WE ACT Updates: Extreme Heat, CRUP, Summer BBQ, Gala, and More!

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Extreme Heat is the Deadliest Impact of Climate Change

WE ACT Releases 2023 Extreme Heat Policy Agenda
On Thursday, July 6, we released our 2023 Extreme Heat Policy Agenda and announced a new coalition aimed at addressing extreme heat, which disproportionately harms people of color. You can watch a replay of the briefing and download our new policy agenda. You can also learn more about our work on extreme heat by listening to the latest episode of our Uptown Chats podcast. And you can get involved by joining Too Hot to Handle, our rally to demand action on extreme heat, in City Hall Park on Thursday, July 13 at 12 pm.

Join Us Tomorrow for Our Next Climate Ready Workshop!

Are you prepared to deal with extreme weather events and climate change in your Uptown neighborhood? WE ACT has developed the Climate Readiness Uptown Plan (CRUP) to prepare residents for climate emergencies such as flooding and extreme heat. Join our upcoming workshops to learn more about CRUP and the steps you can take to get yourself and your community ready.

CRUP Workshop: Hamilton Grange
- TOMORROW, Saturday, July 8 at 11 am at Hamilton Grange Library at 503 West 145th Street
CRUP Workshop: Brotherhood Sister Sol
- Tuesday, July 11 at 2 pm at Brotherhood Sister Sol at 512 West 143rd Street
CRUP Workshop: City College
- Tuesday, July 25 at 6 pm at City College North Academic Center (NAC) Ballroom (1st Floor) at 160 Convent Avenue (enter at West 138th Street)

Too Hot to Handle: Rally To Demand Action on Extreme Heat

With our 2023 Extreme Heat Policy Agenda out, we are increasing our demands for the city to take action and protect vulnerable New Yorkers from extreme heat. Join us Thursday, July 13 at 12 pm in City Hall Park to demand legislative action to push our extreme heat agenda forward.

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New York Voted For a Green Amendment. Join Us to Learn More About It!

Have you heard about New York State’s new Green Amendment? New Yorkers voted to add environmental rights to the Bill of Rights in the State Constitution. What are these new rights, and what do they mean for New York? Join us on Thursday, July 13 from 6 to 7:30 pm for our virtual workshop to learn about this amendment and what it means for environmental justice.

Our Annual Member BBQ is Next Saturday!

It's that time of year again! Our annual summer BBQ celebrates our members, our community, and environmental justice. Join us for great food, great conversation, environmental justice games, music, prizes, and a special live (and spicy) event from Uptown Chats. We'll also be screening several movies including Man vs Earth and The Story of Stuff. Join us Saturday, July 15 from 11 am - 4 pm at PS/IS 149 Sojourner Truth School on 41 West 117th Street (between Lenox & 5th Avenue). As always, the BBQ is free and open to everyone.

RSVP

Support WE ACT at Our 35th Anniversary Gala

We now have a date, time, and location for our 35th Anniversary Gala: Wednesday, October 18 from 6 - 9 pm at Columbia University’s Alfred Lerner Hall (2920 Broadway, between 114th & 115th Streets). The Gala is a great way to support our work. You can get tickets and even become a sponsor. Reach out to Gianna Folz at [email protected] with questions.

Republicans Spinning Environmental Justice: WE ACT was featured prominently in this well-written and scathing article in CleanTechnica about recent House hearings, including testimony from Dana Johnson, with Republican representatives shamelessly attempting to negate environmental justice.
CRUP Workshops: Harlem World wrote about our Climate Uptown Ready Plan (CRUP) and summer workshops to prepare Harlemites for extreme weather and climate change.
Extreme Heat Agenda: The announcement of our briefing to release our 2023 Extreme Heat Agenda was featured in Harlem World and CityLife.

Civic Engagement Connecting with Leaders

Our civic engagement team has been out and about in the city connecting with elected officials!

Marileidy Pimentel attended New York City Mayor Eric Adam’s “Hear from Eric” event on June 28 in which the Mayor listened to concerns from the Washington Heights and Inwood communities. Sanitation was one of the hot topics, as the Mayor announced a new initiative earlier that day to curb the city’s rat problem. Marileidy took the opportunity to discuss the city’s new composting initiative with DSNY Manhattan Borough Chief James Leavy. You can learn more about composting at the Spanish Civic Engagement Working Group’s meeting on Tuesday, August 15 at 6:30 PM, during which they will be discussing composting. RSVP here.

Pamela Stewart-Martinez attended U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's event in the Bronx last night, where she had an opportunity to weigh-in on the need to cap the Cross Bronx Expressway, a notorious symbol of environmental injustice that the city is currently discussing plans with the community to address.

Listen to Uptown Chats Podcast

Looking for a podcast to add to your docket? Look no further than Uptown Chats, WE ACT's new podcast! Join Lonnie and Jaron and their expert guests for an enlivening conversation on all things environmental justice. Check out all the episodes, including the latest on extreme heat!