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Project Period
Combating Period Poverty in Central Indiana
Our Story
Project Period was founded in January 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Lifelong best friends and founders, Jenna Cravens and Angela Katinas got together and thought of a way to address the alarming rates of period poverty in Indiana. They began Project Period and with it a movement that has grown within five years to serve schools, corporations, and community-based organizations. Project Period’s mission is to combat period poverty in Central Indiana.
Amber Blackmon and Heydi Correa Encarnacion joined Jenna and Angie to form the now four-woman team that runs Project Period. The four women divide the board of directors' responsibilities and execute all administrative functions of the organization as well as product distribution to our school and community partners.
Project Period currently serves 330 unique schools as well as 12 community-based organizations through our Neighborhood program.
Our Values
Dignity
Inclusion
Advocacy
Our Mission
Our mission is to eliminate the impacts of period poverty in Central Indiana by working with distribution partners to disperse period supplies to those in need.
Our Vision
Ensuring individuals do not go without the necessary products to live a fulfilling and healthy life.
Our Team
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Founder, & School Initiative Manager
I'm Jenna, the President and Co-founder of Project Period. Being a Hoosier, born and raised in Indiana, I have a deep-rooted connection to this community and a strong passion for creating positive change.
I obtained my undergraduate degree at Indiana University. Inspired by my love for teaching and making a difference in the lives of students, I pursued further studies in Special Education at Marian University. Currently, I am a dedicated full-time Special Education teacher, committed to supporting and empowering my students every day. Alongside my professional role, I am also a proud mother of three.
When I'm not in the classroom or spending quality time with my family, you can often find me reading, attending concerts, listening to podcasts, and I won't deny my guilty pleasure of indulging in reality TV shows.
Project Period has become an integral part of my life, providing me with immense joy and fulfillment. I am dedicated to the mission of breaking down barriers and ensuring equitable access to period products for all.
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President & Marketing Director
Hola! I am Heydi and I joined the Project Period Board of Directors in 2019 when I reached out to Amber on how to get involved and created the Pink Quarterly Club in 2021. I am originally from Puerto Rico and moved to Bloomington, Indiana when I was nine (9) years old. My passion for Public and Community Health began in 2012 when I served the Monroe County community through various outlets on a local level. Since then, I have worked in Congress in the House of Representatives, been a health policy consultant focused on Medicaid, and am currently a Senior Client and Training Manager providing learning opportunities for the Medicaid payment delivery system in New Mexico. As of June 2023, I joined the Board of Directors for Eskenazi Health Centers to serve the Marion County community and provide assistance in the Medicaid space statewide.
I graduated from Indiana University twice, in 2015 with a Master’s in Public Health from the Indiana University School of Public Health and in 2010 with my Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Spanish with certificates in Latino Studies and Public Health. I am a dog mom to my lovable and mischievous Corgi, Yordi, plant mom to over 25 indoor and outdoor plants and avid concertgoer!
Project Period has allowed me to stay connected to the community in many ways. Also, I lead our organization’s marketing and can be contacted at h.correa@projectperiod.org for any media inquiries.
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Secretary & Fundraising Director
Amber is originally from Gary, IN (the region), though has been in Indy for the last 8 years. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Health Promotion: Environmental Health Science with a minor in Biology from University of Northern Iowa. She also attained a Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology from IU Bloomington. Amber currently works in data management for clinical trials though loves to still focus on public health initiatives.
Amber jumped at the opportunity to make an impact locally when her two friends (Jenna and Angie) approached her to join Project Period. She loved working with the organization so much that she also convinced another public health background friend to join shortly after (Heydi).
Since Amber has joined, she has focused on donation drives and raising funds to ensure we can continue helping those in our community who need menstrual products.
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Founder, Chief Executive Officer, & Treasurer
Angie is a founding member of the Project Period board. She helped establish the first partnership between Project Period and a school in Indianapolis and currently manages the PQC program. When she’s not working, she can be found exploring walking trails and teaching her daughter the words to her favorite Taylor Swift songs. During kid-free outings she and her husband can be found tasting local beer and going to movies.