The Days for Girls Podcast

In the mission for menstrual equity, Days for Girls, The Policy Project, Share the Dignity, Population Services International Europe, The Pad Project, The International Sanitary Supply Association, and The Toilet Board Coalition partnered to create the Period Positive Workplace initiative to help organizations around the world build menstrual equity. Visit https://www.periodpositiveworkplace.org/ to learn more. Period Positive Workplaces support gender equality by providing period products at work. Your organization can become a certified by doing these three things: WASHPeriod positive workplaces can increase employee productivity and reduce absenteeism for people who menstruate. Organizations become stronger and more inclusive by providing for menstrual needs. Join over 100 organizations around the world to become a Period Positive Workplace and receive complimentary certification by applying here. In this episode of The Days for Girls Podcast, Diana Nelson, DfG Global Advocacy Director and Jess Strait, DfG Data Systems Manager & Advocacy Specialist join us to talk about the Period Positive Workplace. We discuss: Mentioned in this episode: Episode 025: Fighting Period Poverty at Penn State with Jess Straight & Emma Cihanowyz Bios: Diana Nelson Diana Nelson is the Global Advocacy Director at Days for Girls International where she focuses on developing policy environments that support women, girls, and people who menstruate with the knowledge and products they need to manage their periods, including the establishment of washables standards and comprehensive menstrual health education. A leader in menstrual health coalition building, she serves on the leadership team for the African Coalition for Menstrual Health (ACMHM), on the Advocacy and Policy Task Committee for the Global Menstrual Collective, and represents DfG on several other coalitions. She helped launch the South Africa Menstrual Health and Hygiene Coalition and advocated to the Cambodian government to pilot menstrual health education in their national curriculum. Jess Strait In her dual role, Jess oversees IT operations and Days for Girls advocacy programming in high-income countries. Jess became involved with Days for Girls in 2018 as a founder and president of the Penn State club. Her work there included a campus-wide menstrual cup distribution, co-instructing a course on menstrual equity, conducting a menstrual health needs assessment, and running sewing operations for the clu Support the showPlease support us at daysforgirls.org

Habiba C Mohamed is a social change activator, and trained psychotherapist advocating for women’s bio-psychosocial health and rights. Ms Mohamed supports marginalized women and girls to tap into their inner strengths and amplify their potential and impact in society. Habiba Mohamed works with Fistula Foundation as the Regional Director, Programs (Africa, Asia). Habiba Joined the Foundation in 2014 as the outreach manager. In this role, she designed and spearheaded the community strategy for the Fistula Foundation Treatment Network in Kenya. Later, she was promoted to country director to oversee the entire network of hospital and community partners. Her work has contributed to provision of fistula surgeries, and restoring of dignity to more than 11,000 women in the last 8 years. In her role as regional director of programs, Habiba is responsible for the expansion of the treatment network model throughout the African region. Before joining the Fistula Foundation, Ms. Mohamed worked on the fistula program for nearly a decade. She is the Founder and Lead Director of Women and Development Against Distress in Africa (WADADIA), a nonprofit organization that advocates for sexual reproductive health and rights for the marginalized women. Since establishing the organization in the year 2006, she has been actively involved in the formulation of policies, procedures and strategies that has led to its growth and expansion. Besides her work with WADADIA, Habiba also supported a community program funded by the United Nations Population Fund for six years, and served as a consultant program specialist for One By One, a US-based nonprofit focused on fistula treatment. She has worked and volunteered with several other organizations, giving her an in-depth understanding of community dynamics and engagement. Ms Mohamed was the lead consultant in the development of the female genital fistula training curriculum for community health volunteers in Kenya, and a contributor for the new global fistula guidance. She is the author of the psychosocial effects of obstetric fistula on young mothers in Western Kenya, obstetric fistula post-repair follow up; an outreach workers perspective, and the obstetric fistula community-based assessment tool (OF-COMBAT) - a verbal screening tool, that has helped reduce the number of women being referred to fistula treatment centers with other forms of incontinences. Ms Mohamed began her career as a veterinarian, assisting livestock farmers in Western Kenya. Through this close contact with the community, she began to see the social challenges faced by rural, communities and became passionate about working with marginalized women. She has a higher diploma in Social Work and Community Development, a first and a master’s degree in counseling psychology and is an ongoing PhD candidate of counselling psychology at Kenyatta University. Links: https://fistulafoundation.org/ https://www.facebook.com/fistulafoundation/ https://www.facebook.com/WADADIA/ https://www.wadadia-nonprofits.org/ https://www.facebook.com/WADADIA/ Support the showPlease support us at daysforgirls.org

