The PERIOD Chapter Network is calling for PERIOD, Inc. to respond to the allegations against founder Nadya Okamoto by fulfilling the list of demands set forth in Ileri Jaiyeoba’s article. 

This week, Ileri Jaiyeoba released a Medium article on the problematic actions of PERIOD, Inc.’s founder, Nadya Okamoto. Ileri begins by describing her personal experience with Nadya: “I was 16, participating in a program empowering young girls to start projects in their community, I had started Code Red Co., a collective and co-powering organization breaking the period taboo and providing space for menstruators and their period wellness . . . Nadya encouraged me to sign up as a chapter [of PERIOD] in order to initiate the partnership, to which I insisted the basis of our collaboration should be through partnership, not a chapter to her organization. She convinced me that all corporate partners signed up and operated in their chapter model to keep up to date with their networks and tracking of care packages. I was inspired by her story and trusted her word, and I signed up to be a chapter for her, not realizing the manipulation tactic Okamoto had used in an attempt to dissolve my organization. She had told me at first that I would have “complete freedom” over my organization but then soon told me that there was a clause in the contract for chapters which made it so my organization was not able to open up a bank account or register independently.” 

Ileri continues to describe how Nadya was manipulative and exploitative, especially trying to discredit the work of BIPOC-run organizations. We stand in solidarity with Ileri and must hold Nadya accountable for these described actions, as well as others that have not been openly reported. 

Demands (Full credit to Illeri Jaiyeoba):

1. Nadya Okamoto stepping down from her advocacy lead role in PERIOD.
2. Having a Black menstruator replace the executive director of PERIOD or give chapters the option of quitting PERIOD and becoming their own organizations.
3. Nadya posting a public apology to the Cambridge/Harvard community as well as those in the period space for the harm she has caused. 
4. Awards and articles that have Nadya Okamoto as homeless being corrected and redone.
5. Complete financial transparency about brand deals, speaking engagements, etc. and committing to redistribution of money into mutual aid funds and grassroots organizers in the menstrual space.
6. Completely erase any narrative of being “the first ones” to do anything––especially when it comes to National Period Day and efforts to end the tampon tax.
7. Black and Brown led organizations receiving access to PERIOD’s resources such as menstrual products, etc.

We sincerely urge PERIOD’s national team to implement these demands.