Menstrual Equity Program
We have a vision for a world where menstrual products are considered a basic necessity and are available in all bathrooms, just like toilet paper. That's why we're partnering with community organizations, schools, state agencies and local governments to distribute all kinds of free menstrual products.
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Our goaI is not just to end period poverty and make period products free and available. Our goal is menstrual equity: we want people not just to have free products - but to have choice about what products they use. We want everyone to have menstruation education so they can make informed decisions about their menstrual health. In 2022 we hired two educators to work with our partners to give menstrual health workshops and attend resource fairs. In 2023 we hired ten educators and launched a train the trainer program and in 2024 we'll be expanding this program from the South Coast to give more regions throughout the Commonwealth.
The menstrual equity initiative formally began in 2022 through a grant from the Commonwealth's Community Reinvestment and Empowerment Program (CERP) and focused in Fall River, then Fall River and New Bedford in 2023. In 2024, the program is expanding to Cape Cod & Islands, South Shore, South Coast, Greater Boston, Somerville and Worcester. This growth is made possible because of grants awarded from the Miller Foundation, the Beim Foundation and CERP.
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Our 2022 Fall River Menstrual 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.
In 2023 we are working on two reports, which we plan to share in early 2024. One report is a comparative analysis of menstrual products - with the goal of sharing with partners options for quality products. The other is a report on best practices for implementing period policies, based on our work in Fall River and New Bedford.
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Stay tuned!