Fall River
Menstrual Equity Initiative
Mass NOW in partnership with Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan, United Neighbors of Fall River and the Fall River Coalition Against Period Poverty was awarded a grant through the Commonwealth's Community Empowerment and Reinvestment program to provide free menstrual products & menstrual equity workshops in Fall River schools, shelters and community centers.
A SNAPSHOT
We partnered with Fall River Public Schools and 17 community organizations to distribute over 30,000 quality, menstrual products. 100% of partner organizations reported having been asked for menstrual products by a menstruator who needed one and relied on donations to meet the need. We partnered with Love Your Menses to hold workshops such as, “Menstrual Equity 101 Train-the-Trainer” as well as “Community Menstrual Equity 101,” and “Men for Menstruation.” 100% of participants surveyed found the presentation to be effective, engaging and learned new resources/references for period conversations in the future! We surveyed menstruators in the community online, in focus groups and at Period Pop Up events. Over one third (36.71%) of participants shared that they had missed school, work, or other activities due to not having access to menstrual products.
The following report includes a literature review, which examines period poverty in schools and shelters, an overview of Fall River and why it was chosen for the project, the project methods, as well as project findings and recommendations. It is our hope that this report can be a roadmap for officials at all levels of government on how to meaningfully address period poverty. The success of this project indicates that these policies improve the health and wellbeing of both individuals and communities.
Advisory Group
Our Advisory Group includes stakeholders working on this grant program to share best practices on menstrual product distribution, and how we can meet the needs of people who menstruate living in or near poverty in Fall River. We will share a report in summer 2022 with recommendations for best practices for period poverty policy implementation. This initiative is co-facilitated by Sasha Goodfriend, Executive Director of Mass NOW and Lauren Leonardis of Mother and Changemaker Consulting Inc.
Ali Bettencourt
April Fuches
Bria Gadsden
Charlotte Powley
Deloris Joseph
Elaina M. Pevide
Genesis Galan
Lee LeBlanc Corrigan
Leimary Llopez
Maryellen Brisbois
Meg Rogers
Michaela Gagne
Sara Rodrigues
Wendy Garf-Lipp
South Coast Hospital Group
Bristol County DA
Love Your Menses
Simmons University
Dartmouth Youth representative
Fall River Mayor's Office
Representative Carole Fiola's Office
Citizens For Citizens Family Planning
YW of Southwest Massachusetts
UMASS Nursing School
United Way Greater Fall River
Diman Vocational HS
Fall River School Committee
United Neighbors of Fall River