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Women's History Month is the backdrop for a conversation about race and beauty with aesthetician and entrepreneur Elizabeth St John-Hall from Greater Atlanta, and Belkis Alcantara, hairstylist, and owner of Jayre's Beauty Salon on Warren Street in Hudson. For centuries women of all cultures have felt the need to comply with ever-evolving standards of beauty. The conversation will explore how much race influenced the portrait of "American Beauty" and more. St John-Hall has more than 25 years of experience as a beauty entrepreneur a skilled esthetician, model, and makeup artist, among other career endeavors, like that of educator. Alcantara is a Warren Street business owner who came to Hudson from the Dominican Republican, via The Bronx more than two decades ago where she began her career as a salon stylist. Alcantara's clients come from many different walks of life and various ethnicities.

"Race Talks," hosted by intercultural communicator and author Kimberly Y. Erwin, provides expertise on the topic of race and ethnicity. With the national conversation in the media over racial inequity, ignorance or indifference is not a proper retreat. Erwin enjoys speaking with people from every walk of life, ethnic make-up, and varied perspectives to better instruct, engage, and inform listeners with positive and constructive conversations on all things race and ethnicity — which is very necessary to break down structural and societal racism. No topic is taboo. Here, listeners engage with the host, other expert guest educators, activists, organizers, and community members as they disseminate their knowledge (ie. varying terminologies, historical realities, and current opportunities for engagement) for a better informed, appreciative, and active local citizenry.

About the host

An educator, writer, and entrepreneur, Erwin enjoyed her studies as a Hudson High School graduate (attending her senior year at Columbia-Greene Community College) and graduated from Spelman College in Atlanta (noted the #1 Historical Black College and University by "U.S. News") where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and French. Upon receiving a Masters in Science degree from the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in Intercultural Communication, Erwin ventured into the areas of international administration, multicultural leadership, and various teaching positions within the U.S. and globally.

Upon returning to Hudson Valley, Kimberly started a media company (OneUniversal Media) endeavoring to give voice to members in communities experiencing gross inequities who yearn to create common means of communicating and celebrating their identity while still challenging societal norms. Erwin is a founding member of Africa's Daughters of the Diaspora (ADD), She holds volunteer positions as a Hudson Area Library Trustee, an on-air programmer at WGXC-FM, and with the Hudson City School District (where her children's book was informed).