Connections: Healthy Relationships with Family, Friends, and Partners is sponsored by Independence Northwest.
Brokerage customers are invited to the
Fall 2025 Connections Class!
October 27th – November 19th, 2025
Monday and Wednesday afternoons 2pm – 4pm
at the INW office (919 NE 19th Avenue #275 in Portland)
This class is about relationships and sexual health and will help you reach out and build stronger connections with the people you care about. The Connections class will give you tools and skills to be safe and happy in your relationships!
Connections is for brokerage customers who want to strengthen their positive relationships with the people they interact with everyday. It’s also a great way to learn how to expand your circle of friends and think about dating and potentially developing intimate relationships.
This program is FREE for customers of Independence Northwest, UCP Connections, UCP Mentors, Community Pathways, Inclusion, and SDRI customers. Space is limited and we keep our classes small because that’s how they work best (8 – 10 students).
Interested and want to learn more?
Watch the short video below and hear what our instructors have to share!
Topics we’ll cover include:
Communication
Friendship
Dating
Becoming a Couple
Healthy Relationships
Understanding our Bodies
Sexual Health
Self-advocacy
and more!
Brenden
“They did a really good job so I could understand!”
Audra
“Connections helped me know I can speak up for myself.”
Corinne Thomas-Kersting
Hello! I am Corinne Thomas-Kersting. I am looking forward to meeting you and teaching this Connections class with Alice. I am a speech-language pathologist and retired school administrator with Portland’s Community Transition Program for young adults. My career has focused on advocating for educational equity and supporting people becoming successful communicators. Since my retirement, I have been honored to serve as a Board Member of Independence Northwest and have taught communication workshops to Personal Support Workers. One of my favorite sayings is “Communication is the essence of human life.” It is also the essence of every human relationship. See you soon and we will start learning together!
Alice McKenzie
Hi! I am Alice McKenzie and am thrilled to be joining you on this journey to learn more about healthy connections and relationships. My background is in public policy and social justice. I have worked on programs with diverse teams of people across all sectors. I believe that understanding your own body and self is essential for every person to experience safe, healthy, and authentic sexual expression. My classes will focus on understanding your own body, reproductive health, and sexual health.
Note about class content
Connections is structured as a class to teach skills and tools which can be applied in a person’s everyday life. The class does not provide students with a personal coaching or counseling experience. It is not recommended that committed couples take the class at the same time. Individuals in a personal relationship are welcome to apply for the class at different times.
Health and Safety Note
Your health and safety comes first.
Masks will not be required for participants, but they are respected and encouraged. Independence Northwest has N95 and KN95 masks available for visitors who request them. Our space is equipped with high grade air purifiers in each room.
We ask that all participants who are experiencing any symptoms of illness inform the instructor and stay home.
Ready to Sign Up for the Connections Class?
Step 1: Check Your Schedule
Are you available to attend all classes? Attendance at every class is important because each class builds on the knowledge and skills learned in the previous session.
Monday October 27th 2pm – 4pm
Wednesday October 29th 2pm – 4pm
Monday November 3rd 2pm – 4pm
Wednesday November 5th 2pm – 4pm
Monday November 10th 2pm – 4pm
Wednesday November 12th 2pm – 4pm
Monday November 17th 2pm – 4pm
Wednesday November 19th 2pm – 4pm