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.
Photo Credit to Beatrice Domingo
About Us
PERIOD. was founded in 2014 by Nadya Okamoto and Vincent Forand, two high school students in Portland, Oregon. Proudly youth-led for the next six years, the organization grew to hundreds of volunteer chapters around the nation and world. In 2020, with Vincent already moved on to other endeavors, PERIOD separated from Nadya Okamoto, and grew in staff capacity and Board governance, hiring a new Executive Director and senior leadership. Ensuring that programming centers youth activists and BIPOC voices, a Youth Advisory Council was added to organizational leadership. Today, PERIOD’s headquarters are still located in Portland, OR with additional warehouse facilities in Tennessee, and staff located throughout the US. 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.
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.
News
Almost A Quarter Of Students Struggle To Access Period Products, New Study Finds
Forbes
Amber 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 VogueActivists 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.comOur Team
Michela Bedard
Executive Director
Damaris Pereda
National Programs Director
Dara Wilk
Development Director
Ameer Abdul
Campaign Manager
Blaise Albis-Burdige
Data Engineer & Webmaster
Kate Barker Swindell
Service & Operations Manager
Emma Craven
National Chapter Coordinator & NW Regional Coordinator
Nicky Dawkins
SE Regional Coordinator
Maya Foxall
Communications Manager
Olivia Jenkinson
Service Associate
Anusha Singh
Campaign Lead
2020-2022 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.
All Youth Advisory Council seats are currently filled, but please stay tuned for more information and availabilities
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)
Board of Directors
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.
There are no positions open at this time. Please check back later!