Frequently Asked Questions
We are so excited you want to learn more about PERIOD. and how to address period poverty!
Learn About PERIOD. and About Period Poverty below.
About PERIOD.
Speaker or Interview Requests
Please review our frequently asked questions below. If you would like to request a PERIOD. Staff, Youth Advisory Council or Chapter member to speak for a special event, podcast, or research interview, please submit this Speaker Request Form and we will try our best to connect you with the best fit for your project or event.
Media or Press inquiries, please email us at info@period.org
PERIOD. addresses period poverty through the lens of our three pillars: Service, Education and Advocacy.
SERVICE
We distribute millions of menstrual products to service partner organizations around the United States. If you are a service partner in need of menstrual products, you can submit a request here to join our waitlist.
EDUCATION / ADVOCACY
We offer educational workshops and tools to address the realities of period poverty and period stigma, and we collaborate with local coalitions to advance menstrual equity policy at local, state and federal levels. See our resources for Period Action Day and Launch Pad, and stay informed about our Advocacy efforts in your region!
PARTNERS
We do this through the incredible partnerships and support of hundreds of community partners, donors, and volunteer youth activists leading PERIOD. Chapters all over the world. Donate and get involved!
PERIOD. is based in Portland, Oregon, and we have grown to hundreds of active PERIOD. Chapters all over the world. See our active Chapter List.
PERIOD. Chapters are the heart and soul of PERIOD. They are independent volunteer-led groups of youth activists who are excited to address menstrual equity in their communities.
PERIOD., along with our PERIOD. Chapters, distribute menstrual products to local service partners, we partner with organizations to host educational workshops, and connect with other menstrual equity advocacy groups to advance menstrual equity.
Youth Leadership
We are a youth fueled organization with school and community based PERIOD. Chapters around the world that address period poverty and stigma in their communities. Over 80% of our Chapter Presidents are under the age of 25 years old.
Service Partners and Product Distribution
We distribute period products to organizations that serve menstruators of all ages. We recognize that not all women menstruate and not all menstruators are women.
Our service partners address this need in their communities serving LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and Refugee populations
PERIOD. was founded in 2014 by Nadya Okamoto and Vincent Forand, two high school students in Portland, Oregon. They saw there was a need to address the fact that many people didn't have the products they needed during their period, and decided to do something about it.
Proudly youth-led for the next six years, the organization grew to hundreds of volunteer chapters around the nation and world. In 2020, Vincent moved on to other endeavors, and PERIOD. separated from its founder, Nadya Okamoto.
In 2020, PERIOD. went through multiple organizational changes, including hiring a new executive leadership team, strengthening and restructuring programs, and increased its Board governance, including the addition of a Youth Advisory Council!
We invite you to learn more about the separation with the founder in PERIOD's Independent Review, and you can learn about PERIOD's current leadership in our Who We Are page.
Today, PERIOD’s headquarters are still located in Portland, OR., with staff located throughout the US! We have a total of 11 staff members, 12 Youth Advisory Council members, 10 PERIOD. Community Organizers, and hundreds of youth activists around the world.
We hope to continue growing this movement by partnering with individuals and organizations to end period poverty and stigma in our lifetime. We believe it will.
There are many ways to get involved with PERIOD.
Individual Involvement:
- Follow us on Social Media! Instagram, Facebook and TikTok @periomovement
- Learn more about the issue to share with your network! Check out Launch Pad Resources, Period Action Day, and read PERIOD's Blog, The Rag.
- Become a monthly donor by joining our 28 Days Club
- Join or Start a PERIOD. Chapter in your school or community!
- Host a period product drive in your community
- Volunteer or Intern with the national staff. **We currently don't have positions available. We'd love to have you support with any of the ways above!**
Corporate Partners and Sponsors
We are committed to working collaboratively with other brands, companies, and organizations across all sectors to maximize the potential of the menstrual movement.
