April 2025 Newsletter

In this edition: Earth Day Advocacy Day April 29| Celebrating Successes | Spring Appeal | Dying to be Beautiful Podcast | WE ACT TCTAC | Team Highlights | News We Are Reading

Dear Reader,

In a time that often brings too much bad news, let me greet you with some good news: The NYS Assembly unanimously voted to ban PFAS and other toxics in period products - joining the Senate in the same decision. Now it’s up to Governor Hochul to make it law. This is great momentum as we look forward to Earth Day Advocacy Day, which is just around the corner.

We are all experiencing the uncertainty and dramatic cuts of essential personnel and programs in federal agencies, witnessing the erasure of environmental justice programs, and elimination of lead poisoning prevention, cancer cure research, and more. In these turbulent times, more than ever we need states like New York to lead the way, not only to safeguard our residents, but also to drive the national marketplace.

I’ve said it before but it bears repeating: the laws we win here shape the decisions of large companies across the US and create benefits nationally. In addition to the 2-house passage of the ban on toxics in period products, the Senate has advanced the Beauty Justice Act to the floor, and the Assembly has advanced it through two committees to the Ways & Means committee, one step from a full vote, and we are building momentum for broad action on PFAS with the PFAS-Free NY Campaign.  

As part of the campaign for Beauty Justice, Clean+Healthy Emerita Board Member, Penelope Jagessar Chaffer, has released a podcast called The Chemistry of Racism — Dying to be Beautiful. An exploration of the cultural context and chemical toxicity of European beauty standards for black women and the health consequences that come as a result of trying to attain those beauty standards.

To ensure we continue to maximize our impact, I’m so glad to introduce new team members Blake Harvey, Developmental Coordinator (see below) and Rachel Miller, Office Manager, as Krista Eckhart moves into a new role as Director of Program Management. In addition to our state policy advocacy, we continue to advance work to build a healthy, thriving Albany,, through our Reimagine Albany collaboration focused on leveraging change of the I-787 highway along the Hudson and ALL(bany) Together partnership. We look forward to announcing a new staff person working on the Reimagine Albany project shortly. The Albany work is predominantly funded through federal grants, and like so many others we are on a rollercoaster responding to that changing landscape.

With exciting wins and advances already this year, and more on the way, we are looking forward to what the end of session and the coming months of 2025 will bring! As always, thank you for all you do to make the world a better place. We are so glad to be connected with you. 

With gratitude,

Bobbi Wilding, Executive Director

Earth Day Advocacy Day 2025

REGISTER TODAY for the annual Earth Day Advocacy Day cosponsored by dozens of organizations to advance legislation alongside advocates from across New York State!

Make your voice heard on key issues: Environmental Justice + Health | Clean Energy & Climate Justice | Lead Poisoning Prevention | Responsible Solid Waste Management | Protecting Water Resources

In the past three years, nearly 300 people from over 35 organizations have joined together to urge legislators to take action on our bills, contributing to 11 bills passing both houses of the legislature, and 8 bills being signed into law. TOGETHER WE WIN! REGISTER TODAY! 

On to the Governor: Unanimous 2-House Passage of the Ban on PFAS & Toxic in Period Products

In late January, the Ban on PFAS and other Toxics in Menstrual Products passed the Senate unanimously. Then, on March 26th, after a short debate, the Assembly passed the bill unanimously as well! It’s now up to Governor Hochul to make this ban law. Please send her a letter today letting her know how important it is to get toxic ingredients out of our period products!

The Beauty Justice Act is moving! It passed the Environmental Conservation and Codes committees in the Assembly, and is now in the Ways and Means committee. The Senate passed the bill from the Environmental Conservation committee straight to the floor. Read on for resources to understand why this bill is essential to safeguard our health - including the podcast “The Chemistry of Racism” and a new study from Consumer reports showing heavy metals and cancer causing chemicals in synthetic braiding hair.

SPRING Into Action to Make a Difference in New York State

Did you know that it’s donations from people like you that fuel our policy advocacy? It’s true. Now more than ever we need action on toxics in New York State, and to help us reach our goal of raising $20,000 this spring, the Li Family Charitable Fund has pledged to add an additional $15,000 if we can meet it. Your early will help us spring forward into a successful campaign!

The Chemistry of Racism

Penelope Jagessar Chaffer is a Sundance Artist in Residence in partnership with Johns Hopkins University, a British Academy Award Nominated filmmaker, TED Talk Speaker, and a board member emerita of Clean+Healthy. Penelope created The Chemistry of Racism: Dying to be Beautiful, an exploration of the cultural context and chemical toxicity of European beauty standards for black women & femmes and the health consequences that come as a result of trying to attain those beauty standards. It also examines the historical sociocultural backdrop to these beauty ideals and the need for beauty justice in the United States today, incorporating New York’s Beauty Justice Act.

Penelope and special guests (including C+H’s very own Bobbi Wilding and Janet Grey) to dive into topics such as: environmental justice, chronic health conditions caused by toxic chemicals, the Beauty Justice Act, and more. The Chemistry of Racism: Dying to be Beautiful is available now! 

WE ACT TCTAC

Clean+Healthy is excited to announce a two-year outreach initiative with the WE ACT Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (WE ACT TCTAC) to connect our community to their full array of resources and technical support. In addition, we will work together to determine regional environmental, climate, and energy justice priorities and deliver one in-person training based on our community's needs. Community Voices is a network of organizations that focus on environmental justice and will work to achieve movement-building goals throughout New Jersey and New York. Learn more about WE ACT TCTAC here!

TEAM HIGHLIGHTS

Welcome Blake! Blake spent over a decade in corporate social responsibility and communications, forging partnerships between major companies, nonprofits, and foundations to drive meaningful change. As part of the fund development team at Clean+Healthy, Blake works to build relationships with funders and partners, ensuring that policies and programs protecting communities from toxic chemicals receive the support they need. He is committed to bridging the gap between advocacy and funding, helping to sustain and expand Clean+Healthy’s impact.

NEWS WE ARE READING

Synthetic hair marketed to black women contains carcinogens and lead, report finds

Ingredients that cause cancer were found in 10 synthetic hair products marketed to black women, according to Consumer Reports. Nine of the products also contained lead.

Toxic chemicals in breast milk raise alarm in Africa

Researchers warn that synthetic chemicals in various products, including carpets, clothes, furniture, adhesives, food packaging, and nonstick cookware, pose a significant threat to infants in Africa.

NYS Legislatures OKs bill banning 'forever chemicals' in menstrual products

Legislation passed in both houses would restrict the sale of certain toxic chemicals in period products, including tampons, pads and menstrual cups in an effort to reduce women’s exposure.

Did you make it to the bottom? THANK YOU! If so, send an email to Jasmine and tell her what you’d like to see in the next newsletter! jasmine@cleanhealthyny.org