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Climate Week Wrap Up

We are in the final days of Climate Week 2023 ([link removed]) , and we are reflecting on what the week has brought. From a major march, to speaking events, to several exciting announcements, it's been a busy week spent advancing climate justice and urging world leaders to act with the equity and urgency needed to address the climate crisis.

Marching to End Fossil Fuels

We kicked off Climate Week by joining over 75,000 people in Midtown Manhattan in the largest climate march in years. The UN General Assembly met this week and we literally shouted our demands from blocks away that fossil fuels belong in the ground, not in our neighborhoods. It was so powerful to march alongside other frontline communities across the world - from Louisiana to Alaska to Ecuador. Many thanks to all our members - including a few board members - who joined us at the march!

Climate Week Highlights

Our staff - and Peggy Shepard, in particular - was all over New York and Washington, D.C. adding WE ACT's voice, perspective, and presence to many important conversations and celebrations. At City Hall's Climate Week event, Briana Carbajal accepted a proclamation ([link removed]) from the New York City Council on behalf of the Public Power NY coalition for passing the Build Public Renewables Act, which will ensure that all state-owned properties that ordinarily receive power from public energy are run on renewable energy by 2030. And in D.C. our staff celebrated with elected officials at the Capitol following the huge announcement by President Biden of the creation of the American Climate Corps ([link removed]) , a new civilian climate program that environmental activists have been demanding for years, including at the March to End Fossil Fuels.

Celebrating the Manhattan Clean Energy Hub!

As part of Climate Week, WE ACT showcased a beta version of our new Manhattan Clean Energy Hub at a celebration on Thursday! The Hub is an online resource that will help Manhattan residents of all income levels as well as community organizations and small businesses access and navigate – free of charge – the many opportunities created by the green revolution including clean energy careers, renewable energy installations, energy efficiency improvements, and transportation alternatives.

The virtual hub is part of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) Regional Clean Energy Hubs, which are designed to support New York State’s transition from an economy powered by fossil fuels to an inclusive economy that is run on clean, green, renewable energy - and create thousands of good, green jobs in the process. WE ACT and its partners – NYSERDA, Pratt Center, Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development, Kinetic Communities Consulting, USL Technology Inc, and Green City Force – are in the final stages of testing the website, which is expected to go live on October 2. Stay tuned!

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Volunteer to Tackle Trash in Harlem with Team Up to Clean Up

WE ACT for Environmental Justice is joining forces with community leaders, local businesses, community-based organizations, and block associations to tackle trash in West Harlem and beyond. Volunteer with us at Team Up to Clean Up to pick up trash on Saturday, October 7 from 10 am - 1 pm. We’ll be meeting at the WE ACT Office at 1854 Amsterdam Avenue (on the corner of 152nd Street). Supplies will be provided!

RSVP ([link removed])

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October Membership Meeting: Elections, Money in Politics, & NYC Carbon Goals

Join us in-person for our October Membership Meeting on Saturday, October 14 from 10 am - 1 pm at the New Heights Academy Charter School. Our special guest speaker will be New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg, talking about work his office is doing on environmental issues. We will also have staff from New York City Comptroller Brad Lander’s office giving us a presentation on the City’s Climate Dashboard, which tracks the progress toward meeting its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050. With key metrics on the City’s energy transition, emissions, and resiliency infrastructure, the new maps on this dashboard track the City’s air, water, and land quality levels for more in-depth analysis of environmental justice impacts by neighborhood.

RSVP ([link removed])

Environmental Justice Leadership Forum Convening Again

Every year, WE ACT brings together environmental justice organizations from across the country for the Environmental Justice Leadership Forum. This is a great opportunity for us to convene together as a movement to celebrate our wins, strategize together, and lobby policymakers. The forum will meet again at the end of September in Washington, D.C.

New York Expands Voting Rights

Our Civic Engagement and Organizing team was at the bill signing this week of a slate of new election reform laws. Governor Hochul signed into law 10 new measures ([link removed]) that expand access to voting and increase protections for democracy in New York, including same-day voting registration, increased mail-in voting, protection against faithless electors, and increased training for poll workers.Another reason you should get out and vote ([link removed]) this November!

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Liquid Natural Gas is Harmful. So Why Does It Keep Getting Approved?

Check out and share the new video ([link removed]) hat we produced with Community In-Power and Development Association (CIDA) calling out the Biden administration for continuing to approve liquid natural gas (LNG) facilities, which are especially poisonous to Black and Brown communities along the Gulf Coast. The power of the gas and oil lobby will not be broken until we drastically and rapidly transition away from fossil fuels.

