Our mission is to empower youth to break the silence surrounding menstruation and combat period poverty in our community. By amplifying youth voices and fostering inclusive dialogue, we seek to create a world where menstruation is understood, celebrated, and accessible to all.

Who We Are!

National Board

Meet Natalie! Co-founder and Co-president

Natalie lives in Seattle, Washington, and is incredibly passionate about civic advocacy and womxn’s rights. Growing up, she constantly felt the stigma surrounding menstruation, discouraging her from talking about her personal experiences around her friends or family. With TRPI, Natalie hopes to bring light to the numerous issues about periods and wants to create a culture that is more aware and accepting of womxn and menstruation. Outside of TRPI, Natalie loves to battle in weekly chess games, take walks around her neighborhood, and snack on candy during movies! She is ecstatic to work together to help make menstruation more accessible to all.

Meet Suha! Co-founder and Co-president

Suhavi Nath is a junior in Bellevue, Washington, and is excited to bring period education to the light. Seeing other womxn being insecure of their periods shaped her understanding of breaking the taboos surrounding menstruation, which is why she’s happy to be a part of the TRPI! Creating a supportive, educational space is everything she stands for, which she hopes to do with the TRPI. Outside of The Red Poppy Initiative, Suha likes to go on runs, listen to music, and watch comedies. She’s so grateful to be here with the TRPI to empower womxn to embrace their bodies without shame.

State Leads

Kaci Li- New Jersey State Lead

Kaci Li is a student studying medicine on the East Coast and is eager to deepen her research in menstrual stigmatization. Her background in biology research and volunteer work in hospitals, including screening patients in gynecology, has fueled her passion for creating open conversations around menstruation. Kaci hopes to build a safe space where the benefits and challenges of periods can be discussed without shame, making it a normalized and empowering topic. Inspired by her early dream of becoming a gynecologist, she’s excited to bring her voice to The Red Poppy Initiative. Outside of TRPI, Kaci enjoys listening to music, reading books, and singing covers of new songs. She is honored to be part of TRPI to expand her knowledge on menstruation and help give voice to those who might feel silenced.

Audrey Ren- New Jersey State Lead

Audrey Ren is a freshman in Cherry Hill High School East in South Jersey. Her experiences seeing and feeling the taboo that surrounds periods and menstruation made her realize how widespread of an issue it is for womxn of all ages. She’s excited to be a part of TRPI and hopefully change that issue through advocacy and education. Beyond The Red Poppy Initiative, Audrey enjoys Public Forum debate, going to concerts, or going to the gym. She’s thankful to be part of TRPI and make an impact in her surrounding communities and beyond.

Emma Shim- California State Lead

Emma Shim is a junior in San Jose, California. As a part of The Red Poppy Initiative, she hopes to help break down barriers to period education. She believes that it’s time for change, one conversation at a time, so that no one feels ashamed for their period. Outside of TRPI, Emma debates, paints, and spends her free time with her dog. She’s excited to make period education accessible and inclusive through TRPI!

Kaylyn Yuan- Maryland State Lead

Kaylynn Yuan, a sophomore from Maryland, is dedicated to reshaping the way society understands and views menstruation. She has witnessed how lack of period education can perpetrate stigma and leave womxn without the resources or knowledge necessary to support their menstrual health. By working with The Red Poppy Initiative, she hopes to challenge these barriers by sparking meaningful conversations, expanding education, and advocating for greater accessibility for all. Outside of TRPI, Kaylynn loves shopping with friends, collecting labubus, and exploring new cities. She is so excited to work with TRPI to foster a safe and supportive environment to tackle the stigma surrounding menstruation.

Sophie Nemes- Washington State Lead

Sophie Nemes is a junior in Bellevue, Washington, and is elated to help broaden the reach of womxn’s health education. Growing up surrounded by other’s confused by their changing bodies, Sophie decided to take initiative by learning as much as she could about her health in order to help as many people understand themselves and their bodies. For this reason she is very glad to be a part of TRPI! Outside of this organization, Sophie likes hiking, weightlifting, and discovering new music, hobbies, and shows to watch. She is very excited to help people understand and have access to menstruation care!

Ava Yu- New York State Lead

Ava is a sophomore from New York who is passionate about promoting menstrual equity and dismantling the stigma around period health. Through The Red Poppy Initiative, she hopes to spark open, honest discussions about menstrual wellness and ensure that education and resources are accessible to everyone, regardless of background. Outside of TRPI, Ava is interested in finance, powerlifting/running, and exploring NYC’s art museums. She’s super excited to be part of TRPI to help change how people think about menstruation and make period education more inclusive for all!

Our Goals

Encouraging Conversation

We aim to destimitize conversations concerning womxns rights. By breaking barriers around menstrual health, we hope to encourage more conversations and spread awareness surrounding womxns issues.

Addressing Period Poverty

Global inequality regarding access to menstrual education and products is real; Womxn are not universally offered supplies or support for their periods, which is a right for all womxn around the world. We aim to help mitigate period poverty, hoping to solve it completley.

Inspiring Womxn

Womxn should not be afraid to talk about their periods, and should not be afraid to stand up against the patriarchy. We hope this project can inspire women to fight oppressive norms set by the patriarchy and break social standards.