In 2017, Dr. Lakisha L. Simmons became aware of the challenges faced by college students who had to leave class unexpectedly because they got their period and found the bathroom dispensers empty.
This situation led her to think about even younger girls who might be experiencing their periods for the first time, often with unpredictable cycles. Many grade schools, she realized, do not have dispensers in their bathrooms, leaving these girls without access to essential products.
After researching local schools, Dr. Simmons discovered that period poverty is a widespread issue, affecting communities not just locally, but across our cities, states, nation, and even globally. See below for media coverage of our impact.
January 27, 2018
The Achiever Academy nonprofit was launched with our first period product donation effort, "A Fine Dining Experience," held on January 27, 2018, at Ellendale’s restaurant.
This brunch event for 10 young women combined a professional etiquette and budgeting workshop tailored for college students. The cost of admission was the donation of period products, which were then given to girls in need.
March 8, 2018
Our first large-scale donation was made to Maplewood High School on March 8, 2018.
On that day, professional women volunteered to speak during the Women's Day empowerment session, addressing all the female students at the high school.
AUGUST 14, 2018
The Tennessean published a cover story entitled "Teen Girls Are Missing School Because They Don't Have Access to Feminine Hygiene Products" to help raise awareness and donate to those in need. Read the full story on their website.
Throughout that year, we organized many more period drives and workshops for girls and college-aged women, including a speed networking event at Maggiano's, which attracted over 50 women.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2018
We then partnered with elected officials Brenda and Erika Gilmore to host a citywide Achiever Period Project donation drive.
We are grateful for the awareness that they helped us build for the cause as we collected over 200,000 period products in one day.
APRIL 9, 2019
Throughout the year, numerous radio and news magazine print articles helped us spread awareness about the issue of period poverty happening in Nashville.
Healing Hands graciously donated 200,000 pads to Metro Nashville Public Schools, which were delivered directly to the MNPS warehouse for distribution to the schools most in need.
MARCH 1, 2019
We began the process of investigating the installation of pad dispensers in the bathrooms at Jere Baxter Middle School.
A group of physicians from Vanderbilt were instrumental in getting this important work accomplished.
FEBRUARY 28, 2020
With the help of many women in the community, including a group of physicians at Vanderbilt medical Center, we installed pad dispensers in bathrooms at Jere Baxter Middle school!
This is a monumental milestone as schools do not stock bathrooms with period products as they do soap and toilet paper.
DECEMBER 11, 2021
After nearly four years of activism, we ceased operating as a nonprofit and donated all remaining funds to Beautiful Spirited Women.
We continued to help facilitate period projects for MNPS. Our initial board is pictured. Thallen Brassel (left) and Sierra Holmes (right). Isaac Addae, PaviElle Dance and Tomorrow Ballard contributed to our mission significantly over the years.
We are forever grateful to them and the hundreds of volunteers that supported this work.
AUGUST 4, 2024
Almost three years later, we reincorporated with renewed energy to fulfill our new vision:
“To create a world where no girl misses school because of her period, and every girl has the opportunity to excel academically, attend university, and achieve her dreams, free from the constraints of period poverty, period pain, or period stigma.”
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