Jalyn McElroy is a Mississippi-based nonprofit leader, menstrual equity advocate, and the Founder & Executive Director of The PUPA Project, an organization dedicated to advancing menstrual equity and reducing health disparities menstruators face in Mississippi. Born and raised in Jackson, she brings lived experience, community insight, and a deep commitment to ensuring that no young person in Mississippi is left without the products, support, or education they need to manage every transition with dignity.
Under her leadership, The PUPA Project has launched innovative programs such as Transition Towers, The CoCoon Corner resource hub, Empower Your Cycle workshops, and the Caterpillar Cuties sports bra initiative. Ja’lyn is also active in statewide advocacy efforts, working to shift policy, reduce stigma, and build sustainable community partnerships.
Through the Change Collective experience, Jalyn plans to strengthen her skills in policy advocacy, community organizing, and coalition-building to advance menstrual equity on a statewide level. She hopes to use this opportunity to amplify youth voices, expand PUPA’s impact, and contribute to a more equitable Mississippi.