Who We Are
The PERIOD. Mission
PERIOD. is a youth-fueled nonprofit that strives to eradicate period poverty and stigma through service, education, and advocacy. Through the distribution of menstrual products, promotion of youth leadership, and championing of menstrual equity in policy, PERIOD. aims to center those disproportionately affected by period poverty and support local efforts for menstrual equity.
Our Global Network
PERIOD. is composed of hundreds of youth chapter members, grassroots organizers, service partners, and a network of partner organizations and companies. To learn more, visit our Get Involved page to find out which partnership is the right fit for you.
See below to learn more about our Team and Youth Advisory Council applications!
Photo Credit to Beatrice Domingo
About Us
PERIOD. is a global youth-powered nonprofit focused on eradicating period poverty and period stigma through service, education and advocacy. PERIOD. annually distributes millions of menstrual products for free to people in need, and helps support a network of hundreds of PERIOD chapters, youth-led organizations and product distribution partners. Period poverty must be solved with systemic solutions, and through the creation and distribution of menstrual health education, PERIOD. works to destigmatize menstruation and promote menstrual literacy. PERIOD. proudly advocates for menstrual equity policies such as a repeal of the luxury tax on menstrual items and mandating period products in schools. Activating a grassroots network of thousands of advocates, PERIOD. will help solve period poverty in our lifetime.
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.
Our Team
Ameer Abdul, he/him
Campaign Manager
Miniya Ali, she/her
Chapter Communications Coordinator
Michela Bedard, she/her
Executive Director
Kate Barker Swindell, she/her
Service & Operations Manager
Nicky Dawkins, she/her
National Community Manager
Aydan Garland-Miner, she/her
Northwest Regional Lead
Olivia Jenkinson, she/her
Service Associate
Damaris Pereda, she/her
National Programs Director
Anusha Singh, she/her
National Campaign Lead
Emily Swanigan, she/her
National Communications Manager
Dara Wilk, she/her
Development Director
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.
We are currently accepting applications for the 2022-2024 Youth Advisory Council Cohort.
Ally Crays
YAC Chair
Aliyah De Jesus
YAC Vice Chair
Catalina Carbajal
Hodan Barreh
Amber Wynne
Sameeha Khan
Annabelle Jin
Gabriela Lopez Castillo
Hana O'Looney
Sarah Smidi
Shruti Gautam
Jasmine Shabazz
(Photo Credit: Shimecca McCall)
Apply to be in PERIOD's 2022-2024 Youth Advisory Council
Changes at PERIOD.
PERIOD. has undergone many changes this year and is continuing to take steps to create a more inclusive and representative organization. PERIOD. has retained Dragonfly Partners to assess how we got to this place, which includes a review of our programs and communications. We appreciate those who are working to hold us to account. Below is a preliminary report from Dragonfly Partners.
Board of Directors
Kirsten Brady
Board Chair
Founding Board President, Project Lemonade
Dr. Charis Chambers
Board Certified OBGYN and Menstrual
Health Educator
Ajay Doshi
Board Treasurer
VP of Finance, Northwest Permanente
Alisia Oladiti
Senior Counsel, Intel
Nancy Monsarrat
VP Global Brand Marketing, Nike (retired)
Lisa DeNike, MD
Pediatrician/MD; Regional Chief of Pediatrics at Northwest Permanente
Shari Dunn
CEO/Principal, ITBOM LLC
Kristin Rios
Corporate Engagement and
Experiences Executive, Advocate and
Activist for Women’s Health Equity
Jasmine Shabazz
Graduate Student at Furman
University; Student Advisory
Committee, American Society for
Emergency Contraception
Amber Wynne
Undergraduate Student at Hampton
University; Student Advisory
Committee, American Society for
Emergency Contraception, In our
Own Voice Leadership Fellow
Want to join the team?
When positions with PERIOD are open, you'll find them listed below and you can click the links below to apply.
For volunteering opportunities, please email info@period.org.
News
What You Need to Know About Period Poverty — And Ways You Can Help
Greatist
Almost A Quarter Of Students Struggle To Access Period Products, New Study Finds
ForbesAmber is Changing Our World
Authority MagazineAmber Wynne is not afraid to ask for help
Thrive GlobalEnd the stigma: Seattle students start donation drive for menstrual products
King5Menstrual Hub Generates Awareness on Period Poverty
The Hawk (Saint Joe's U)Everything We've Been Doing To Teach Kids About Periods Is Wrong
Huffington PostHow to Tackle Period Poverty
Solutions NowYoung Change Makers
Authority MagazinePERIOD@ UVA Combats PERIOD Stigma
Cavalier DailyWhere is the US on Period Equity? Far Behind...
USA TodayMenstrual Products need Tax Exempt Status in Iowa
The Daily IowanThe Price of Period Poverty
healthywomen1 in 10 college women face period poverty, a study shows. Here’s what that means.
The Lily/Washington PostBay Area teenager taking on 'period poverty' in San Mateo County schools
SF ChronicleHilary Duff and Period Activists Are Fighting to Normalize the Convo Around Menstruation
PopsugarSix Menstrual Equity Activists Break Down Best Practices in Period Activism
Ms. MagazineThe Menstrual Justice Activists Fighting To End Period Poverty By Making Period Action Day A Reality
ForbesPeriod Poverty Is Getting Worse During the Pandemic
Teen VogueMenstruation Gets a GenZ Makeover
The New York TimesActivists call on Education Department to take action for ‘menstrual equity’
The Washington PostMenstruation and Mental Health: A Q&A with Planned Parenthood
Psych CentralPeriod Poverty, a Silent Crisis in the Latinx and Black Communities
BELatinaWhy These 5 Feminist Period Brands Are So Important
FemestellaFree period products to be available for Oregon students
AP NewsFree period products will be available for Oregon students this fall
The Oregonian/OregonLiveFree Women’s Hygiene Products in All Grade 6-12 Schools Heads to Governors Desk
East County TodayHana O'Looney elected as Student Board Member
Patch.comLanguage Matters: Why Madami & PERIOD. Have Created a New Glossary for the Global Menstrual Movement
Femtech Insider