NOTE: We are holding a donation drive in conjunction with this event. Please bring period products to donate if you are able.
Period poverty is a critical issue affecting individuals globally, especially those from low-income backgrounds. It refers to the lack of access to sanitary products, menstrual hygiene education and proper sanitation facilities, which hinders the ability of menstruating individuals to manage their periods with dignity and comfort. This leads to significant challenges in health, education and overall well-being. In many places, stigma surrounding menstruation exacerbates the problem, further marginalizing those affected. Addressing period poverty requires systemic changes including policy interventions, affordable access to menstrual products, and comprehensive education to normalize discussions around menstruation and promote equality.
How do you destigmatize periods and support communities? In the last four years of teaching, Niki has taken on the challenge of addressing period poverty within their high school and addressing period inequities. In this presentation, they will discuss what period poverty is, its intersectionality with period equity, how to unravel period poverty within low-income public schools, and how to support communities that face these challenges.
Want to support Wyandotte High School’s period pantry? Here is their wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2YV8YM5WWW1X?ref_=wl_share
An Ohio native, Niki has been a Kansas City, Kansas, resident since late 2017. Prior to landing in the great city split between two states, Niki received their BSc in biopsychology from The University of Michigan (2013) and their MSc in conservation biology from the University of Derby (2015). As a conservationist, their work has taken them all over the world and across the USA. Highlights include their work with leatherback sea turtles in Costa Rica and desert tortoise monitoring in the Mojave Desert. In 2022, Niki completed their two-year commitment to Teach for America in conjunction with obtaining their MSE in secondary education from Fort Hays State University. In January 2024, they started their third master’s degree in public health at the University of Kansas, with plans to complete in fall 2026. Niki strongly believes that to be a scientist also means to be an educator. They are going into their fifth year as a proud high school life science teacher endorsed in teaching English language learners. Their current work project is expanding KCKPS’s only forensic science program over the next two school years. This will open up access to students in the field of crime scene science. In their first year of teaching, Niki saw a gap in services for students who experience periods and decided to do something about it. They founded the school’s first period pantry, which now services 20+ classrooms across Wyandotte High School. Since then, they have also helped their students found the Skittles Student Union – a student union dedicated to fostering community among LGBTQ+ students and alumni. Niki calls Kansas City, Kansas, home with their mini urban zoo.
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