As October comes to an end, here’s a flashback photo when I received an award from the American Cancer Society for being a volunteer makeup and skincare advisor for patients in the Look Good Feel Better program. I lead sessions for women experiencing appearance changes from medication and treatment, giving advice on skincare, hair and nail care and how to use makeup on changing complexions and skin conditions. I’ve led sessions at several locations in Brooklyn over twenty years. I remember being told of one patient who decided to continue their treatment at a hospital after attending my LGFB session! It’s a true God-given passion at work.
TEN YEARS AGO: As a volunteer instructor with American Cancer Society’s Look Good Feel Better Program, in 2014, I had the honor of being chosen to be Mistress of Ceremony for the Making Strides finish line event at New York’s Central Park Bandshell! So after years of volunteering, ACS asked me to be Mistress of Ceremony! Unlike this year, it was chilly ten years ago!
I was the MC with the hostess, ABC-TV journalist Sade Baderinwa. C&C Music Factory with Ashlie Luckett and Keith Thompson performed. What an inspiring day to top off my various volunteer responsibilities with #ACS.
Advocating for health and positive well-being is a huge passion. As a Cosmetic Executive Women member, I was an image workshop instructor for Women In Need, a nonprofit organization that empowers displaced women in shelters. I’ve also shared healthy habits for women, men, and youths at events sponsored by SUNY Downstate Hospital in Brooklyn and at the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health, I coached stylists and barbers on how to spread the word to their clients about breast and prostate cancers. The barbershop/beautyshop project led to me being a co-author of a study based on these efforts published in Journal of the National Medical Association (July 2009). Health advocacy and education is so important. So important to support women as they go through this.
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