Peggy Shepard (middle) speaks with EPA Administrator Michael Regan (left) and Congressman Adriano Espaillat (right)
WE ACT Selected to Lead New EPA Technical Assistance Center
$10 Million Grant to Help Environmental Justice Communities
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center program at the Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park yesterday, with EPA Administrator Michael Regan, Congressman Adriano Espaillat, and Peggy Shepard. As part of this new program, WE ACT will receive at least $10 million over five years to help environmental justice communities across EPA Region 2 by providing training and other assistance to build capacity for navigating federal grant application systems, writing strong grant proposals, and effectively managing grant funding. In addition, we will provide guidance on community engagement, meeting facilitation, and translation and interpretation services to help remove barriers and improve accessibility for communities with environmental justice concerns.
We are one of 17 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers nationwide that will receive a total of more than $177 million as part of this program. Our partners will include Clean Energy Group, Columbia University Climate School, Environmental Protection Network, Inter American University, New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance, New York University School of Law Institute for Policy Integrity, and South Ward Environmental Alliance.
Advocate With Us for Earth Day
We are at a critical point in our fight for environmental and climate justice legislation in New York State. That is why we invite you to join us for a day in Albany with our partners in the JustGreen Partnership to advocate for key state legislation. You can choose to lobby for lead poisoning prevention, energy and climate, or general environmental justice legislation. Register to join us on Tuesday, April 25th in Albany! Transportation and lunch will be provided.
Composting is critical to reduce waste, fight pests, and address climate change. NYC is finally taking real steps to expand composting, however, we are still pushing the city to do more to reduce our city waste to zero. You can help us with this push by taking our quick composting survey before April 23!
We're collecting feedback from Northern Manhattan residents on composting habits, barriers, and opinions. This feedback will help us advocate and educate around composting and understand what our community needs to successfully compost and move us to a greener future!
Micaela Goes to Washington...And Explains Why Environmental Justice is Critical
Micaela Martinez brought important environmental justice and health perspectives to a hearing on Capitol Hill last week. She joined a panel hosted by the Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment with the University of California, San Francisco on why our regulatory system isn't working and how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can better protect communities from pollution and toxins. Read more about the panel here.
Groove Into Spring at Our Harlem Block Party
Spring has sprung in Northern Manhattan and WE ACT's Beauty Inside Out campaign is celebrating with eating, art making, dancing, planting, and, of course, environmental justice. Join us April 28th at Frank White Memorial Garden at 506 West 143rd Street to groove into the season in style with our neighbors, friends, and family!
Why Teens of Color Are More Worried About Climate: Beau Morton talked to Education Week about a new study finding teenagers of color are more concerned about climate change than their white counterparts.
Defining "Disadvantaged": Sonal Jessel was a guest on the Capitol Pressroom, explaining the intricacies of the criteria developed by New York State’s Climate Justice Working Group to identify disadvantaged communities that will be prioritized by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
Climate Justice in NYC: Peggy Shepard and WE ACT are featured in a PBS Thirteen WNET overview of the climate justice movement in New York City.
Justice40:Al Dia quoted Dana Johnson in a story about our Justice40rward campaign, which has been doing outreach in cities across the country to raise awareness of the Biden administration's Justice40 initiative and offer guidance for local officials and community-based organizations to take advantage of federal funding opportunities for environmental justice projects.
WE ACT on Green Inside Out: Sonal Jessel was featured on the Green Inside and Out podcast discussing our Beauty Inside Out campaign; Out of Gas In with Justice pilot; advocacy for the New York State Cosmetics and Personal Care Act; and fight to end childhood lead poisoning.
Strategize for Climate Justice in Northern Manhattan
Are you interested in furthering the fight for climate justice? Our Climate Justice Working Group meets monthly to work together for climate solutions while building community leadership in support of climate justice in Northern Manhattan and beyond. Join us for our April meeting Wednesday, April 19, from 6 - 8 pm open to all!
Townhall at the People's Forum
We're joining NY Assembly Member Mamdani and other organizations to learn more about your Con Ed bills and how people are coming together to fight back against unaffordable energy rates. If you plan on testifying in the Con Ed Rate Case, we especially encourage you to attend this in-person teach-in at the People's Forum on Wednesday, April 19 from 7 - 8:15 pm at 320 West 7th Street.
Rally: No Bill Increase!
Be sure to join us for a family-friendly rally against Con Ed’s rate hikes in Union Square Park on Saturday, April 29 at 3 pm! Grab your signs and banners for this large scale protest against energy bill hikes featuring a protest photo shoot.
Celebrate Earth Day in East Harlem
Join us for El Barrio's hottest Earth Month event, Manhattan Community Board 11’s 2nd Annual Earth Day Conference to advance the quality of life in East Harlem. It’s open to the public, and no registration is needed. Come by and say hello to WE ACT’s East Harlem team! 10 am - 2 pm on Friday, April 21 at the Museum of the City of New York. Learn more here.
Friends of Inwood Hill Park Earth Day Festival
We will join the Friends of Inwood Hill Park for their annual Earth Day Festival with park stewardship, booths, nature exploration, poetry, and drumming! April 21 and 22; Come by and say hello!
Advancing Environmental Justice Workshop for NY Students
Are you or someone you know a NY student interested in building the environmental justice movement? We are partnering with Earth Hacks and the JustGreen Partnership to host Policy for the People, a workshop on environmental education and policy communication. This hackathon is for students to design and develop content to advance our advocacy efforts to reduce exposure to toxics in our community.
Students 18+ in New York State can participate in-person at WE ACT’s NYC office or online. Contact Briana Carbajal at [email protected] with questions. Sunday April 23, 11 am - 6 pm, 1854 Amsterdam Avenue, 2nd Floor in Harlem.
Join Peggy Shepard and other speakers at the New York Jewish Climate Summit. The summit is an opportunity for Jewish New Yorkers and allies who are interested in tackling the climate crisis to gather, learn, organize, and take action together. Peggy will be joined by New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, NYSERDA Assistant Director Vlad Gutman, and Dayenu CEO; Co-Founder Rabbi Jennie Rosenn. Sunday, April 23 from 1 - 4:30 pm at Temple Shaaray Tefila at 250 East 79th Street.
Invest in Our Planet Earth Day Program
Louis Bailey will be presenting at the Invest in Our Planet Earth Day Program on Monday, April 24 from 5:30 - 8:30 pm at the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Memorial Center at 34 West 134th Street.
What Role Does Philanthropy Have to Combat Climate Change? A Big One.
The climate movement has scored an increasing number of wins in recent years, however effective and equitable implementation following these wins is not guaranteed. Dana Johnson will join a panel on how supporting implementation represents an opportunity for all kinds of donors to make a difference. This webinar on April 25 at 12 pm will focus on the role funders can play in fulfilling the promise of key climate victories.
The Student Sustainability Committee at the University of Maryland, College Park is organizing a student-led sustainability conference with the goal of maximizing community engagement through an emphasis on the concept of “Sustainability for All". Open to students from all levels of education: high school, undergraduate, and graduate students from across the globe!
