Brown University’s Community Noise Lab holds public health event in Simpson County

JANS – On Saturday, June 14, 2025, from 9 am to noon, the Community Noise Lab at Brown University’s School of Public Health hosted “Destigmatizing the Flow: Conversation, Preparation, and Ideas,” a free health and wellness conference for young girls and their parents as they embark on adulthood. This event was held at Co-Lin Community College’s Simpson County Campus in Mendenhall, Mississippi. 

“Many young girls have so many questions about menstruation but often feel disempowered to seek out answers,” says Toni T. Holloway, a Research Assistant at Community Noise Lab and the event’s organizer. “We were so excited to bring this event to the Simpson County Community.” 

The event was grounded in Community Noise Lab’s most recent activity book, PERIOD., authored by recent Brown University graduate Laini Tuboku-Metzger as part of her MPH capstone project. PERIOD. This book is a comprehensive guide to female health and hygiene, walking young girls through the menstruation process and their reproductive system. The activity book is currently available in both English and Spanish. 

The audience was treated to a host of informative conversations on menses, including personal hygiene, nutrition, skin care, physical fitness, and safety awareness. These conversations were followed by a guest speaker panel where participants could seek answers to any questions that they had. A vendor fair was available throughout the conference, and participants were able to interact with a variety of local businesses and organizations. 

Attendees received free menstrual kits, which included sanitary napkins, tampons, and feminine wipes. Breakfast was provided by Cafe 320 in Mendenhall, Mississippi, and lunch was supplied by Newk’s in Magee, Mississippi. 

“We greatly appreciate Dr. Anika Floyd, Vice President of Co-Lin Community College’s Simpson County Center, for providing us with event space,” says Dr. Walker, principal investigator of Community Noise Lab. “We also thank all of the wonderful and informative speakers and vendors,  as well as Mrs. Jana Miller, who helped us to pull this all together.”

Presenters

• Shantay Womack, Nurse Educator: Understanding Menses – Feminine Hygiene 

• Manola Erby, Nutrition Educator, Alcorn State Extension  Services: Nutrition and Menses

• Kyeosha Jones, Esthetician: Skin Care and Puberty 

• Jessica James Henry, CPHT, MPH, Mississippi Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence: Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence 

• Courtney Williams, Chief of Police, Co-Lin Community College Simpson Center: Physical Fitness and Safety Awareness 

Sponsors

• Co-Lin Community College, Simpson Center – Dr. Anika Floyd, Vice President

• Newk’s, Magee, MS –  Kyle Russell, Owner 

• Cafe 320, Mendenhall, MS: Felton & Jonathan Walker

• Yvonne Williams: Balloon Decorations

• Mendenhall Mercantile, Mendenhall, MS

Vendors

• Face Pace Health of Magee – Rhonda Cox

• Peoples Bank – Tyonna Johnson 

• Alcorn State Extension Services, Manola Erby

• Family Health Care Clinic, Mr. Kevin Skipper

• Mississippi Walking Club – Jack Ward

• Mississippi Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence, Jessica James Henry 

Community Noise Lab is committed to taking this conference on the road. “This is not just another event,” exclaims Holloway. “It’s a movement! We are changing the trajectory of the period talk!”

If any schools or organizations in Mississippi are interested in planning an event with Community Noise Lab, please contact Dr. Erica Walker at erica_walker@brown.edu or Toni T. Holloway at toni_holloway@brown.edu. As always, free copies of PERIOD., in both English and Spanish, are available upon request.