Who

The PERIOD. Mission

PERIOD. is a global youth fueled non-profit which strives to eradicate period poverty and stigma through advocacy, education, and service.

About Us

PERIOD. annually distributes millions of menstrual products to grassroots organizations serving their communities in need, authors stigma-busting menstrual health curriculum, and equips young leaders to advocate for menstrual equity policies such as the repeal of the tampon tax and mandating period products in public places.

PERIOD. was founded in 2014 by Nadya Okamoto and Vincent Forand, two high school students in Portland, Oregon. Since then, the organization has grown to hundreds of volunteer chapters around the nation and world. In 2020, grew in staff capacity and Board governance, hiring a new Executive Director and senior leadership team, including a Youth Advisory Council.

At PERIOD. we believe:

  • That menstruation is an integral part of reproductive health

  • Our mission to eradicate period poverty and period stigma is fundamentally based on honoring menstruator's autonomy and trusting them to manage their periods and bodies in the way they choose.

PERIOD. is committed to:

  • Lifting up and centering youth voices working in the menstrual equity movement

  • Working to eradicate period poverty through immediate service

  • Working to eradicate systemic period poverty through destigmatizing periods with education and policy

  • Supporting a diverse community of youth advocates to help amplify menstrual equity policies

  • Utilizing asset-based and equitable programming and language in our work

  • Working to ensure the menstrual movement is a welcoming one, for all people who want to end period poverty.

Our Team

Miriam Aguirre, she/her

Digital Engagement Coordinator

Kate Barker Swindell, she/her

Service & Operations Manager

Michela Bedard, she/her

Executive Director

Candice Bee, she/her

Director of Partnerships

Nicky Dawkins, she/her

Community Education Manager

Daphne Ischer, she/her

Programs Associate

Olivia Jenkinson, she/her

Programs Associate

Aydan Garland-Miner, she/her

Community Engagement Coordinator

Damaris Pereda, she/her

Programs Director

Sydney Ramon, she/her

National Policy Coordinator

Emily Swanigan, she/her

Strategic Communications Manager

Velika Yasay, she/her

Webmaster and Database Administrator

Youth Advisory Council Cohort

The Youth Advisory Council is a governance committee tasked with supporting the work of PERIOD. by providing insight and advice to PERIOD.’s programs and strategy. The group consists of 12 activists, ages 14-25, who meet bi-monthly to tackle essential questions and provide strategic advice to PERIOD. staff and Board of Directors. Council Members are the voice and face of PERIOD.'s youth activists, and will ensure that the voices and diversity of young activists are heard and represented in PERIOD.’s decision making and program design.

Welcome to our 2024-2026 Youth Advisory Council!

Laila Abed

she/her

Jon'na Bailey

she/her

Rachel Glantzberg

she/her

Nandini Kanthi

she/her

Esther Lau

she/her

Abby Mizan

she/her

Annika Mondal

she/her

Oorja Munot

she/her

Jae'La Rivera

she/her

Kaia Susman

she/her

Sophia Urdinola

she/they

Cindy Wang

she/her

Board of Directors

Kirsten Brady

Board Chair

Founding Board President, Project Lemonade

Asia Brown

Dr. Charis Chambers

Board Certified OBGYN and Menstrual
Health Educator

Ally Crays

Vice Chair

Law Student, Northeastern University

Ajay Doshi

Board Treasurer

VP of Finance, Northwest Permanente

Lisa Denike, MD

Pediatrician/MD; Regional Chief of Pediatrics at Northwest Permanente

Shari Dunn

CEO/Principal, ITBOM LLC

Regan Moss

Kristin Rios

Corporate Engagement and
Experiences Executive, Advocate and
Activist for Women’s Health Equity

Corporate Advisory Leader Board

This curated corporate leadership collective was created to leverage and share members' common experiences and challenges with workplace gender equity and menstrual equity programming.

PERIOD. FAQs

Please review our frequently asked questions below.

Media or Press inquiries, please email us at info@period.org