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CIRA celebrates Access Period milestone, highlights power of human-centered storytelling at OnBrand Conference
July 22, 2026
Omaha, Neb. — Access Period, a nonprofit striving to end period poverty by providing free menstrual products, marked a major milestone at the OnBrand Conference in Omaha on Thursday, July 16.
To celebrate the symbolic five million period products, Access Period has donated as well as one million “worry-free days,” Executive Director Kristin Lowrey bestowed the five millionth box of products to Center for Immigrant & Refugee Advancement Director of Communications Sophia Ibrahimi.
CIRA was one of Access Period’s very first community partners. In a press release announcing the handoff, Access Period shared it “honors the partnerships that made the milestone possible and the people served through them.”
Rather than making the moment a private one, Lowrey presented the five millionth bag of products during the OnBrand Conference Keynote Speech. That way, it gave the milestone the widest possible reach.
“Five million products means five million moments where someone didn’t have to choose between their dignity and their day,” Lowrey said. “Behind that number are students who stayed in class, workers who kept their shifts, and neighbors who were met with care instead of shame. We’re grateful to our community partners, donors, and volunteers who got us here — and we’re not slowing down until access is universal.”
Ibrahimi said she was honored to participate in the celebration and acknowledgement of Access Period’s impactful work.
“We know that building stability includes meeting basic needs. We see every day how quickly essential expenses add up, and Access Period helps ensure period products are one less burden for immigrant and refugee families in our community,” she said.
Keynote speaker Raj Lulla was the co-founder of the firm that created Access Period’s brand, messaging, and website. During his speech, he discussed how to answer the question: How do you talk about something people don’t want to talk about? And the first step is creating a room for people to do so.
OnBrand Conference and Panel
The Access Period recognition kicked off the OnBrand Conference, which focuses on career development and networking for creatives, marketers, and those in communications fields.
CIRA Director of Communications Sophia Ibrahimi participated in a panel focused on nonprofit communication and storytelling, along with speakers from Disability Rights Nebraska, The Bay, and a nonprofit consultant.
The panel, moderated by a representative from Brownell Talbot College Preparatory School, offered advice, best practices, and current challenges panelists have experienced.
“I hope people left the panel with the reminder that values are one of the most practical tools communicators have. They help you decide whether to speak, how to speak, and whose voices to amplify,” she said. “Although centering action on values doesn’t provide all the answers, it helps ensure your communications reflect and reinforce who you are as an organization.”
Ibrahimi offered a unique perspective coming from a nonprofit that serves communities especially featured in current events and political policies. She emphasized that all storytelling should be human centered to best represent the missions and successes of every nonprofit.
From the panels to the Access Period milestone, the day highlighted how organizations can lead through strong partnerships and with dignity and humanity.
In 2022, Immigrant Legal Center and Refugee Empowerment Center merged, and the combined nonprofit organization is now CIRA, the Center for Immigrant & Refugee Advancement. Our diverse team of experts provides exceptional, compassionate legal representation, refugee services, and social work services. We take on the most complex immigration cases, resettle refugees from around the world, and ensure all clients have access to resources they need to live. Operating in 6 different offices from Council Bluffs to Scottsbluff, our team of more than 100 full-time employees helps communities welcome immigrants and refugees as they build their lives here. We assist with all forms of family and humanitarian-based immigration, and we never turn any family away due to inability to pay.
To empower immigrants and refugees to live confidently through high-quality legal representation, resettlement, and social work and to create welcoming communities through education and advocacy.
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