Today we’d like to introduce you to Trisha Rastogi, Neha Katakamshetty, And Sarah Ye
Hi Trisha Rastogi, Neha Katakamshetty, And Sarah Ye, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
We began our journey as Flow Forward Foundation in July 2023. We all had discovered the issue of period poverty in our own ways, but we were brought together upon discussing it with a mentor. We soon realized we had the synergistic potential to create tangible change in our community.
Our first step was hosting a community-wide drive. We extensively worked to perfect the details of this drive, talking to various community members, promoting the drive, and raising awareness for the cause. Receiving over 10,000 products, it occurred to us just how deeply our community cared about this issue. From there, we connected with other menstrual equity groups in our city and beyond, becoming a chapter of PERIOD., a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit organization. PERIOD. connected us with advocacy opportunities, and we were even able to testify for two Kansas Senate bills. Our organization further strives to destigmatize menstruation within our community by hosting open conversation around the topic. Thus, we dove into education, hosting an informational seminar on period poverty for community members to attend.
It’s been a year since we began our journey, and we eagerly anticipate our future as an organization.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Although we did face challenges when we organized our first drive, our journey has mostly been smooth sailing. Our greatest hindrance was publicizing our first drive, since we are currently not a registered 501(c)(3). Ultimately, we believe our continued efforts led us to success, since we secured six product collection locations, including our school.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Similarly to the organization we are a chapter of (PERIOD.), our main focus is on three primary pillars: service, education, and advocacy.
In regard to the first pillar, we work to increase access to menstrual products for populations who cannot readily afford/access them. We’ve hosted a community-wide drive in the past, and were able to donate the products received to organizations in our community. Looking to the future, we’ll donate to local schools.
We also believe that education is crucial to raising awareness of menstrual inequities and stigma. We hosted an informational seminar on period poverty just this summer and hope to host more in the future. Menstrual equity is an important topic that we feel everybody can benefit from learning about.
Finally, we involve ourselves in advocacy. There are numerous period poverty-relevant advocacy topics to champion. We’ve advocated for the elimination of the sales tax on menstrual products in our home state. In other states, there have been movements to increase accessibility to products in public spaces. Until every menstruator can menstruate with safety and dignity, our advocacy journey continues.
We love all the ways in which we’ve been able to engage with our community!
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
We cherish Kansas City for its vibrant diversity and supportive community. The city’s uniqueness has allowed us to meet remarkable individuals and organizations that uplift one another. Their community-oriented spirit has greatly enriched our journey, and we are truly grateful to call Kansas City our home.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theflowforward.org/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/flow_forward_foundation/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554879376971
