EVENTS
Agenda at a Glance: September 17th
Agenda at a Glance: September 17th
Navigating prevention through advocacy:
Get insight into the legislative process, current policies aimed at reducing exposures of EDCs (e.g., Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act, Safer Beauty for All), and strategies for developing an advocacy agenda. Highlights include presentation on:
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Safer beauty bill package introduction and updates
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Shaping a conscious beauty movement
Presenters include:
Micaela E. Martinez, PhD - WE ACT for Environmental Justice
Astrid Williams, DrPH - California Black Health Network (CBHN)
Safer Beauty Bill Package: How Federal Legislation Can Close Gaps in Cosmetic Safety for Women of Color
This session will offer an overview of five crucial bills introduced in Congress aimed at closing significant gaps in cosmetic safety. The session will cover: 1) Banning the most hazardous chemicals from beauty and personal care products; 2) Mandating full disclosure of fragrance ingredients; 3) Implementing protections for communities of color and professional salon workers; 4) Ensuring supply chain transparency; and 5) Prohibiting the entire class of PFAS chemicals in cosmetics. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of these legislative efforts and their potential to enhance consumer safety and health equity in the beauty industry.
Micaela E. Martinez, PhD
WE ACT for Environmental Justice
Ecologist and justice advocate Dr. Micaela E. Martinez is the Director of Environmental Health at WE ACT for Environmental Justice, responsible for advancing the organization’s efforts to improve environmental health in communities of color and low-income communities by promoting public health awareness, education, coalition-building, and advocacy. She earned her Ph.D. in Ecology & Evolution and previously served as an Assistant Professor at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Emory University. Her research has focused on infectious disease ecology, social justice, climate change, maternal and infant health, and environmental impacts on health. Dr. Martinez is currently leading WE ACT’s Beauty Inside Out campaign, which seeks to remove toxic chemicals from beauty products, particularly products that enforce Eurocentric beauty standards and are marketed toward women of color.
Conscious Black Beauty Movement
Black women and girls spend $7.5 billion annually on beauty products, yet many of these products contain harmful toxins. This session will discuss the significant health risks posed by these toxic ingredients and present the Conscious Black Beauty Movement (CBBM) launched by CBHN. Explore our approach to educating Black women about the dangers of these chemicals and offering safer, healthier beauty alternatives. Learn how CBBM is committed to empowering Black women by promoting informed choices and fostering a movement that supports their health and well-being from the inside out. Join us to discover how we can collectively drive change in the beauty industry and champion safer beauty standards.
Astrid Williams, DrPH
California Black Health Network
Dr. Astrid Williams, a public health expert with a focus on women of color, holds a Doctorate in Public Health and an MPH from Loma Linda University, and an undergraduate degree in Psychobiology from UCLA. As Director of Programs & Initiatives at the California Black Health Network, she leads efforts to phase out toxins in beauty products and promote healthier beauty standards. Dr. Williams is dedicated to advancing public policies and educating communities about the impact of environmental toxins on reproductive health.