Jeanne Charbit is a Project Manager at Hystra Consulting which she joined in 2019. In her first years, Jeanne mainly worked in the nutrition sector, notably on a multi-year partnership between an FMCG and a donor in Nigeria, and on MERIEM project, for which she spent a year in Burkina Faso, working with local companies to develop fortified food products for children and women. More recently she has been working on menstrual health issues and is the author of Hystra’s report "Scaling up access to menstrual health in the Global South: Improving product quality and access to reusable options" Links: https://www.hystra.com/our-insights/a2mh https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanne-charbit/ Support the showPlease support us at daysforgirls.org

Jedidah Lemaron is an accomplished psychologist and specialist in AYSRH and Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management. As a training consultant, FGM advocate, and the Founder and Executive Director of The Malkia Initiative, she works tirelessly to ensure that every girl and woman in pastoral communities can participate in development meaningfully and effectively through quality education, advocacy, and gender justice mainstreaming. With over nine years of experience in Gender, Community Sexual Reproductive Health, and Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG), Jedidah is committed to empowering women and girls through education, addressing gender equality and sexual reproductive health and rights, policy, and advocacy. She earned her degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Nairobi and completed a Leadership in Civic Engagement program at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Jedidah's efforts have not gone unnoticed. In 2022, she was honored with the Head of State Award for her contribution to ending Female Genital Mutilation in Kajiado County. She was also a finalist for the Diversity and Inclusion Award and recognition for UNLEASH SDG 5talent in 2022 and a recipient of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders in 2016. Links: https://malkiainitiative.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jedidah-lemaron/ https://allafrica.com/stories/201712130690.html Support the showPlease support us at daysforgirls.org

Laura Baerwolf has been with Mona Foundation since 2019 and is currently its Chief Operating Officer. She is passionate about Mona’s mission to alleviate poverty through education and gender equality and its unique values-driven approach to philanthropy based on the oneness of humanity. She sees her work at Mona as the culmination of a life-long commitment to service. Laura is an experienced administrator with a Master's degree in Public Health. She worked in healthcare administration at FHP International for many years and later moved to the nonprofit sector to manage the administrative office of the Regional Bahá'í Council of the Northwestern States. Prior to joining Mona, Laura worked as a regional coordinator for the Northwest Regional Training Institute, a nonprofit educational agency aimed at empowering children, youth, and adults to develop their individual capabilities and contribute to the betterment of their communities. She currently serves on the Institute’s Board of Directors as its secretary. Mona Foundation Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monafoundation.org/ Mona Foundation Twitter: https://twitter.com/monafoundation Mona Foundation Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonafoundation/ Mona Foundation YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/monafoundation Mona Foundation LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/1969671/ Support the showPlease support us at daysforgirls.org

In this episode, Cynthia Covey Haller talks about her latest book, Live Life in Crescendo and why Days for Girls is mentioned as an example of what it means to live life in crescendo. Cowritten with his daughter, Cynthia Covey Haller, and published posthumously, Live Life in Crescendo is a life-changing and life-affirming book that befits the generosity and wisdom of the late Stephen R. Covey. Cynthia Covey Haller is an author, teacher, speaker, and active participant in her community. She is the author of She has contributed to the writing of several books and articles, notably, The 3rd Alternative by Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, and The 6 Most Important Decisions You'll Ever Make, both by Sean Covey. Cynthia has held multiple leadership positions in women's organizations, served as a PTSA president, as an organizer for refugee aid and a food pantry volunteer, and she is currently working with her husband, Kameron, as a service volunteer for Bridle Up Hope, a non-profit. She graduated from Brigham Young University and lives with her family in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is the mother of 6 children and has 21 grandchildren, giving her plenty of opportunity to "live in crescendo!" Support the showPlease support us at daysforgirls.org

