The 
Cycle Alliance Is a Gender-Inclusive Period Advocacy Program
The Cycle Alliance is a menstrual equity initiative geared towards teens that aims to destigmatize and de-gender conversations about menstruation; combat period poverty; and empower teens to advocate for social causes. Teens will participate in programs where they will learn how to advocate for menstrual equity; identify misinformation; and express their creativity through writing, drawing, or developing videos for the library’s teen blog and social media accounts.
Cycle Alliance Values:
- Menstrual equity is for for all who menstruate.
- Periods are a natural and biological event that are not shameful.
- Menstruators should have access to free or low-cost menstrual hygiene products.
- New York prisons, shelters, public middle and high schools should provide free period products.
- A mandatory, accurate, and up-to-date sex ed curriculum in schools that destigmatizes menstruation.
- Avoiding superstitious, offensive or hurtful language when talking about periods.
- To teach people who “just don’t get it" by using facts.
- Accepting that menstruation begins in childhood, and shouldn't be associated with becoming an adult or the ability to have babies because that unintentionally sexualizes a child who is neither physically nor emotionally ready to think about sexual relationships or parenthood.
Resources:
- "All About Periods." Source: Nemours KidsHealth
- "Doctors Answer Commonly Googled Period Questions." Source: YouTube
- "People with Disabilities Have Periods Too, & We Need to Talk About That." Source: SheKnows
- "Period Poverty Resources at the Library." Source: Public Libraries Online
- "Understanding Your Menstrual Cycle." Source: Womenshealth.gov
- "The Launch Pad: Your go-to for Resources for Menstrual Equity Activism." Source: Period, the Menstrual Movement
- "Guidance for Providing Respectful Menstruation Related Care To TGNB Patient Populations." Source: Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health
- The Pad Project, The Pad Project’s mission is to create and cultivate local and global partnerships to end period stigma and to empower women worldwide
BKLYN Incubator is supported by generous funding provided by The Charles H. Revson Foundation and Robin K. and Jay L. Lewis.
Upcoming Events
The Cycle Alliance's Period Pantry at Brooklyn Heights!
If you are are a Teen in between the ages of 13 and 18, take a look at our period pantry located in the Game Room or ask someone at the front desk.
Our period pantry is in alliance with ‘Cycle Alliance’ here at Brooklyn Public Library.
Our pantry contains pads, tampons and both…
Teen Time: Game On!
Teen Time: Come to the Ulmer Park Library to hang out.
Join us weekly for game time in our meeting room. Play video games, board games, cards, etc. with your peers in friendly competition. Snacks will be available while supplies last.
Ages 12-18
Teen Time
Teen Time: Come to the DeKalb Library to hang out!
Teen Time
You saw that correctly!!! We have Teen Time every Tuesday! Join us for music, games, crafts, or anything else we can create! You don't want to miss this! See you there!
Teen Tech Time
Come play video games at the library! We've got Nintendo Switch, PS5, iPads, or you can just come and hangout!
Teen DIY: Free Crafting Time
Stop by Midwood Library for some free crafting time and snacks! We'll have various materials to relax and make some DIY projects. Open to all teens!
Board Game Hangout (ages 7 and up)
Come play games! Uno!, Sorry!, Chess, backgammon, card games, Connect 4, Battleship, and more!
Beading for Law: Know Your Rights in Everyday Life
Join us for a fun & informative workshop that teaches you about your constitutional rights and how those rights apply in everyday life while making beaded bracelets.
Teen Poets Society
Meet fellow teen poets to work on writing, get feedback on your drafts, learn about publishing your work, and more! Facilitated by our young adult librarian, who is also a published poet.
No experience necessary! For teens grades 7-12.
Staff Picks
- Ready, Steady, Flow
- Changing Bodies and Puberty
- Relationships and Sex Primer for Teens
Online Resources
Findhelp.org
National directory of social service organizations.
Gale General OneFile
General interest and scholarly periodicals, radio, video and travel guides.
Gale In Context: Middle School
Gale In Context: Middle School is a Gale database created specifically for middle school students, combining…
Gale OneFile: Health and Medicine
Resources relating to health studies.
Hite: Health Information Tool for Empowerment
Directory of free and low cost health and social services programs.
MasterFILE Premier
Full text articles covering a broad range of subjects including general reference, business, education,…