Join Us to Learn About TCTAC: A New Resource For Environmental Justice Funding
Do you want to learn how to access and pursue environmental justice funding opportunities, ranging from federal environmental health grants to state workforce development programs and private foundation grants? We can help! Join WE ACT and our partners via Zoom on Monday, October 30 at 5:30 pm as we launch the New Jersey-New York Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC). The New Jersey-New York TCTAC is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy to provide training and other assistance to build capacity for navigating federal grant application systems, writing strong grant proposals, and effectively managing grant funding.
Get ready to vote in the General Election on Tuesday, November 7! The deadline to register to vote is October 28. Early voting runs from October 28 - November 5. In this election, depending on your county and district, you may be voting for City Council, District Attorney, and Judicial candidates as well as two ballot proposals. You can learn what you need to know by visiting our Voter Information page.
Lunch and Learn: Lead Poisoning Prevention in New York City
This Halloween, in honor of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, NYLCVEF, WE ACT, and our partners at the New York City Coalition to End Lead Poisoning are hosting an educational webinar on October 31 from 12:30 - 1:30 pm on the dangers of lead poisoning and the advocacy efforts and work we are doing to prevent it.
Join Us and Rally to Put Community Land Into Community Hands
We had a solid turnout of WE ACT members, community organizations, and local activists for our Community Land Justice Townhall on Wednesday - thank you to everyone who came out and contributed to a great conversation! We know that one of the solutions to our environmental, health, and housing crises Uptown is the expansion of community-owned and democratically-controlled land. That's why we're rallying on Thursday, November 2 at City Hall Park at 12 pm calling on Speaker Adams and the rest of the New York City Council to pass the Community Land Act. Please join us and send a message that community land belongs in community hands!
Mercury is Incredibly Toxic. Which is Why We're Heading to a UN Conference to Fight It.
As you may know, WE ACT has been fighting to limit our exposure to mercury - a dangerous neurotoxin - because people of color are exposed to disproportionately high levels of toxics. Our work has included getting the sale of personal care products containing mercury banned in New York State and providing testimony on the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for Power Plants. Dr. Micaela Martinez is on her way to Geneva for the United Nations Minamata Convention on Mercury, where an annual global discussion takes place on how to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of this highly toxic substance. She has also received an invitation from the Federal Office for the Environment of Switzerland to attend their Minamata Convention on Mercury reception.
Peggy Shepard to Receive Award from the University of Iowa
Peggy Shepard is receiving the Richard and Barbara Hansen Leadership Award from the University of Iowa College of Public Health on Wednesday, November 8. Established in 2001, this annual award honors persons who have demonstrated exemplary leadership in the public health field and brings them to the University of Iowa campus for interaction with students, faculty, and public health professionals.
Peggy will also be speaking with the Green Business Resources Team at Edward Jones, a Fortune 500 firm that provides financial services in the U.S. and through its affiliate in Canada. This employee affinity group is looking to learn more about environmental and climate justice.
Come to Our Year-End Meeting to Learn About Our 2024 Policy Agenda
Last month, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and New York State Senator Cordell Cleare joined us for our membership meeting. You will definitely want to join us in-person for our November "Year-End" Membership Meeting on Saturday, November 18 from 10 am - 1 pm. Note the date, November 18, as we have had to move the meeting back a week from our usual second Saturday of the month. Also note that the location for this meeting is TBD (so register now, and we’ll let you know!).
This will be our final membership meeting of the year, and we will be unveiling our 2024 Policy Agenda, so come and learn about what legislation we will be working to advance next year - and how you can help. Also, we will have a special presentation on sanitation from our Membership Planning Committee. And you will have an opportunity to learn more about - and get a guided tour of - our new online resource for helping Manhattan residents, organizations, and small businesses learn about low and no-cost renewable energy upgrades, which improve indoor air quality and reduce utility costs, as well as how to find clean energy jobs.
Largest-Ever State Investment in Renewable Energy is Moving Forward
Good news! Governor Hochul announced this week a new massive investment in renewable energy and green-energy jobs. Awards have been given to 3 offshore wind and 22 land-based renewable energy projects that will deliver 12% of New York’s electricity needs once completed and will help the state progress toward the goal of 70% statewide renewable energy sources by 2030. We are celebrating and also watching closely to make sure this investment is done equitably and benefits all our communities.
WE ACT En Español:Upcoming Spanish Language Events
WE ACT 101 with the Dominican Women Development Center
Thursday, November 2, 3 pm at 2340 Amsterdam Ave
WE ACT is increasing our outreach and organizing among the Spanish-speaking communities Uptown. Join our bilingual organizing team and the Dominican Women Development Center for a bilingual community presentation geared toward Spanish speakers on WE ACT, our work, and how you can get involved.