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WE ACT’s 2023 Annual Gala: Celebrating Our 35th Anniversary

Join us for our 35th Anniversary Gala ([link removed]) on Wednesday, October 18 from 6 - 9 pm at Columbia University’s Alfred Lerner Hall at 2920 Broadway (between 114th & 115th Streets) in Harlem. We are excited to announce Former Vice President Al Gore as our 35th Anniversary Gala Special Guest Speaker! We are also excited to announce this year’s honorees: Richard Moore, Co-Founder & Co-Coordinator, Los Jardines Institute (Albuquerque, NM); Joshua Klainberg, Senior Vice President, New York League of Conservation Voters (New York, NY); and Donele Wilkins, President & CEO, Green Door Initiative (Detroit, MI). Don’t miss out - reserve your seat today!

Reserve Your Seat ([link removed])

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* Extreme Heat: Caleb Smith was featured in a Gothamist article ([link removed]) on the connection between this summer’s record-setting heat and the climate crisis. In addition to quoting them, the article also included links to the three heat actions ([link removed]) we have been asking you to take. The article on the deadly impacts of extreme heat that we mentioned last week, quoting Caleb Smith, also appeared in USA Today ([link removed]) .
* March to End Fossil Fuels: The Columbia Spectator published an article ([link removed]) on our participation in the March to End Fossil Fuels. Reporter Elena Hardy was embedded with the WE ACT marchers, and she included quotes from Pamela Stewart-Martinez, Briana Carbajal, WE ACT Board Member Dave Evans, and WE ACT Member Tian Tian. The New York Amsterdam News ([link removed]) also noted our participation in the march.
* Cooling Centers: The Columbia Spectator published an article ([link removed]) about our efforts to get New York City to improve its Cooling Center program, including quotes from Annie Carforo.
* Zero Waste: And the Columbia Spectator ([link removed]) noted our work on New York City’s waste containerization pilot designed to reduce the rat problem.
* Voting Rights: Common Dreams ([link removed]) wrote about our coalition’s support for the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
* Team Up to Clean Up: Harlem World ([link removed]) featured our Team Up to Clean Up West Harlem, a volunteer opportunity we hope you all will join us for on Oct. 7.
* Local Law 97: Harlem World ([link removed]) also shared our statement on the New York City Department of Buildings proposed changes for the implementation of Local Law 97 of 2019.

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Uptown Chats: New Episode Coming Monday!

Stay tuned for the new episode of Uptown Chats ([link removed]) podcast coming Monday! This month, Lonnie and Jaron will be celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and discussing environmental justice in the Uptown Hispanic community with special guests Marileidy Pimentel, WE ACT's Bilingual Community Organizer, City Councilmember Carmen De La Rosa, and Manny Salgado, WE ACT's Environmental Justice Research Analyst.
Listen Here ([link removed])
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Let's Talk About Asthma

In case you missed our last membership meeting, we started a dialogue about asthma and its impact on our community. We are developing a Unified Asthma Policy Agenda that addresses housing, transportation, workers, land use, healthcare, climate, education, and more with asthma in mind - and we would like your help! Do you or someone you know have asthma? Do you have any thoughts about where we can take our work? We would love to interview you about your experience, your challenges, and your ideas to learn how we can better advocate for policies that impact your health. Click here ([link removed]) and our team will reach out to you!
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You Might Be Eligible to Save Money on Your Utility Bills

The New York State Energy Affordability Program / Low-Income Bill Discount Program provides income-eligible consumers with a discount on their monthly electric and/or gas bills, as well as other benefits, depending on your particular utility’s program. Find out ([link removed]) if you qualify and how this program can save you money on your energy bills.
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Marileidy Pimentel and Pamela Stewart-Martinez attended the National Dominican Women's Caucus breakfast where they had a chance to meet with Zenaida Mendez, Founder & President of the National Dominican Women's Caucus, who is also the Director of the Manhattan Neighborhood Network's El Barrio Firehouse Community Media Center and a former WE ACT Board Member.

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DataCamp For Classrooms

WE ACT has been using DataCamp ([link removed]) to train and expand our ability for data science, data analysis, and programming to help with our work for environmental justice. Check out the services that DataCamp offers including DataCamp Classrooms ([link removed]) for educators.

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