Today we’d like to introduce you to Tanya Ambrose.
Hi Tanya, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Absolutely. My journey into this work is both personal and deeply rooted in purpose. I was raised on the island of Antigua, where topics like menstruation and reproductive health were often met with silence or shame. Later, during a study abroad experience in Uganda, I saw firsthand the widespread impact of period poverty—young people missing school, lacking access to menstrual products, and navigating stigma without support. That experience lit a fire in me that I couldn’t ignore.
In 2020, I founded Scrub Life Cares to help eliminate period poverty and advance menstrual equity. What began as a small grassroots effort has evolved into a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that individuals have access to comprehensive reproductive and sexual health education, products, and resources, enabling them to thrive with dignity.
My passion for this work spans the entire reproductive health journey, from menstruation to pregnancy, postpartum care, and beyond. That full-spectrum perspective is shaped not only by my personal experiences but also by my professional training and education. In August 2020 in the heart of the COVID-!( pandemic I virtually graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s in Science in Public Health From the Georgia State University. In May 2025, I earned my Master of Public Health from the University of South Carolina, with a concentration in Health Services Policy and Management, and a Graduate Certificate in Maternal and Child Health. I’m also a birth and postpartum doula and a certified lactation counselor, and I bring that lens of care and advocacy into every space I serve.
Today, Scrub Life Cares is more than just a nonprofit; it’s a movement. We host educational workshops for students, parents, and other community members, distribute thousands of menstrual products annually, and create safe and inclusive spaces for honest conversations about health, wellness, and equity. Across the lifespan, we are working to eliminate the stigma surrounding menstruation, reproductive health, and sexual health, empowering communities, and ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background, has the tools and support to thrive. And we’re just getting started.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but it’s been a meaningful one. When I started Scrub Life Cares, I had the passion and the vision, but I didn’t have a big team or a substantial budget. Like many grassroots founders, I wore multiple hats, planning programs, packing donation bags, hosting workshops, managing social media, applying for grants, all while pursuing my graduate degree and working full-time. Balancing it all was (and still is) a challenge, but I’ve learned to lean into community, ask for help, and trust the process.
One of the biggest struggles has been shifting the narrative around menstrual and reproductive health, especially in spaces where these topics are still taboo. Breaking stigma takes time, consistency, and vulnerability. It also takes building trust, especially when working with youth, parents, and community leaders and members. There were moments I questioned whether people were truly ready to have these conversations, but I kept showing up because I knew someone needed to.
There were also financial challenges, including securing funding and convincing people to believe in the vision. However, each challenge taught me something, and every small win reminded me why this work is important. We’re still growing, still learning, still need more funding, but the impact we’ve made so far, the trust we’ve built, and the lives we’ve touched keep me moving forward. To see the impact today, the partnerships, and the lives we’re reaching make it all worth it.
We’ve been impressed with Scrub Life Cares, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Scrub Life Cares increases access to menstrual health resources and comprehensive reproductive and sexual health education in Title 1 schools and underserved communities to promote student well-being, dignity, and equity. Our organization is dedicated to advancing menstrual equity and promoting comprehensive reproductive and sexual health education across the lifespan. Our work focuses on eliminating period poverty, dismantling stigma, and ensuring individuals (especially those in underserved communities) have access to the education, products, and support they need to thrive with dignity.
What sets us apart is our holistic and community-driven approach. We’re not just distributing products, we’re creating safe, inclusive spaces where people can learn, ask questions, and feel empowered to care for their bodies and make informed decisions.
Some of the core services we offer include:
Menstrual and hygiene product distribution through schools, shelters, direct outreach, community partners, and local organizations. We prioritize getting these essential items into the hands of those who need them most.
Interactive health education sessions that cover essential topics like puberty, menstrual health, hygiene, consent, healthy relationships, and body autonomy, including conversations around good touch vs. bad touch. These sessions are age-appropriate, culturally sensitive, and designed to engage and educate both youth and adults.
Our annual Grow with the Flo: Women & Girls Health Expo, a free, inclusive event that brings together families, health professionals, and community leaders to center reproductive health, mental wellness, self-care, and advocacy.
What I’m most proud of is how we’ve built this movement with heart, intention, and a sense of community. We’re still a small organization, but our impact is big because it’s personal. Every product we distribute, every workshop we host, and every young person we connect with all contribute to a more informed, empowered, and equitable future.
At its core, Scrub Life Cares is about care. It’s about honoring people’s stories, advocating for their needs, and making sure they don’t have to navigate their health journeys alone.
How do you define success?
For me, success isn’t just about numbers or recognition, it’s about impact. I’ve always said, if we serve just one person, we’ve done our job. Of course, we want to reach as many people as possible, but I deeply believe that every individual matters. If one student feels more confident about their body, if one parent walks away with tools to support their child, if one person gains access to products they couldn’t otherwise afford, that’s success.
Success is also about sustainability and integrity. It’s doing the work with care, consistency, and compassion, even when no one is watching. It’s staying rooted in our mission while growing in our reach. It’s the thank-you notes, the quiet breakthroughs, the community partnerships, and the stories that remind us why we started.
Ultimately, success is about showing up, doing the work with heart, and creating lasting change, even if it starts with just one person at a time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://scrublifecares.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scrublifecares
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scrublifecares
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/scrub-life-cares/
- Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/scrublifecares
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuaqklx1ieiBu9Ov7fkudPQ