WE ACT 101 with Manny De Los Santos
Tuesday, November 14, 6pm at 504 West 158th Street
Our bilingual organizing team and NY State Assembly Member Manny De Los Santos will also hold a bilingual community presentation geared toward Spanish speakers on WE ACT, our work, and how you can get involved.
Get Involved: Join a WE ACT Working Group!
Workforce Development Working Group Tuesday, November 7, 6 - 7:45 pm
Looking for a Green Career? Our Worker Training Working Group will be hosting a Career Fair on Nov. 7 at 6 pm for Northern Manhattan residents interested in learning about green careers. We will also have a representative from District Council 9 Union on-hand to discuss the benefits of joining a union.
Healthy Homes Working Group
Tuesday, November 14, 6pm
Join the next Healthy Homes Working Group Meeting to provide your input on how to protect community members from lead exposure in their homes. They will be joined by a representative from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Solar Uptown Now: Engineering News Record profiled Solar Uptown Now Services, a solar workers cooperative formed by graduates of our Workforce Development program. This great article features multiple quotes from Charles Callaway.
National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week: As part of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, Lonnie Portis was quoted in a New York Daily News article on the vacancy of the City's Lead Czar.
Peggy Shepard Honored:Yahoo Finance noted that Peggy Shepard was honored at the New York Academy of Medicine 2023 Gala.
Help Us Monitor Air Quality in Manhattan
Are you a Manhattan resident interested in helping us measure air quality in our neighborhoods? Consider becoming an air monitor volunteer with WE ACT's new Community Air Monitoring Program (CAMP). This program is meant to increase access to air quality monitoring and data for community members, especially those living in Northern Manhattan. By participating in CAMP, you will receive:
Access to hyperlocal air quality data
Free training about air quality monitoring and data analysis
Participants who complete the program will have the opportunity to work with up to two air sensors and assist with analysis for data collected from these sensors for a minimum one year commitment. All Manhattan residents are welcome to apply, but we are especially looking for volunteers to monitor air quality in Washington Heights, Inwood, and West Harlem.
The data collected from this program will help us assess the impact of congestion pricing on air quality Uptown as well as measure the relationship between outdoor and indoor air quality.
Got Opinions About Your Experience as a New Yorker? Of Course You Do!
Please take some time to share your experiences in these quick surveys to help us influence policy in New York and get Uptown perspectives in front of policymakers!
Communities Speak Survey On Life in New York City
WE ACT has teamed up with Communities Speak to gather data on what living in New York City is really like. Communities Speak collects information on the experiences of New Yorkers across the five boroughs that is shared with city policymakers and helps make sure that policy in our city is made with the needs of our community in mind. Take the survey here.
Energy Allies Survey on the Statewide Utilities and Energy
Energy Allies is seeking community insight from average New Yorkers about their experience with the state's energy system. The information collected from this survey will be instrumental in tailoring a specialized energy justice training program for New York, addressing knowledge gaps, and fostering increased community engagement within the energy sector. Plus, everyone who completes the survey will entered to win $50! Take the survey here.
Survey on Transportation in New York State
Take this 2-minute survey and share your thoughts with the New York State Department of Transportation on how the transportation system in New York is working for you. Take the survey here.
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 if you qualify and how this program can save you money on your energy bills.
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 and our team will reach out to you!
WE ACT at Sustainability & Energy Networking Lunch
Pamela Stewart-Martinez and Eliza Klein will be table leaders at a BE-Ex’s Women in Sustainability & Energy networking lunch at 12 pm on Thursday, November 2. There is a cost associated with it, but it's a good way to network with others in the sustainability and energy sectors!
Listen to Uptown Chats Podcast
If you haven’t listed to the latest Uptown Chats, the clock is ticking! Lonnie and Jaron celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with special guests City Councilmember Carmen De La Rosa, Marileidy Pimentel, and Manny Salgado. On Monday we will be rolling out a new episode on the election and civic engagement, so get your ears ready for that one as well. And in the meantime, we encourage you to take our Uptown Chats survey to help Lonnie and Jaron plan next year’s episodes. Follow Uptown Chats on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, or stream directly from Castos.
Sign Up for the UWSR Eco Letter
Looking for more environmental news and events around the neighborhood? Upper West Side Recycling's Eco Letter email newsletter is a great resource for information on recycling, waste prevention, renewable energy, energy conservation, climate change, urban greening, water pollution, and waste reduction.
