Photo Credit: Cierra Brinson
Be “that girl” who always has an extra pad or tampon.
Twin sisters Brooke and Breanna Bennett recently took over Washington, D.C., to celebrate Menstrual Hygiene Day and encourage girls worldwide to celebrate the power of the period!
It all started at an all-girls school in Florida. The sisters wanted to be the answer to what seemed to be the most pressing question among the girls in their mom’s classroom—if anyone had a pad? After their mom explained that the lack of access to menstrual products and education was real, Brooke and Breanna were determined to make a difference.
“I feel like me and my sister always wanted to do something for our community, but we never knew what,” Brooke told BLACK ENTERPRISE. The girls took this mindset with them to their new home in Alabama, dug deeper into the issue, and helped pass Alabama’s “period poverty” law in April 2022, which allocates $200,000 to the Alabama Department of Education to provide grants for the provision of menstrual products for Title I schools. “We just thought back to when our mom worked at that school,” Brooke said.
Brooke and Breanna Bennett with Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY)
The Bennett twins partner with Always to help #EndPeriodPoverty
Keeping the momentum of their efforts going, the Bennett sisters recently flew to D.C. as part of their partnership with Procter & Gamble’s (P&G) menstrual hygiene brand, Always. Brooke and Breanna represented the Always Period Heroes to spread awareness and encourage systemic change as they supported Congresswoman Grace Meng’s Menstrual Equity for All Act. The teens have worked closely with P&G to #EndPeriodPoverty in the U.S. for good.
The dynamic duo was recently named one of Always brand’s “50 Period Heroes in 50 States.” Committed to youth success for over 35 years, Always has donated over 75 million period products since launching its #EndPeriodPoverty campaign.
The girls agreed that P&G had created a comfortable community for them and other young women. Breanna knew P&G was a partnership she would always appreciate. “The team has always been so wonderful and giving. They stand up for change in such a big way,” she said.
Women in Training
Brooke and Breanna created their signature program, The WITKITS Campaign, through their youth empowerment organization, Women in Training, Inc. (WIT), and the girls credit P&G and WIT volunteers for stuffing the kits with the period products.
According to WIT, 25% of American young people skip school or miss work because they cannot afford menstrual products, which explains the significance of WIT’s monthly donations to at-risk girls, low-income women, and nonbinary youth. WIT offers several programs to help girls break the generational cycle of poverty, which includes: the WIT Leadership Development Cycle for high school women, the WIT Girls STEM Initiative, and their WIT Mentor Program.
Tips from the Twins
“We should embrace our period because it gives us the power to create life!” Breanna said. During WIT Menstrual Education workshops, the sisters always share these tips.
Talk about it.
Brooke said talking about it is key. “Talk to your friends about it.” She shared that she and Breanna discuss the topic so much with their mom that they feel extremely comfortable now. “The more you talk about [it], the less it will be stigmatized.”
Use a period tracker.
Breanna shared that a period tracker informs women when to expect their period. “There’s nothing worse than being caught unaware!” she said.
Take a warm bath or shower to relieve cramps.
Whether it’s using a heating pad, sitting in the sun, or exercising, doing something will make you feel better than just lying in bed all day. “I know that’s what a lot of us feel like we want to do, but I do feel like it’s important to get up and workout and do something to help yourself,” Brooke said. “I also like to get extra sleep when I’m on my period!” Breanna expressed.
Drink a lot of water and eat healthy.
Minding what goes into your body will help keep your mood balanced. “We all get that PMS sugar craving. It’s better to satisfy the craving with dark chocolate instead of sugary sweets,” Breanna said.
Always keep a pad or tampon in your purse or backpack.
The twins always have spur-of-the-moment period products available for their friends. Breanna stressed the importance of having “one to use in an emergency, and one to share with a friend or even a stranger.”
Combatting period poverty in the future
Brooke and Breanna have faced massive audiences speaking about the issue, and the girls are excited to continue their partnership with P&G as they expand their WIT organization. “We’ve been on many Women in Training-based trips to give out period products across the U.S.,” Brooke shared.
In 2025, the girls plan to take a global trip around the U.S. to distribute WITKITS in areas that need them. “As Women in Training, we just want to be a little bit more like P&G and always try to keep expanding and making a difference,” Breanna shared.
Help #EndPeriodPoverty, by contacting your elected officials here and encourage them to support the Menstrual Equity for All Act.