Rochelle Courtenay is the Founder and Managing Director of Share the Dignity, an Australia-based charity, organizing the The Global Period Poverty Forum (GPPF), Oct. 10-12, 2022. The GPPF will bring together 42 world-class speakers, outstanding researchers and those making a global impact for three days of extraordinary development and learning around how WE can unite to end period poverty. Days for Girls is a participating partner. In this episode, Rochelle talks about the inspiration for her work at Share the Dignity and what to expect at the GPPF. Connect: The Global Period Poverty Forum (GPPF), Oct. 10-12, 2022 Share the Dignity Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Bio: Share the Dignity was founded in 2015 with the mission to ensure that everyone is afforded the dignity in life that so many of us take for granted. Share the Dignity brings dignity to women and girls experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, and period poverty through the distribution of period products. Share the Dignity is powered by volunteers, and through Rochelle’s contagious spirit over 6,000 volunteers have jumped on board to help ‘share the dignity.' Share the Dignity has donated over 3.5 million period products through multiple initiatives across Australia. Rochelle has won recognition and accolades for her work including Finalist Australian of the Year, Cosmopolitan Humanitarian of the Year and Pride of Australia. As well as holding biannual collections for period products nationwide, Rochelle is passionate about advocating for change and creating long-term solutions. Share the Dignity successfully advocated to axe the tax on period products, with the GST on period products being removed in early 2019. Additionally, Share the Dignity has been advocating for free period products in schools for years and since then many states have begun implementing programs. Most recently, after finding out that patients in Australian hospitals were being denied period products and instead being given diapers, gauze, bed pads and towels Share the Dignity has turned its focus to advocating for pads to be provided to patients for free in Australian public hospitals. Support the showPlease support us at daysforgirls.org

Today's episode is with Anders Ankarlid, Founder of A Good Company, whose mission is to create elegant, thoughtful and sustainable everyday products. Anders is a serial e-commerce entrepreneur, and a father of three. He has worked in e-commerce for more than a decade, and considers himself a mindless consumption-activist. In this episode, Anders talks about why he chose Days for Girls International as the nonprofit partner for A Good Company's Bamboo Toilet Paper Products. With each bamboo toilet paper subscription, A Good Company provides a DfG Kit to women and girls around the world. Learn more at agood.com https://www.instagram.com/agoodcom/ https://www.facebook.com/agoodcom https://www.linkedin.com/in/andersankarlid/ Support the showPlease support us at daysforgirls.org

Carinne Chambers-Saini, CEO and Founder of Diva, maker of the DivaCup, always knew that she wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps, as both an entrepreneur and an advocate for women’s health. In this episode, Carinne talks about how she joined forces with her mother to develop Diva, a modern redesign of a menstrual cup concept from the 1930s. The mother-daughter duo started Diva on a shoe-string budget from their kitchen table and relentlessly challenged a male-dominated industry. Twenty years later, Diva has taken menstrual cups mainstream and disrupted the sanitary product industry by providing a more sustainable and planet-friendly solution. Diva is now sold in over 40 countries and has sold over 6.5 million DivaCups internationally to date. Connect: https://divacup.com/ DivaCup on Instagram DivaCup on Twitter Carinne on Instagram Bio: As Diva’s CEO, Carinne oversees everything from product design, and marketing, to the brand's philanthropic efforts. In her time as CEO, she has worked with her team to introduce the first-ever menstrual cup recycling program in North America, DivaRecycles. A first-of-its-kind for the menstrual product space, Diva partnered with Terracycle to help reduce waste and carbon footprint impact. Most recently, Diva was one of the first brands in North America to introduce a menstrual health leave policy for its employees, allowing them to have up to 12 days of paid leave a year, apart from their sick leave. Carinne is a trailblazer in the space and leading the charge both as a leader at Diva and as an advocate in the menstrual health space. Carinne and her company have received notable recognition, winning EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Sustainable Products and EY’s Special Citation Award for Industry Disruptor. In 2017, Carinne was also the recipient of Canada’s Top 40 under 50. Most recently, Carinne received a 2019 RBC Women of Influence TELUS Trailblazer Award, in recognition of her industry-disrupting work with Diva International. Today, Carinne is a sought-after speaker and panelist at industry events and business conferences. “I want to motivate women to assert themselves – to find their unique voices and dare to follow their passion, facing down fear to fulfilling their true potentials. My hope is they will be inspired by our story – take chances and never give up, even when they’re up against all odds.” Carinne not only pioneered an unprecedented shift in period dialogue with the launch of Diva, but she also spontaneously launched a documentary project in 2017 known as Pandora’s Box. As said by many, Carinne lifted the lid on Pandora’s Box with the goal to create a conversation around period quality while shedding light on the global stigma attached to menstruation. and she lights on global period equity. Support the showPlease support us at daysforgirls.org

SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A REVIEW: APPLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY | STITCHER | RSS Nur Kara is an attorney at DLA Piper LLP (US). She was selected to spend her first year at the firm working exclusively on global pro bono matters. Now, outside of her litigation practice, she continues to work on project development for New Perimeter, the firm’s non-profit affiliate, focusing on menstrual rights and policies, intimate partner and gender-based violence, and women’s education and advancement. In this episode, Nur talks about her leadership of a project New Perimeter is working on where a team of attorneys is drafting a multi-country study on the laws and policies related to menstrual equity in the education sector, with guidance from Days for Girls’ experts and affiliates. Connect: Nur Kara | People | DLA Piper Global Law Firm LinkedIn nurkara.contently.com Bio: Nur Kara is an attorney at DLA Piper LLP (US). She was selected to spend her first year at the firm working exclusively on global pro bono matters. Now, outside of her litigation practice, she continues to work on project development for New Perimeter, the firm’s non-profit affiliate, focusing on menstrual rights and policies, intimate partner and gender-based violence, and women’s education and advancement. She also represents immigrant clients seeking asylum, special immigrant juvenile status, and temporary protected status, among other humanitarian pathways, as well as survivors of domestic violence seeking protective orders. Prior to law school, Nur served as a Fulbright Researcher to New Delhi, India, where she implemented a survey-based study and original curriculum for almost 700 students to address the sociocultural barriers to adequate menstrual health. She has also counseled adolescents on child labor laws and sexual assault in Uganda and worked in global health administration. Nur holds a B.A. in Political Science and Human Rights from the University of Chicago; an MSc. in Health Policy, Planning & Financing jointly from the London School of Economics & Political Science and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine; and a J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law. Support the showPlease support us at daysforgirls.org

Souphalak (Peckie) Inthaphatha is a recent PhD graduate from Nagoya University in Healthcare Administration. Eiko Yamamoto is a professor from the Department of Healthcare Administration at Nagoya University. She also responsible for the Young Leaders' Program for the Ministry of Health in Asia. In this episode Peckie and Eiko talk about their recent studies on menstrual health and factors associated with school absence among student girls in Luang Prabang Province, Lao PDR, and factors associated with postpartum depression among women in Vientiane Capital in Lao PDR. Connect with Peckie and Eiko to learn more about their work at the following links: Visit Eiko's Profile on the Nagoya University Website Connect withe Peckie on Facebook Support the showPlease support us at daysforgirls.org

Severina Lemachokoti is an outspoken advocate for gender equity and reducing FGM (Female Genital Mutilation). She is a sought-after women’s leader who has spoken at the UN, Africa Regional Conference on Women, and speaks and facilitates convenings to bolster the rights of indigenous peoples, human rights activism, and trauma and conflict resolution. In this episode, Severina talks about her experience with FGM and how she became an outspoken advocate for gender equality around the world. Highlights: Connect: Contact Severina via email at severinalem@gmail.com Watch Tradition by Severina on YouTube Bio: Severina Lemachokoti is an outspoken advocate for gender equity and reducing FGM (Female Genital Mutilation). She is a sought-after women’s leader who has spoken at the UN, Africa Regional Conference on Women and girls. Severina speaks and facilitates convenings to bolster the rights of indigenous peoples, human rights activism, trauma and conflict resolution. Severina’s educational background includes Counseling Psychology and Sociology, with a minor in Women’s Studies and a Masters Degree Liberal Arts. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Education in Leadership and Administration at Wichita State University. Severina serves on the Board of Samburu Women Trust as chair person, Days for Girls International Board and is a member of the Indigenous Women Council of Kenya. She has been volunteering with Days for Girls since 2016 and is a champion for menstrual equity around the globe. Support the showPlease support us at daysforgirls.org

