Comprehensive sexuality education & social-emotional learning for all ages
Papaya Project offers a variety of resources and events that provide opportunities to learn about sexual health, practice communication and relationship skills, increase self-confidence, and build community.
The Story of Papaya Project
Papaya Project was founded by Naomi Price-Lazarus in 2022. Naomi has a background in Gender & Sexuality Studies and years of experience working in educational and non-profit spaces. Seeing the need for more inclusive sex education in the Seattle area, Naomi launched Papaya Project in order to provide comprehensive, inclusive, and pleasure-centered educational programming. Naomi is an AASECT Certified Sexuality Educator and trained facilitator of Our Whole Lives. Since 2022, Papaya Project has expanded to include youth programming (Relationship, Identity, and Sexuality Education), co-host monthly Sex Trivia events with Sex Therapist Breona Mendoza, and facilitate a variety of in-person and online workshops for both adults and youth.
As the political and social climate evolves, Papaya Project remains committed to meeting the growing needs of the community. Rooted in values of inclusivity and affirmation, the organization provides gender-affirming, LGBTQ+ inclusive, and pleasure-oriented sex education for individuals and communities locally and beyond.
Why Sex Education?
Comprehensive sexuality education is an expansive field; it encompasses our identities, bodies, communication, and desires - things that play critical roles in our everyday interactions, health, and relationships of all types. With topics ranging from sexual anatomy to STIs to consent, comprehensive sex education invites us to learn more deeply about ourselves, reflect upon our experiences, and celebrate all ways in which each of us is beautifully unique!
Papaya Project’s curriculum is rooted intersectional feminism, acknowledging the ways in which our identities impact the ways in which we move about the world. By centering consent and pleasure, our programs invite folks to critically examine how they would like to relate to their bodies, loved ones, and communities at large.
Why “Papaya Project”?
Papayas are juicy, healthy, and sensual fruit. They are consumed in many countries around the world, used as natural remedies for illnesses, and often act as symbols for female genitalia. So, what better way to represent the pleasure and juiciness of healthy sexuality than a papaya?
The Papaya Project logo was drawn by Naomi in 2021 under the name of “Super Clit.” Learn more at @papayaprojectorg
Meet the Team
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Naomi Price-Lazarus (she/her)
Founder & Sex Educator
Naomi (she/her) is an AASECT Certified Sexuality Educator. Naomi believes that people of all ages, identities, and backgrounds deserve access to informative, inclusive, and empowering sex education. She combines her passions for education and sexual and reproductive justice to create and deliver a variety of comprehensive sex education programs and resources. Naomi also works for Neighborcare Health, where she offers sexual and reproductive health education and counseling services at school-based Teen Health Centers in the Seattle Public Schools. She spends her free time playing sports, baking cookies, hosting dance parties, and traveling around the world. Chek out her clit-inspired artwork on instagram @papayaprojectorg
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Breona Mendoza (she/her)
Facilitator & Sex Therapist
Breonais a queer sex educator, sex therapist, author, and avid supporter of self-love in all respects of the word. She owns and operates a therapy practice called Colorful Therapy where she works with youth and adults to build relationships skills, self-love, and liberation. She is a published author of Clitaurus Chronicles, a sex education story that uses art and metaphor to convey important lessons around communication, consent, and pleasure. She spends the rest of her time cultivating a sex positive community, eating absurd amounts of peanut butter, finding excuses to play dress up, and contemplating ingenious ways to empower people to become more comfortable and loving with their parts. Follow her @colorful.therapy.pllc
Board of Directors
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Edwina Mante Koch (she/her)
Treasurer
Edwina is a traveler, dancer, mover, teacher, and laugher. She is the founder of the non-profit Au Pair, Oh Paris and author of How to Be An Au Pair in Paris, which has helped hundreds of au pairs move abroad. Her career has been led by her passion for gap year education and extending access to higher education for under-represented students.
Edwina is originally from the New York area where she grew up with a love for dance, singing, and theatre and she has performed on stages throughout the New England area and in France.
Currently, Edwina lives in Portland, Oregon where she works as a doula – an emotional, physical, and informational support for women giving birth.
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Alexandra Friedman (she/her)
Secretary
Alex is the Founder of the social wellness company, Connection Feast, where she hosts online and in-person events and experiences that help people connect on a deeper level. Through Connection Feast, Alex cultivates a community of inspiring people who like to dive deep and explore big questions, so that together, we can all experience more meaningful connections with ourselves, other people, and the world.
Alex is naturally curious, and has a passion for creating community and facilitating deep and meaningful conversations. She also loves ecstatic dance, meditation, hiking, travel, and creative writing. Alex currently lives in Seattle, WA.
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Andi Garcia Brown (she/her)
Board Member
Andi completed her master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership from Seattle University where she focused on understanding how nonprofits work and how best to support organizations. Health education has been a huge part of her career, with a passion to guide and facilitate during transitions, she brings her doula energy to all that she does. Birth work has led her to dive deeper into liberation work within herself and leaning into practicing love in her work and personal life. She incorporates this bell hooks quote into her life and projects: “love is a combination of care, commitment, knowledge, responsibility, respect and trust.”