Meet Dr. Astrid Williams | Health Equity Advocate & Lifestyle Curator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Astrid Williams and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Astrid, what do you attribute your success to?
The most influential factors behind my success is my dedication and drive to succeed in life. I believe my hard work and diligence set me apart from others. I have a very strategic work ethic following the path of determination and a commitment to achieving my goals no matter the challenge.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a leader in the health equity space and a catalyst for conscious living. I have over 20 years of experience in public health promotion and education, focusing on reducing health disparities for women of color, particularly for Black women and girls who are disproportionately affected.

It’s been an amazing journey on my path to leadership. I started my career in population health and have worked in various realms that ultimately led me to my passion for beauty and fashion. In my current role, I oversee programs and initiatives that address the social determinants of health and the environmental factors that affect the well-being of Black populations. I also serve as a member of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Black Health Equity Advisory Group, an Advisory Board Member of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics Non-Toxic Black Beauty Project Advisory Committee, and a Co-Chair of the National Beauty Justice Coalition. I am passionate about disrupting the beauty industry and advocating for clean, safe, and sustainable alternatives for cosmetics and haircare products marketed and targeted towards Black women. I have published and co-authored several research papers on environmental toxins and their relationship to reproduction disorders and supported the implementation of federal and local policies that improve environmental justice. Additionally, I am an adjunct professor in higher learning, where I facilitate courses in health sciences and health administration, mentoring and guiding students in their academic and professional pursuits.

I have an immense desire for beauty justice and work to phase out toxic chemicals in cosmetics and the fashion industry. My goal is to shift cultural norms favoring unhealthy beauty standards disproportionally affecting communities of color. I openly share how toxins and chemicals in the built environment and beauty and fashion can have a direct effect on reproductive health and our overall well-being.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Southern California has some of the best beaches from Laguna Beach, to Malibu and Newport. The views are absolutely amazing. We would make our way to visit local eateries, my personal favorites in LA, include Catch LA, Laurel Hardware, the Ivy, and Fig & Olive. The week would additionally be filled with sightseeing mixed with the arts at Huntington Library, and the Broad Museum, and if possible catching a live jazz concert at LACMA in season.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am dedicating to my mother, the women figures in my life, and the community of sisterhood. I’ve been fortunate to have been blessed with some great women who have nurtured, shaped my beliefs, and mentored me to become the gracious, intelligent, and thoughtful woman I am today—shout out to my dedicated tribe, none other than my “Board of Directors.”

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/astridwilliams/

Image Credits
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