Karen Austrian is a director at the Population Council, where she leads the Council's Girl Innovation, Research and Learning Center: a global research hub that generates, synthesizes and translates evidence on adolescents to support investments that transform their lives, especially for girls. She specializes in developing, implementing and evaluating research-driven programs that build protective assets for girls. In this episode, Karen dives into her journey in policy-driven research and programming for girls; unpacks the nuanced issue of gendered school absenteeism; shares key findings on the relationship between MHH/SRH education and body confidence; and explains why she always “lets the evidence (of the lived experiences of youth) shape the response.” Highlights: Connect: Website: https://www.popcouncil.org/research/expert/karen-austrian Email: kaustrian@popcouncil.org Bio: Karen Austrian is the director of the Population Council, where she leads the Council's Girl Innovation, Research and Learning Center: a global research hub that generates, synthesizes and translates evidence on adolescents to support investments that transform their lives, especially for girls. Prior to stepping into this role, Austrian led a portfolio of projects designed to empower girls in East and Southern Africa. She develops, implements and evaluates programs that build girls protective assets, such as financial literacy, social safety nets and access to education. Support the showPlease support us at daysforgirls.org

Clint Borgen is the Founder and President of The Borgen Project, an organization working to bring U.S. political attention to global poverty. Borgen works with Congressional leaders to build support for legislation that improves conditions for people in developing nations. He is widely regarded as one of the leading poverty-reduction campaigners in the United States. In this episode, Clint talks about The Borgen Project’s mission to fight extreme poverty. The Borgen Project believes that leaders of the most powerful nation on earth should be doing more to address global poverty. Highlights: Connect: Website: www.borgenproject.org Twitter: @borgenproject Facebook: www.facebook.com/borgenproject Bio: Clint Borgen is the Founder and President of The Borgen Project, an organization working to bring U.S. political attention to global poverty. Borgen works with Congressional leaders to build support for legislation that improves conditions for people in developing nations. He is widely regarded as one of the leading poverty-reduction campaigners in the United States. Background: In 1999, while working as a young volunteer in refugee camps during the Kosovo War and genocide, Clint Borgen recognized the need for an organization that could bring U.S. political attention to issues of severe poverty. In 2003, after graduating from Washington State University and interning at the United Nations, Borgen began developing his project. In need of startup funding, Borgen took a job living on a fishing vessel docked in Dutch Harbor, Alaska (the same location as The Deadliest Catch). From humble beginnings in one of Earth’s most remote locations, The Borgen Project was born. Now headquartered in Tacoma, Washington, The Borgen Project has become an influential campaign aimed at reducing global poverty through public mobilization and political advocacy, and serves as a testament that one man and a laptop can change the world. Support the showPlease support us at daysforgirls.org

Inga Winkler a university professor and researcher who specializes in the intersection of menstruation, gender justice and human rights. She is a co-contributor to the Palgrave Handbook on Menstruation Studies: a field-defining resource that examines In this episode, Inga walks us through concepts from the Palgrave Handbook; unpacks the relationship between power dynamics and menstruation; shares menstrual health policy insights from around the world; dives into the importance of intersectionality in conversations about menstruation; and so much more. Highlights: youConnect: Handbook: PDF link here Website: www.ingawinkler.com Twitter: @Inga_Winkler Bio: Inga Winkler is an Associate Professor in International Human Rights Law at the Central European University in Vienna, Austria. She is also the director of The Working Group on Menstrual Health and Gender Justice at Columbia University. Her research focuses on socioeconomic rights and gender justice with a particular interest in the intersection of menstruation, culture and representation. Her research builds on her extensive experience in the UN system, and she seeks to engage with policymakers on menstrual health. In today's episode, we'll be talking about her contributions to the Palgrave Handbook on Critical Menstruation Studies. Support the showPlease support us at daysforgirls.org

