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.
Meet Elizabeth! Vice President of Media
Elizabeth Lai is a junior in San Jose, California who is eagerly committed to serving individuals unable to afford essential hygiene products. From witnessing how deeply the period stigma affects womxn’s lives, she is passionate about working alongside communities to create sustainable solutions, uplift womxn, and ensure no one is forced to choose between food, safety, or menstrual care. Outside of TPRI, Elizabeth enjoys creating art, exploring the world, and she is excited to support the TPRI on their mission of promoting menstrual equity.
Meet Ava! Treasurer and 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 health and ensure that education and resources are accessible to everyone, regardless of background. Outside of TRPI, Ava loves business/finance, going to the gym, 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!
State Leads
Alana Marrou Brisch – New Jersey State Lead
Alana Marrou Brisch is a sophomore at the Bergen County Academies and has always been angered by the insecurity that some are made to feel about their periods. They are incredibly excited to be part of destroying the stigma around menstruation as part of TRPI. Aiding in rectifying this important and often overlooked issue is something that they have always wanted to do but could never find the time or resources to begin. Aside from advocacy, Alana enjoys playing soccer with their brother, cooking, writing poetry, and reading mystery novels.
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.
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!
Kaylynn 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.
Vivian Hong – Washington State Lead
Vivian Hong is a sophomore in Seattle, Washington, and is excited to help bring menstrual health education further into focus through The Red Poppy Initiative. Growing up, she noticed how conversations around menstruation and reproductive health were often confusing, stigmatized, or avoided entirely. This motivated her to learn more and help create spaces where people can access clear information and feel comfortable asking questions about their bodies. She is grateful to be part of TRPI and contribute to its mission of improving menstrual health awareness and access! Outside of TRPI, she can be found watching movies, cafe hopping, and (trying) to cook.
Sofia Chang – Nevada State Lead
Sofia is a freshman based in Las Vegas, Nevada, with a strong passion for addressing the stigma surrounding menstruation and mental health, especially at their intersection. Through The Red Poppy Initiative, she aims to foster open, informed conversations, promote accessible education, and challenge the social narratives that often silence these experiences. Sofia is particularly interested in bridging the gap between scientific understanding and everyday awareness, helping others feel both informed and empowered. Outside of TRPI, She enjoys researching the specifics of neuropsychology, competing in archery, traveling, and helping manage her family’s escape room business. She’s excited to continue creating spaces where education, advocacy, and curiosity come together to drive meaningful change!
Yiru Yang- China Lead
Yiru is a junior at Tsinglan School in China. He has a strong interest in English Literature, History, and Journalism, and is committed to social advocacy and education. Having observed the stigma and lack of open discussion surrounding menstruation in his community, he joined TRPI to support efforts that promote menstrual health awareness and destigmatization. He believes menstruation should be discussed openly and respectfully, and that women and girls deserve safe, healthy, and discreet access to period products. Through his work with TRPI, he hopes to help foster more informed, inclusive conversations around menstruation.
Sophie Nemes – Romania 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!
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 completely.
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.