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She Votes Policy: Power To The Period
March 31, 2021 @ 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Join us for another installment in our She Votes Policy series. She Votes Illinois is determined to ensure issues important to women are addressed in our state. On Wednesday, March 31, we will host a panel discussion covering period poverty to advance menstrual equity through legislation.
Period poverty refers to the inadequate access to menstrual hygiene tools and education, including but not limited to sanitary products, washing facilities, and waste management. The most prominent groups that face period poverty are students, homeless individuals, and people incarcerated. SNAP benefits do not cover menstrual products for menstruators living below the poverty line. While schools and federal prisons are required by law to provide menstrual hygiene products, these laws are not accessible or properly enforced.
Through legislation, we can open the doors to provide menstrual products that are safe, affordable, and accessible to the residents in Illinois.
Agenda:
Panel Discussion: 6:00 – 6:40 PM
Audience Q&A: 6:40 – 6:50 PM
Calls to Action: 6:50 – 7:00 PM
Panelists:
IL State Representative LaToya Greenwood, 114th District
IL State Representative Barbara Hernandez, 83rd District
IL State Representative Katie Stuart, 112th District
Dr. Janelle Howell, Women’s Health Physical Therapist
Ashley Novoa, Founder & President, Chicago Period Project
Moderator: Mary Catherine Hanafee LaPlante, Board member – She Votes Illinois
Legislation:
Menstrual Products – SNAP Benefits (HB155)
Menstrual Products – School Buildings (HB156)
Menstrual Products – The Homeless Act (HB310)
Menstrual Products – Higher Education (HB641)
Webinar link: You will receive an email containing a Zoom link the morning of the event. Please reach out to us at shevotesil@gmail.com if you haven’t received an email by noon March 31, 2021.
Accessibility: The event will be uploaded in its entirety to our YouTube channel with closed captioning available.
She Votes Illinois is proud to host this event to continue our mission to facilitate the political and civic engagement, participation and support of women and to ensure issues important to women are at the forefront of political discourse in Illinois.
Media Release Statement: By obtaining a ticket, you consent to the photography, audio recording, and video recording of your image and likeness and its release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction to be used for She Votes Illinois promotional purposes, including but not limited to, news, web casts, telecasts, advertising, inclusion on websites, social media, or any other media purpose deemed by She Votes Illinois and its affiliates and representatives.
Coalition Partners:
Emme Porter DeWitt, community educator
I Support The Girls Edwardsville
Illinois Muslim Civic Coalition
Maria Valle Coto, M.D. candidate at University of Illinois College of Medicine
Northwestern University Menstrual Equity Activists
𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆:
Beauty and Brains Organization
Democratic Women of McDonough County
Illinois National Organization for Women
Planned Parenthood Illinois Action
Talented Tenths Social Services