Jasmine Burton is a social inclusion and design specialist who is passionate about building a more inclusive world through sanitation innovation. She is the founder and CEO of Wish for WASH, a social impact organization that addresses equity gaps in the WASH sector through human-centered design thinking and research. In this episode, Jasmine shares her journey as a toilet design specialist striving to improve outcomes for the 4.2 billion people who lack access to safely managed sanitation. Join us as we dive into the challenges of global toilet inequity; exciting innovations in the WASH sector today; and the relationship between sanitation innovation, menstrual health and the empowerment of women and girls. Highlights Connect Website: jasminekburton.com | wishforwash.org | periodfutures.org | toiletboard.org IG/FB/Twitter: @jasminekburton | @wishforwash | @periodfutures LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasminekburton/ Bio Jasmine (Jaz) is a social inclusion and design specialist with a focus on gender equity, meaningful youth engagement, and innovation in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and global health sectors. She is trained in product design and public health, and is passionate about social justice and human rights. She has led iterative toilet innovation pilots and research across Sub-Saharan Africa with a design thinking lens and in resettled refugee communities as the founder of Wish for WASH, a social impact organization that seeks to bring innovation to sanitation. Jasmine has served as the Toilet Accelerator Manager and Innovation Lab Lead at the Toilet Board Coalition, Technical Advisor for the gender equity startup Equilo, on the Board of Directors for Planet Indonesia in order to help lead their WASH and gender strategies, a Design/Communications Associate for Women in Global Health, and a former consultant for gender and women's health research organizations Atethemis and International Planned Parenthood Federation. As a 2018-2019 Women Deliver Young Leader, she spoke at the 2019 WD conference about her work and vision for gender equity in the WASH sector. Jasmine identifies as a social impact designer who seeks to utilize design thinking, evidence-based research, and business acumen to build a more inclusive world. Support the showPlease support us at daysforgirls.org

Rob and Debbie Young are an impact-driven couple changing the world through their leadership efforts with doTERRA and Days for Girls. Rob is a doTERRA co-founder who plays an active role in the company’s global charity initiatives, while Debbie leads DfG’s 30,000-strong Utah Chapter. In this episode, Rob and Debbie dive into their journey(s) in social impact work; their passion for lifting up women, girls and communities on a global scale; memorable moments from their efforts around the world; and why doTERRA’s unique, sustainable approach to giving back makes them the perfect DfG partner. Highlights: Connect: Website: www.doterra.com & doterrahealinghands.com Bio: Debbie serves as the Days for Girls Coordinator for Utah, organizing 30,000 local volunteers, as well as coordinating efforts to enact doTERRA Wellness Advocates to distribute Days for Girls kits around the globe. She has personally taught over 3,000 girls in 6 countries and has enjoyed her time working with women to establish various DfG Enterprises while in-country. Her husband, Rob, is one of the co-founders of doTERRA. From the very beginning, Rob helped establish doTERRA as an integrative health and wellness company and the world leader in the global aroma therapy and essential oils market. Rob is often seeking ways to support others in need through doTERRA, his co-impact sourcing initiatives and the doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation. Support the showPlease support us at daysforgirls.org

