In honor of National Women and Girls HIV Awareness Day, Edmonds Community College and the Snohomish Health District HIV/STD program are partnering with local agencies to host a free Health and Beauty Fair for women of color from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., March 9 in Woodway Hall, room 202.

Racial and ethnic minority women experience higher rates of obesity, cancer, diabetes and AIDS. The goal of the fair is to empower women of color to make their health a top priority and to remind women that with just a few simple steps, they can make great strides in preserving their health.

Highlights include a light lunch, prizes, speakers, a Zumba class, free health screenings, beauty services, and community health resources.

Speakers include Patricia Valentine, founder and personal coach for Self-Love Connection; Marilyn Calbert, an African-American educator for YWCA Women’s Health; and Jeannine Fosca, HIV Educator for the BABES Network.

Obesity, high cholesterol, poverty, language barriers, physical inactivity, and lack of information all contribute to increased risk factors for women of color. Get educated and get screened:

Among the activities are:

Flu and whooping cough vaccinations

Blood pressure checks

Dental screening

Rapid HIV testing

Hepatitis C resources

Cholesterol, diabetes and BMI Screening

Signs up and referrals to Basic Health

Breast and cervical health resources

Free Beauty Services include:

Eyebrow waxing

Manicures

Natural Hair Styling tips

Skin care products and demonstrations

Nutrition and exercise resources

Zumba class

Women of Color at Risk

Nationwide, African-American women are 35 precent more likely to die of heart disease and Hispanic women face heart disease nearly 10 years earlier compared to Caucasian women. In the Puget Sound area, women of color have the lowest 5-year rate of cervical and breast cancer survival among all the ethnic and racial groups. HIV/AIDS rates in Washington are 15 times higher for black women, four times higher for Hispanics, and twice as high for American Indians/Alaskan Natives as for white women.

For more information, see https://www.snohd.org/events or call 425-339-8692.