Into the Hands of Teens Project

My name is Nancy "Pants" Johnson. I am an author and an educator. After surviving my own tumultuous high school life and teen marriage, I entered college at age 32 and dedicated the rest of my adult life to being a teen advocate. I taught high school English in the inner city for nearly 20 years. Today, I mentor teens in my role as Director of Teen Programming for the San Diego Writers Festival. I also mentor teens in local high schools as they write their stories for KidsWrite San Diego, and I participate in a weekly discussion with Alateens in recovery.

I have worked with over 3,000 students who have shared stories about friendships, bullying, stress, sexual roles and identity, disappointments, and dreams for their future. They often ask questions about intimacy, sex, STDs, and birth control. They share what gets in the way of their dreams: not following their intuition, not recognizing red flags, or not setting personal boundaries.

I wrote the book I wish I would have had when I was a teen. It's called Things My Mama Never Told Me, and it's for all the teen girls I have ever mentored and those I've never met. It's a funny and sometimes serious guide for teen girls and the people who love them. It shares my own coming-of-age stories plus the interviews of dozens of high school students on 24 different topics.

The Need for Things My Mama Never Told me in schools:

·      Every student I talked to wished that there was someone or some thing that would give them answers to hundreds of questions swirling in their heads and hearts. Their cultures, religions, and/or families did not encourage these discussions. I often heard, “Mrs. J, can I get a copy of this book when it’s finished?” I wrote down their names and emails.

·      Unfortunately, many of these students will not have the funds to buy this book. Neither will their families.

·      In many school districts, funding has been cut for programs that visit classrooms and educate students about sex, birth control, STDs, and personal safety. Teachers shared with me the need for appropriate information to fill that niche.

·      High schools are often organized in academies now, and skills are taught with project-based learning. Academies like Social Justice, Health & Human Services, and Academy of Literature & Arts could use the topics in the book to provide curriculum that teaches towards their goals for the year.

Get Things My Mama Never Told Me Into the Hands of Teens Project:

Donation Options:

·      $15     Pre-order one copy of Things My Mama Never Told Me for one teen

·      $90     Donate six copies for a teen book club

·      $360   Donate one class set at a discounted price of $10 per book.

·      Any amount – all donations gratefully accepted

Thank you for whatever support you can provide for my project.

xxPants

Things My Mama Never Told Me will be available from Acorn Publishing in May of 2021. For more information, please go to nancypantsjohnson.com