Laura Peña is a Dominican-American filmmaker, storyteller and passionate champion of every girl. She is the founder of She is the Universe: a storytelling, mentorship and community building platform that supports girls around the world to stand in their power and pursue their dreams. For the past few years, Laura has traveled across the world interviewing girls about their hopes, dreams, passions and struggles – and sharing their unique stories through film. In this inspiring episode, Laura talks about her current and upcoming projects with She is the Universe, the impact of her work on women and girls around the globe, her favorite stories from interviews on six continents, and her steadfast belief in the ability of girls to change the world (when given the right tools and support). Let’s dive in! Highlights: Connect: Website: www.sheistheuniverse.org Instagram: @sheistheuniverseproject Youtube: She is the Universe Bio: Laura Peña is a Dominican-American filmmaker, creative producer, motion designer, speaker, traveler, proud Latina and supporter of girls. As the founder of She is the Universe, a Global Movement for Girl’s Empowerment, Laura looks to inspire, and offer girls from around the world the support they need to stand in their own stories and to pursue their dreams, through storytelling, mentorship and community. For the past few years, Laura has been traveling the world collecting stories of teenage girls on film. They share their dreams and struggles for a video series with stories of girls, told by girls. Laura encourages and supports girls to use their voice and change the world, using their own unique gifts. Originally from the Dominican Republic, she moved to the U.S. to attend Parsons School of Design in New York City in 2005. In 2014 she founded JelloMonsters, a creative Design Lab where she works with leading brands to create motion graphics. Her work has been featured in magazines, newspapers, and books globally. Laura is also an international workshop leader and speaker who has shared her story at TEDx and Creative Mornings. She has been a digital nomad for about 6 years. Currently Laura spends most her time in the beach town of Cabarete, Dominican Republic, keeping the nomad lifestyle alive while building her dreams and weathering a global pandemic with patience. Support the showPlease support us at daysforgirls.org

Anita Diamant is a New York Times best-selling novelist, journalist and the author of multiple books on menstrual equity – including Period. End of Sentence., based on the Oscar-winning documentary of the same name. In this episode, Anita shares wisdom and stories from her acclaimed books on menstrual equity; dives into her personal journey as a menstrual health author and advocate; unpacks the connection between power, period shame and gender equity; and leaves us with hopeful words about the future of the menstrual movement. Tune in below! Highlights: Period. End of Sentence.The Red TentConnect: Website: https://anitadiamant.com Twitter: @AnitaDiamant Facebook: Author Anita Diamant Bio: Anita Diamant is the author of thirteen books. Period. End of Sentence, is her most recent. Her first novel, New York Times bestseller, The Red Tent, has been published in more than 25 countries, won the 2001 Booksense Book of the Year Award and was adapted into a two-part miniseries by Lifetime TV. Anita’s other bestselling novels include The Boston Girl, Day after Night, The Last Days of Dogtown, and Good Harbor. She has written six non-fiction guides to contemporary Jewish life: The Jewish Wedding Now, The Jewish Baby Book, Living a Jewish Life, Choosing a Jewish Life, How to Raise a Jewish Child, and Saying Kaddish. Anita’s book, Pitching My Tent, is drawn from twenty years-worth of newspaper and magazine columns. As an award-winning journalist, her articles and essays have appeared in the Boston Globe Magazine, Real Simple, Parenting, Hadassah, Reform Judaism, Boston Magazine and Yankee Magazine. Anita is the founding president of Mayyim Hayyim: Living Waters Community Mikveh, a 21st century reinvention of the ritual bath as a place for exploring ancient traditions and enriching contemporary Jewish life. She grew up in Newark, New Jersey and Denver, Colorado, and graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a degree in comparative literature. She also holds a master’s degree in English from Binghamton University. Support the showPlease support us at daysforgirls.org

Blanca Ordaz is a ten-year-old actress who is passionate about using her voice and platform make the world a better place. Through her leading role in the new PBS short film Death and Deathability: A Period Piece, Blanca hopes to shine a light on period poverty and shatter the stigma around menstruation. In this episode, Blanca (and her mother, Cecilia) talk about her experience filming Death and Deathability, how the film turned her into a young advocate for menstrual equality, the importance of normalizing period talk for all people, and the impact she hopes to make as a cause-driven actress. Tune in below! Highlights: Connect: Watch: Death and Deathability: A Period Piece Instagram: @bbllaannxx Bio: Blanca Ordaz is a ten-year-old actress who is passionate about using her voice and platform to help others. She stars in Death and Deathability: A Period Piece, a new PBS short film about a young girl experiencing menstruation for the first time. Blanca wants to raise awareness about period poverty and education equity for girls. She hopes to use her platform to shatter the stigma, keep the conversation going and help people see that periods are a normal thing to talk about. She is pursuing an acting career to tell stories that matter, to make people feel less alone, and to change lives for the better. Support the showPlease support us at daysforgirls.org