Nadya Okamoto

Nadya Okamoto (born February 11, 1998) is an American social entrepreneur and activist, known as the founder and former executive director of the non-profit organization Period Inc.[1] She resigned from PERIOD after allegations of exploitation and lies.[2] She is the author of Period Power: A Manifesto for the Menstrual Movement, published in October 2018.[3] In 2017, Okamoto launched an unsuccessful bid for a seat on the Cambridge City Council.[4] In December 2019, Okamoto was named one of Forbes 30 Under 30 in law and policy.[5]

Nadya Okamoto
Okamoto at the 2018 Texas Teen Book Festival
Born (1998-02-11) February 11, 1998
New York City, New York, United States
Alma materCatlin Gabel School
Harvard University
OccupationEntrepreneur, activist

Early life

Okamoto was born in New York City before moving to Portland, Oregon where she attended Catlin Gabel School.[6][7] During her senior year of high school, Okamoto received several scholarships, including the Gates Millennium Scholarship.[8]

Her mother, Sophia Tzeng, graduated from Harvard University in 1995 and later Columbia Law School.[9] Tzeng was previously a visiting instructor of social impact management at the University of Portland.[10]

Career

In December 2014, Okamoto founded Period Inc. with Vincent Forand, a high school classmate. The organization distributes menstrual hygiene products to people in need, involves youth leaders through campus chapters at universities and high schools around the United States, and advocates for ending what is known as the tampon tax.[11]

Okamoto moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, in August 2016 to attend Harvard College. Less than seven months later, Okamoto announced her candidacy for Cambridge City Council, with a campaign team primarily composed of other Harvard students. She was the youngest candidate in the race and focused her campaign on issues of affordable housing, education equity, and climate change. Okamoto eventually lost the election, taking 15th place out of 26 candidates.[12][13]

Controversy

In July of 2020, Okamoto faced backlash for neglecting black leaders in the PERIOD movement and was accused of intellectual labor exploitation.[14] She was also accused of lying about her homelessness, when in fact she was living with family and friends.[15] Following the backlash, Nadya addressed these allegations on Twitter and Instagram and stepped down from PERIOD's management.[16]

References
  1. "This Harvard 'Period Girl' Wants to Help Lead the 'Menstrual Equity Movement'". NBC News. Retrieved 2017-06-29.
  2. https://www.wweek.com/news/2020/07/29/a-portland-student-became-the-face-of-the-menstrual-equity-movement-others-say-she-silenced-them-to-become-famous/
  3. "Period Power". Kirkus Reviews. September 2, 2018. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  4. Okamoto, Nadya (January 11, 2018). "I'm 19 and I Ran for City Council". Teen Vogue. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  5. "Nadya Okamoto, 21". Forbes. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  6. Johnson, Akilah (April 13, 2017). "19-year-old Harvard freshman runs for City Council - The Boston Globe". Boston Globe. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  7. "Character Sketch PDX: Nadya Okamoto". Willamette Week. October 26, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  8. Hammond, Betsy (May 4, 2016). "23 amazing Oregon students win full-ride Gates scholarships". The Oregonian. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  9. "Harvard student pens manifesto on menstruation". Harvard Gazette. November 7, 2018. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  10. "Professor Sophia Tzeng and her colleagues at Innovation Law Lab receive international recognition for legal innovation". University of Portland. December 5, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  11. Wischhover, Cheryl (October 18, 2018). "How one woman is trying to end period stigma and the "tampon tax"". Vox. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  12. "Nadya Teresa Okamoto - Cambridge City Council Candidate 2017". vote.cambridgecivic.com. Retrieved 2017-06-29.
  13. "The Harvard Sophomore Aiming for City Council". 2017-10-13.
  14. https://twitter.com/bouchhb/status/1268714484639633408. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. https://www.wweek.com/news/2020/07/29/a-portland-student-became-the-face-of-the-menstrual-equity-movement-others-say-she-silenced-them-to-become-famous/
  16. https://www.instagram.com/p/CB4oCTvHV_v/
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