FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 25, 2021

PRESS CONTACT

Name: Bria Gadsden and Dr. Ebere Azumah

Company: Love Your Menses, Inc.

Phone: 1-857-246-9710

Email: info@loveyourmenses.com

Website: www.loveyourmenses.com

YOUNG GIRLS CREATE NEW “OUR FLOW” APP FOR MENSTRUAL CYCLE AWARENESS AND EDUCATION;

TO BE LAUNCHED FRIDAY

BOSTON—On May 28, the non-profit Love Your Menses, Inc. will officially launch the “Our Flow” app to coincide with the observance of global Menstruation Hygiene Day, which is observed to raise awareness about issues facing women and girls worldwide during their cycles.

“Our Flow” is a menstrual wellness app that provides a space for adolescents to learn about the menstrual cycle and connect with other youth who menstruate. The app was created with the help of 12 black and brown girls from across Massachusetts who attended a 16-week STEM program that incorporated menstrual education, leadership training, advocacy training and technology. The program was organized by Love Your Menses in collaboration with Y. Engage and PearlLumi organizations to form Flowtech4Girls™.

“This app is amazing and user-friendly, although the app was created and inspired by the youth,” said Dr. Ebere Azumah, co-founder of Love Your Menses. However, “I do feel those who are no longer youths will also benefit from using it. There is plenty of important information that can be found.”

Some features include Menstruation University, where visitors can learn about anatomy, puberty, hygiene, menstrual cycle management, and more. The app also features a setup where visitors can submit stories about their personal experiences as well as interact on a private social platform.

“‘Our Flow’ is everything I wanted when I was a 12-year-old and got my period for the first time,” said Bria Gadsden, executive director and co-founder of Love Your Menses. “I hope youth, and parents or guardians will use this app as a tool to understand the menstrual cycle and feel supported.”

Creating “Our Flow” App

For 16 Saturdays, the girls attended a STEM program, where menstrual educators, equity leaders, physicians and public health experts taught and mentored the girls. 

By the end of the program, the girls came up with the name of the app, colors and content.

“More importantly, they became more empowered and confident in themselves,” said Dr. Azumah. “In their last class, they were able to articulate ways to create change within their communities as advocates using technological tools such as photovoice and app creation.”

The girls could even lend their voices to raise awareness, which is what Menstrual Hygiene Day is all about.

“[Menstrual] products should be more affordable and accessible to all girls,” said a Flowtech4Girls student. “Girls should know that it’s nothing to be ashamed of and they shouldn’t feel dirty [about their period].”

On Friday, in addition to launching “Our Flow,” Love Your Menses will celebrate the 12 girls who participated in the program to create the app.

Love Your Menses, Inc is a 501(3)c organization that began in 2019 with a mission to educate and empower black and brown girls to know their menstrual cycle, advocate for menstrual equity, distribute menstrual products, and celebrate the girl child. The organization has grown from its headquarters in Boston to include five other countries: Sao Tome, Nigeria, Haiti, Liberia, and Gambia. Please, see http://www.loveyourmenses.com

“Our Flow” app can be found at http://www.ourflowapp.com

The Flowtech4Girls program website is located at https://www.flowtech4girls.com