Atlanta, GA — The Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) today announced the launch of the Positive Period Action Coalition, a groundbreaking national initiative uniting leading organizations to tackle period poverty and advance menstrual equity for Black women, girls, and gender-expansive people.
As the first and only Black-led coalition of its kind, the Positive Period Action Coalition brings together community-based and national leaders to address the systemic barriers that make menstrual health products, education, and care inaccessible for too many in Black communities.
“Menstrual equity is not just a health issue, it is a matter of dignity, access, and justice. For far too long, Black women and girls have had to navigate stigma, limited access, and systems that simply were not designed with us in mind,” said Zsanai Epps, DrPH, MPH, Interim EVP, Programs & Advocacy at BWHI. “This coalition is about changing that reality. It is about building power, aligning our voices, and driving solutions that reflect the lived experiences of our communities. When we center Black women and girls in this work, we are not just addressing period poverty, we are advancing health equity in a way that transforms outcomes for everyone.”
The coalition is grounded in a shared vision of a future where menstrual health is stigma-free and fully integrated into public health priorities. Its work will focus on five key areas: expanding access to products, advancing culturally responsive education, driving policy and advocacy, strengthening research and data, and shifting narratives through storytelling and media.
Founding members of the coalition include:
- PERIOD.
- The Black Girl Health Collective
- Black Period Project
- New Voices for Reproductive Justice
These organizations were selected for their leadership in menstrual equity, reproductive justice, and community-based health advocacy. Together, they represent a powerful cross-section of national and grassroots expertise.
Through this coalition, members will collaborate to shape national priorities, expand community impact, and amplify solutions rooted in the lived experiences of Black women and girls.
The Positive Period Action Coalition builds on BWHI’s long-standing commitment to advancing health equity and addressing the social and structural determinants that impact Black women’s health outcomes. By aligning partners across sectors, the coalition aims to accelerate progress toward eliminating period poverty and ensuring equitable access to menstrual health resources nationwide.
To learn more about the Positive Period Program, visit https://positiveperiod.bwhi.org/
Media Contact:
Cieja Springer
cspringer@bwhi.org
About BWHI
The Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) is a national nonprofit organization with more than 40 years of impact, dedicated to solving the most critical health issues facing the nation’s 21 million Black women and girls through innovative programs, transformative research, and life-saving policies. More information at https://bwhi.org
