Featured: Meet The Doctor of Black Health Turned Dashing Style Maven, Dr. Astrid Williams

It's 2023, and the buzz around sustainable fashion is louder than ever. Meet my beautiful, sweet friend Dr. Astrid Williams, a force in health equity, diversity, and inclusion, with a surprising twist—she's also a style maven on a mission to revolutionize how we think about our clothes.

I first crossed paths with Dr. Williams at a floral design workshop I hosted at my boutique in 2018, There's something about collective creative curiosity that brings people together, and even then, she exuded a quiet allure that drew me in. Fast forward to our recent conversation, and it's clear that her mystique belies a fierce dedication to change-making.

As the Director of Programs & Initiatives at the California Black Health Network, Dr. Williams has spent over 20 years championing public health, particularly in reducing health disparities for African American and Black Immigrant communities. But it's her recent foray into sustainable fashion that has me captivated.

Dr. Williams is redefining what it means to be a conscious consumer. She's swapped out fast fashion for a capsule wardrobe, choosing quality over quantity. Her journey mirrors a broader shift in her life, one that's focused on intentionality and mindful living.

Dr. Astrid Williams is Director, Programs & Initiatives at California Black Health Network (CBHN), a leader in health equity, diversity, and inclusion. She has over 20 years of experience in public health promotion and education, with a focus on reducing health disparities for African American and Black Immigrant communities in California.

In her current role at CBHN, she oversees programs and initiatives that address the social determinants of health and the environmental factors that affect the well-being of Black populations. She also serves 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. She passionate about disrupting the beauty and fashion industry and advocating for clean and safe alternatives for cosmetics and personal care products. She has published and co-authored several research papers on environmental toxins and their relationship to breast cancer, and supported the implementation of federal and local policies that promote environmental justice. Additionally, she works as an adjunct professor in higher learning, where she facilitates courses in health sciences and health administration for undergraduate and graduate students, mentoring and guiding them in their academic and professional development.

Dr. Williams advocates for beauty justice and works to phase out toxic chemicals in cosmetics and the fashion industry. She aims to shift cultural norms favoring Eurocentric beauty standards in Black communities. Dr. Williams openly shares how toxins in the built environment and from cosmetics and fashion apparel can have a direct effect on reproductive health.

Her academic career began as an undergraduate student at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychobiology. She earned a Doctorate of Public Health and a Master of Public Health in Health Promotion and Education from Loma Linda University School of Public Health. Additionally, she is certified as a Health Education Specialist (CHES). 

Dr. Astrid Williams is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and has held executive board leadership positions for Jack & Jill of America, Incorporated and National Council of Negro Women local Chapters.