Our Why

At Red 101, we believe every young person deserves to feel informed, confident, and supported as they navigate puberty and menstrual health. Menstruation is a natural part of life for many women, yet it is still surrounded by stigma, uncertainty, and insecurity.

We started Red 101 to help change that. As a youth-led initiative serving Hudson and Essex Counties in New Jersey, we're working to make menstrual-health education more accessible, encourage open conversations, and help young people navigate changes in their bodies without shame or embarrassment. Having experienced many of these changes ourselves, we understand how confusing puberty can feel—especially when your experiences seem different from those of the people around you. We want young people to know that everyone's experience is different, that their questions are valid, and that they deserve to feel supported every step of the way. We believe that understanding your body should never feel uncomfortable, and that everyone deserves access to the knowledge and resources they need.

What's the Plan?

Education

We aim to provide age-appropriate, accessible information about menstruation, puberty, and self-care. Through educational resources and potential workshops, we want students to better understand their changing bodies and know when to seek guidance from a trusted adult or healthcare professional.

We're working to expand access to menstrual products by encouraging schools to implement New Jersey's existing requirements for providing free period products to students in grades 6–12. We also hope to help extend access to elementary school students through community partnerships and product donations, so that younger students can access the supplies they need, too.

Advocacy

Direct Action

We're working to collect essential menstrual-care products, assemble period-care kits, and distribute these products where they're needed, whether it be in local community centers or schools. Through these efforts, we want to make menstrual care more accessible and help ensure that students can access the supplies they need with dignity.