Become an OWL Facilitator: A Meaningful Way to Serve Our Omaha Unitarian Community

Do you believe that young people deserve accurate, inclusive, and values-based education about their bodies, relationships, and identities? Are you passionate about helping children and teens develop self-confidence, respect, and healthy decision-making skills? If so, we invite you to become a trained facilitator for Our Whole Lives (OWL), the comprehensive sexuality education program developed by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and the United Church of Christ (UCC) and offered locally as a joint program of First Unitarian and Second Unitarian Churches.

Why OWL Matters

Our young people are bombarded with conflicting and often harmful messages about relationships, gender, and sexuality. OWL provides a lifesaving, shame-free, and justice-oriented approach to sexuality education. Unlike many public school programs, OWL is:

✅ Inclusive – Affirming gender identity, sexual orientation, and diverse family structures.

✅ Holistic – Teaching not just biology, but also relationships, communication, and personal values.

✅ Nonjudgmental – Creating a safe space for honest discussions that respect individual experiences.

✅ Empowering – Giving young people the tools they need to make informed, healthy choices.

OWL is one of the most impactful programs we offer at First Unitarian of Omaha, and we need dedicated facilitators to help us continue this essential work.

What It Means to Be an OWL Facilitator

OWL classes are led by trained volunteers who are committed to fostering honest, age-appropriate, and empowering discussions with children, youth, and adults. As an OWL facilitator, you will:

⭐ Lead meaningful discussions about identity, relationships, and decision-making.

⭐ Help young people develop confidence in themselves and their choices.

⭐ Challenge harmful myths and promote respect and inclusion.

⭐ Support our UU values of dignity, respect, and justice in sexuality education.

How First Unitarian Omaha Supports OWL Volunteers

We recognize that stepping into this role is a significant commitment, and we are here to support you every step of the way! First Unitarian Church of Omaha provides financial assistance for volunteers to attend OWL Facilitator Training. This means that cost does not need to be a barrier to participation.

Steps to Becoming an OWL Facilitator:

Attend an OWL Facilitator Training – These workshops provide the knowledge and skills you need to confidently lead OWL classes. They are offered in-person as weekend workshops or online as multi-week workshops. Thanks to financial support from First Unitarian, your training costs will be covered! If travel costs for in-person training are a barrier for you, talk to Christina (dre@firstuuomaha.org) about financial support for travel.
Commit to Co-Facilitating – OWL is always taught in pairs of non-related adults who have been involved with their congregations for at least 6 months, ensuring a supportive and balanced teaching environment.
Engage in Continued Learning – Stay connected with fellow facilitators and the OWL community for ongoing education and support.

Make a Difference—Become a Facilitator Today!

If you care about empowering the next generation with comprehensive, justice-centered sexuality education, we need you! Becoming an OWL facilitator is a powerful way to serve our First Unitarian Omaha community, support young people, and contribute to a more just, compassionate, and well-informed world.

First & Second Unitarian have long partnered to offer OWL classes to our congregations, but we have not had a sufficient number of trained volunteers to be able to offer OWL for elementary or high school students since 2019!! Help us bring lifesaving, transformative education to all of our children and youth—find out more about becoming an OWL facilitator today! 🦉💙

💡 Interested? Have Questions?Contact Christina (dre@firstuuomaha.org) to learn more about upcoming training sessions and how to get involved. You can also visit UUA’s OWL Program for more details.