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

Michela Bedard, she/her

Executive Director

Kate Barker Swindell, she/her

Service & Operations Manager

Nicky Dawkins, she/her

Community Education Manager

Aydan Garland-Miner, she/her

Community Engagement Coordinator

Olivia Jenkinson, she/her

Programs Associate

Damaris Pereda, she/her

Programs Director

Emily Swanigan, she/her

Strategic Communications Manager

Dara Wilk, she/her

Development Director

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.

Applications for our 2024-2026 Youth Advisory Council are now closed.

Alyssa Stenson

she/they

Antoilyn Nguyen

they/them

Asia Brown

she/her

Denia Brielle Smith

she/her

Evan Gates

he/him

Juhi Pandit

she/her

Liz Soyemi

she/her

Manasi Gajjalapurna

she/her

Miranda Lu

she/her

Regan Moss

she/her

Salika Vummaro

she/her

Stacey Johnson

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