing student at UVI, explained the challenges in procuring supplies: “We get these resources from our local grocery stores.” Residents living in the U.S. Virgin Islands face higher costs for essential items due to imposed tariffs, per the Official Site of the United States Virgin Islands Government.
Romer mentioned searching online for menstrual supplies advertised as “equitable and easy to access resources.” However, she often encounters an error message when entering her St. Croix zip code. “We are a U.S. territory, but I’m met with nothing [online]. [Some sites] will say products can’t ship here.” She noted that shipping options were available to other U.S. territories like Puerto Rico and Guam, highlighting a specific barrier for UVI students.
This prompted Romer to write a letter to the local warehouse retailer, Cost.U.Less, asking for $200 worth of donations for feminine hygiene products. Luckily, the store delivered the request, but the underlying issue remains, Romer said. “Our zip code isn’t recognized on a lot of these sites. Yet, we’re talking about [supposed] accessible healthcare.” This highlights why the advocacy work continues—when a community’s need goes unmet.
In addition to in-person events, Beyond the Sheets strives to engage students through social media. On Instagram, the initiative uploads video explainers, event recaps, student interviews, and infographics to its 1.6K followers.
Taylor Black, a senior elementary education student at Tuskegee University, created the organization’s most viral content to date—an affirmation slideshow featuring Love Island USA Season 7 star and Tuskegee alumna, Olandria Carthen. “I found that a lot of people who follow Beyond the Sheets [Instagram] relate to pop culture. And I loved Love Island,” Black admitted.
“Besides [Olandria] being a former Tuskegee student, it was interesting to see her stand up for herself. I wanted people to understand that advocating for yourself is also a form of reproductive wellbeing. You’ll see people go into doctors’ offices and not know how to advocate for themselves.”
Open conversations are necessary for intergenerational well-being. The Beyond the Sheets initiative is hoping to expand to more HBCUs to continue to challenge stigmas about reproductive and sexual health for all.