Contact Dara Wilk, PERIOD.'s Development Director at Dara@period.org to get more details about current corporate partnership opportunities.
Nonprofit Partnerships:
- We unfortunately currently cannot accommodate additional period product requests for nonprofit partners. If you have questions about product availability, please contact service@period.org.
- To have your organization partner with PERIOD. on collaboration project or event, please email Damaris Pereda, National Programs Director, at Damaris@period.org
PERIOD. Speaking and Interview Requests
Hosting an event, or would like to connect with someone at PERIOD. for an interview? We get dozens of these requests a week, and we ask for you complete this Speaker Request Form to help us identify the best person from our network to speak with you if we have the capacity to. We'd love to be a part of your program!
If you are part of the press or media, or have an urgent deadline, please email us at info@period.org to discuss.
I want to learn more about:
Chapter Program: Please visit period.org/chapters | Chapters@period.org
Advocacy Program: Please visit period-action.org/advocacy | Policy@period.org
Service Program: Please visit period-action.org/service | Service@period.org
Period Action Day: Join us or partner every second Saturday of October. Visit PeriodActionDay.com | pad@period.org
Media or Press Inquiries: Info@period.org | Please include any important deadlines we should be aware of when submitting a media or press request
Additional General Inquiries: Please review the FAQs on this page | Info@period.org
National Volunteer Leadership Opportunities: Submit an Application Here and we will reach out to you when we have an opportunity available that fits your interest and skills. Thank you!
Partnerships and Collaboration
Donors / Corporate Sponsorships: Dara Wilk, Development Director, Dara@period.org
Nonprofit Organization Collaboration: Damaris Pereda, National Programs Director, Damaris@period.org
Speaker or Interview Requests: If you would like to request an interview, or a special speaker or panelist from PERIOD., please submit this Speaker Request Form and we will try our best to connect you with the best fit for your project or event.
We try our best to respond to all requests. Given the high volume of requests, we may have a delay in getting back to you right away. We look forward to connecting with you!
About Period Poverty
Period poverty: The limited or inadequate access to menstrual products or menstrual health education as a result of financial constraints or negative socio-cultural stigmas associated with menstruation.
See our Launch Pad's research and resources on period poverty to learn more about specific research and statistics, and share about this important issue in your community.
Someone who experiences period poverty may experience the diminishment of human dignity, and ongoing inability to fully participate in educational, professional and personal endeavors.
Students in the United States continue to face considerable barriers in accessing menstrual products. Lack of access is evident across various demographic groups, with effects that include risk of infection, emotional anxiety, and logistical challenges that present significant short and long-term repercussions.
Period poverty has its roots in lack of resources, marginalization, racism, sexism, misogyny, resistance to change, cultural norms. It is essential for everyone to talk about this to reduce period stigma, and increase access to period products for all people who menstruate.
Menstrual health is a matter of human rights.
PERIOD proposes a multi-pronged effort to address these issues, calling for legislation to make period products as available as toilet paper in school and public bathrooms; more comprehensive studies on period poverty in young people; and medically accurate sexual education in schools.
We believe Gen Z will solve this issue in our lifetime, and invite everyone to get involved in this movement.
Students in the United States face considerable barriers in accessing menstrual products, and the Covid-19 pandemic has increased barriers to access. The State of the Period 2021 is a publicly available study tracking the impact of period poverty among U.S. teenage students.
This research was conducted by SKDK online between April 26-May 2, 2021 — 1,010 students who menstruate, ages 13 to 19, were surveyed.
Results were weighted for age, region, and race/ethnicity where necessary to align with actual proportions in the population.
The most recent data shows that period poverty has jumped to nearly a quarter of all students (up from 1 in 5 in 2019), and lower-income and students of color have been particularly affected. Students are deeply aware of the impact period stigma and lack of access to period products present, and believe there needs to be more advocates for menstrual health and equity.
Additional questions, please contact info@period.org