Spring Summit 2024
Georgia STOMP Coalition member organization leadership and affiliates meet twice a year in biennial summits to strategize, connect and learn from each other regarding menstrual equity advances and progress in the coalition’s effort to eliminate period poverty in Georgia.
The 2024 Spring Summit was a hybrid event generously hosted by the YWCA of Greater Atlanta, one of the three founding member organizations of Georgia STOMP. The sounds of children on the playground was a joyful welcome to all who attended!
The day’s agenda included a review by Legislative Committee Chair Rachel Perlis of the 2024 legislative session, reflecting on successes and challenges faced with our legislative pillars. Membership Chair, Madison Scott gave an update on the 2024-2025 membership drive and Member Organization Spotlights were heard from Girls Inc. of Columbus, YWCA – Greater Atlanta and The Posh Pack.
A large portion of the meeting was dedicated to educating coalition members about recent advances working with local municipalities to pass ordinances calling for the provision of menstrual discharge collection devices (MDCDs) in publicly owned buildings in the state. A panel of leadership from Macon, Athens and Atlanta was convened to discuss progress in those three cities. We were honored to learn from Atlanta City Council member Liliana Bakhtiari , Macon leader Andrea Cooke and Georgia STOMP board member Madison Shelnutt who is spearheading the effort in Athens. Andrea was able to share how Macon became the first municipality in the state of Georgia to pass a local ordinance, doing so in December of 2023.
The final segment of the summit was an announcement by Vice Chair Adele Stewart of Georgia STOMP’s joining the Period Positive Workplace international coalition. Adele held an informative conversation with Jillian Johnston, the Canada Advocacy Coordinator for Days for Girls, founding organization of Period Positive Workplace.
Whether members attended via Zoom or in the space provided by YWCA, all came away better informed and better connected to one another.
