About Us

The Owned Project was created by Arelia Johnson while she was studying gender and sexuality as a graduate student at Texas Southern University. Her masters thesis, Bound By Desire: Suppressed By Thought, explored African American female sexuality and its expression through spoken word poetry. Now, Ms. Johnson is writing her doctoral thesis, at Howard University, and is focused on the adequacy of state and police departmental policies and practices as it pertains to transgender people. Over the last ten years, she has discovered that people were not engaging in healthy sexual discourse as much they were engaging in sexual activity, that gender is not examined separate from sexuality, and that the expanding gender spectrum is not part of common discourse.

Therefore, a vehicle for education and personal development had to be created. The Owned Project is a community conscious organization that offers a variety of resources to members of the community with a focus on women and girls. We offer workshops, seminars, book discussions, demonstrations and our signature event, Pillow Talk. Additionally, we work we organizations and institutions around issues of gender and sexuality. 

 

Pajamas & Pillow Talk

We understand the challenges women face while balancing careers, school, family, ambition, and life altering decisions. As a result, we created, “Pajamas and Pillow Talk,” an event that caters to the needs of women by allowing them to be as expressive as they want to be in a SAFE space. No topic is too taboo. This event is offered both as a community workshop and a private event for a girl’s night in.

THE EVENT

Pajamas and Pillow Talk is the signature event of The Owned Project and was created to provide safe, nonjudgmental spaces for women. This three hour event includes: catered cuisine, fabulous wine, self-care items, and amazing interaction. The participants are encouraged to wear their favorite pair of pajamas and let it all hang out!

THE PARTY

Are you tired of doing the same old thing and want to try something new for your birthday, a girl’s night out, or bachelorette party? Consider having a Pillow Talk Party and have The Owned Project come to you. This event features “hot” topics, interactive games, and toys that will make any girl squeal. For more information please call (713) 364-8859.

This is an adult only environment. If you would like information about our youth and adolescent sex education program please click here.

Teen Talk

Youth between the ages of 12-18 are all about social relationships, the creation of an individual identity, and the formation of self-esteem and self- image. However, there are a number of factors that can impede an individual’s concept of self. If students in this age group are unable to form, create, and maintain a positive self-image and an individual identity, they can suffer from what is called role confusion- which results from a negative self-image and low self-esteem. And that is why we created Teen Talk; it is the PG 13 version of Pillow Talk without skimping on information.

The Owned Project was created by Arelia Johnson while she was studying gender and sexuality as a graduate student at Texas Southern University. Her masters thesis, Bound By Desire: Suppressed By Thought, explored African American female sexuality and its expression through spoken word poetry. Now, Ms. Johnson is writing her doctoral thesis, at Howard University, and is focused on the adequacy of state and police departmental policies and practices as it pertains to transgender people. Over the last ten years, she has discovered that people were not engaging in healthy sexual discourse as much they were engaging in sexual activity, that gender is not examined separate from sexuality, and that the expanding gender spectrum is not part of common discourse.

Therefore, a vehicle for education and personal development had to be created. The Owned Project is a community conscious organization that offers a variety of resources to members of the community with a focus on women and girls. We offer workshops, seminars, book discussions, demonstrations and our signature event, Pillow Talk. Additionally, we work we organizations and institutions around issues of gender and sexuality. 

 

The Owned Project would like to stay in touch with you and would like for you to stay in touch with us! Please fill out the information if you have any questions, comments, or concerns and someone will get back with you within 24 hours.