Translating personal to political; local to federal policy (nail salon workers)

A national multi-issue membership and policy advocacy organization will participate in a panel to share concrete examples of how personal health issues in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community translate to policy and advocacy efforts on the local, state and federal levels. The panelist will also discuss any timely hot policy topics.

This panelist will share how local, grassroots campaigns promoting nail salon worker rights and safety evolved into a national coalition to educate the public and policymakers about the occupational hazards related to working in the nail salon industry. The speaker will begin with a brief overview of the issue and identify the health risks involved for nail salon workers who come into regular contact with harmful cosmetic products. Next, the speaker will describe some of the local efforts that gave rise to the formation of the National Healthy Nail Salon Alliance. The presentation will then outline the coalition's strategies for advancing nail salon worker protections through policy advocacy.