South Coast Menstrual Equity Legislative Breakfast Recap
On March 31st, the Massachusetts Menstrual Equity (MME) Coalition, alongside our partners at United Neighbors of Fall River (UNFR), the Women’s Fund SouthCoast, and the Coalition Against Period Poverty (CAPP), co-hosted the South Coast Menstrual Equity Legislative Breakfast at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. More than just a gathering, this event was a moment of reflection, celebration, and action. Together, we recognized the incredible progress made over the past five years through the CERP grant program, while also looking ahead at what it will take to sustain and grow this work across Massachusetts.
The morning began with a warm and welcoming space filled with community members, advocates, educators, and leaders from across the South Coast. Over breakfast and conversation, there was a clear sense of shared purpose: ensuring that menstrual equity remains a priority, not a temporary initiative. As the program began, opening remarks from Juli Parker, Christine Monska, Sasha Goodfriend, alongside Katherine Blasius, and Kerrie Gallant grounded the room in both gratitude and urgency. Each speaker reflected on the impact of this work in their respective communities, highlighting how far we’ve come, while also naming the reality that without sustained policy solutions, much of this progress is at risk.
One of the most powerful parts of the morning came through testimony and activist voices. Stories shared by community members that include Madison, Sally, and Jayla brought the issue of menstrual equity out of abstraction and into lived reality. Tia Castellano of the Bristol Black Collective and youth leaders from the Women’s Fund SouthCoast added even more depth, reminding us that this movement is intersectional and deeply rooted in community. The conversation then shifted toward policy, with reflections from legislative offices including Representative Carole Fiola, Representative Christopher Hendricks, and Senator Rodrigues’ office, represented by District Director Maureen Flanagan. These perspectives helped connect community experiences to the legislative pathways needed to create lasting change. But what made this event especially impactful was not just the conversations but the action. Throughout the room, organizations hosted tables with clear calls to action, inviting attendees to get involved immediately. From advocacy efforts led by Mass NOW, to community engagement from Southcoast Health, the YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts, Citizens for Citizens, and others, the space felt alive with possibility. United Neighbors of Fall River even hosted a CAPP logo voting activity, adding an interactive element that brought people into the work in a tangible way.
The energy in the room was undeniable. As one attendee, Kayla Genest of Citizens for Citizens Inc., shared: “Such a wonderful event—I wish we had more of these across our state. It really opened my eyes and made me realize so much.”Moments like this remind us that when we create space for education, connection, and advocacy, real impact follows. As we close this chapter of CERP-funded work, we are also stepping into a critical moment. The funding that supported so much of this progress is coming to an end, but the need has not. Now, more than ever, we must turn our focus toward long-term, sustainable solutions by advancing menstrual equity legislation across Massachusetts.
This breakfast was not just a reflection of what has been accomplished, it was a reminder of what is possible when communities come together with purpose. We are deeply grateful to our co-sponsors, Christine Monska, Kerrie Gallant, Juli Parker, and Sasha Goodfriend, as well as every speaker, partner, and attendee who contributed to making this event so meaningful.
The work continues, and together, we move forward.
