OUR MISSION
The mission of The PUPA Project is to advance menstrual equity and reduce the health disparities impacting menstruators in Mississippi.
OUR VISION
A world where every menstruator has equitable access to the resources, education, and supportive environments needed to experience dignity, maintain optimal health, and pursue every opportunity available to them. We envision communities where menstrual health is fully recognized as essential to overall well-being, stigma is eliminated, and individuals are empowered with the knowledge, advocacy skills, and care necessary to thrive throughout every transition of life.
WHAT WE DO
We support every transition of puberty by supplying free menstrual products, essential personal hygiene products, athletic support garments for youth, and reproductive health resources. Through education and community-based programming, we equip menstruators and families with the dignity, knowledge, and advocacy skills needed to support their well-being.
ABOUT THE
PUPA PROJECT
The PUPA Project was founded in 2021 by Jalyn R. McElroy after one simple yet powerful question changed everything: If someone needed free menstrual products, where could they go? While shopping for her own period essentials, she realized that accessible, reliable resources for menstruators in need were nearly impossible to find. At the same time, Jalyn was navigating her own unexplained menstrual pain, an experience that deepened her understanding of how isolating, unsupported, and overlooked menstruators can feel.
This realization pushed her to research menstrual inequity, and what she discovered moved her to immediate action. She recognized that Mississippi needed more than supplies; it needed dignity, education, and a community committed to supporting every transition of puberty.
Rooted in the symbolism of the butterfly’s life cycle, “PUPA” represents transformation and the sacred journey of growth. The PUPA Project exists to aid that transition. Our mission is to advance menstrual equity and reduce the health disparities impacting menstruators in Mississippi.
LEARN ABOUT
OUR VALUES
These core values drive every action and initiative of The PUPA Project, reflecting our unwavering commitment to creating positive, lasting change for menstruators everywhere.
BOLDNESS: We embrace courage and take bold actions to challenge societal norms. By addressing period poverty and breaking the stigma surrounding menstruation, we push boundaries and create meaningful change, no matter how difficult the conversation may be.
FEARLESSNESS: We are unafraid to confront the barriers that hold menstruators back, whether they be social, economic, or cultural. Fearlessness drives our advocacy and allows us to speak up for those who are often marginalized or unheard.
FREEDOM: We believe in the freedom to live without shame or stigma. Our goal is to create a world where menstruators can manage their menstrual health with dignity, access the resources they need, and feel empowered to embrace their natural transitions.
UNAPOLOGETIC: We are steadfast and unapologetic in our mission to improve menstrual equity. We will not apologize for advocating for menstrual health, education, and resources for all, and we will continue to challenge the status quo to ensure every menstruator is supported.
MEET OUR FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Menstrual health activist, advocate, philanthropist, and community leader, Jalyn McElroy, has spent over eight years working within the nonprofit sector to advance education, empowerment, and equity across Mississippi. With a background in Business Administration and Human Resources, she brings both heart and strategy to every initiative she leads.
A proud graduate of Jackson State University, Jalyn holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Business Administration and is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Business Administration at her alma mater. Jalyn’s advocacy for menstrual equity was born from her own lived experience, navigating unexplained period pain and unanswered questions.
Transforming personal pain into purpose, she founded The PUPA Project, a Mississippi-based nonprofit that works to alleviate period poverty, provide menstrual health education, and break the stigma surrounding menstruation. As the visionary behind The PUPA Project, Jalyn is a true Beauteflie, spreading her wings to empower menstruators and ensure that no one faces their period alone.
