Skin-lightening and Chemical Exposures in the Refugee and Immigrant Communities

When Amira Adawe emigrated from Somalia to Minnesota in 2000, she brought a life-long interest in serving her community. Today Amira, who has a bachelor’s degree in family social science and a master’s in public health, is the manager of Governor Mark Dayton’s Children’s Cabinet. That’s just her day job, however – her work on skin-lightening practices and chemical exposure in the immigrant and refugee communities has attracted national attention. Amira has raised awareness of the dangers of skin-lightening creams, both from the harmful ingredients such as mercury and from their negative impact on women’s self esteem. Amira hosts a weekly radio show in Somali that reaches 80,000 people worldwide, and her personal outreach and connections have made her a valuable consultant for cities across the U.S.