CLIMATE WEEK NYC: Join Us on Tuesday, Sept. 24 for a FREE Movie & Discussion on Toxic Chemicals in Beauty Products
Are you concerned about the toxic chemicals commonly found in cosmetics and other personal care products? Did you know that many of the most toxic products are aggressively marketed towards people of color? Do you want to help do something about this?
Join us on Tuesday, Sept. 24 for a special FREE screening of the documentary film Toxic Beauty, followed by a panel discussion from 5:30-8:00 PM (doors open at 5:00 PM) at the NAC Ballroom in the North Academic Center building on the City College of New York’s Harlem campus (160 Convent Avenue).
This is a powerful documentary that exposes the hidden dangers in everyday beauty products and their impact on our health and the environment. The film reveals the industry’s dangerous secrets and challenges us to rethink what we put on our skin. Popcorn and snacks will be provided!
Following the film, we will have an engaging panel discussion and Q&A session, where experts will dive deeper into the issues and explore ways we can advocate for safer, more sustainable practices. Liz Reyes will moderate the panel, which will feature Dr. Ami Zota, ScD, Community Engagement Core Co-Director of the Columbia Center for Environmental Health and Justice in Northern Manhattan, Associate Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, and Founder & Director of Agents of Change in Environmental Justice; Sophia Longsworth M.Sc., MPH, Toxics Policy Director at Clean+Healthy; and Natasha Gaspard, Founder & Chief Empowerment Officer of Mane Moves Media.
Be sure to share this entertaining and educational evening of healthy beauty with your family and friends. And please RSVP so we know how much popcorn to pop!
Beauty Justice
Personal care products (e.g. lotions, deodorant, hair straightener, cosmetics, etc.) are largely unregulated, with far too many containing toxic ingredients (e.g. parabens, formaldehyde, lead, mercury, etc.) that have been linked to cancer, infertility, miscarriage, poor infant and maternal health outcomes, obesity, asthma, and many other serious health concerns. A combination of racist beauty standards and aggressive target marketing have led young women and femme-identifying people of color to higher rates of use for these harmful products – on top of already being exposed to disproportionate amounts of toxic chemicals. Beauty Justice is the movement to advocate for safer personal care products and dismantling the racist beauty standards, and from banning mercury in skin lighteners to fighting for the Beauty Justice Act, WE ACT has emerged as one of the leading voices in this movement.
CLIMATE WEEK NYC: Climate Film Festival
If you enjoy a good documentary, you should also look into the 2024 Climate Film Festival, which runs from Sept. 20-22 at the Firehouse Cinema, located at 87 Lafayette Street - just south of Canal Street. WE ACT is a Programming Partner and Caleb Smith will be one of the jurors. Liz Reyes will also be on hand, tabling for WE ACT on Saturday, Sept. 21. See the full schedule here.
