Plus Upcoming Events, Advocacy Days, & More!

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Advocate, Celebrate, and Shop for Nontoxic Beauty Products Next Week!

Get ready for our Beauty Justice Fairs happening next week to advocate for the Beauty Justice Act (S.4265 ([link removed]) /A.6969 ([link removed]) )! We are working hard to pass this bill which will ban the most dangerous toxic chemicals from cosmetics and other personal care products.

At these festive fairs, you'll learn about the toxic chemicals found in everyday products that we use and how you can take direct action to get these harmful toxic chemicals out of our stuff. You'll also have a chance to win clean beauty products and free clean-beauty makeovers! In addition to great food and drinks, you can peruse the nontoxic products of local small businesses, and you will get a chance to meet and speak with your New York State representatives fighting for this bill.
* New York City Beauty Justice Fair
Tuesday, March 19, 5 - 8 pm
NAC Ballroom, North Academic Center ([link removed]) building on the City College of New York’s Harlem campus: 160 Convent Avenue
RSVP ([link removed]) & download the flyer ([link removed]) to share with friends!
* Buffalo Beauty Justice Fair
Thursday, March 21, 12 - 3 pm
Buffalo History Museum: 1 Museum Court, Buffalo
RSVP ([link removed]) & download the flyer ([link removed]) to share with friends!

You can also take direct action today to support the Beauty Justice Bill by sending a letter ([link removed]) to your representative!

Turning Up the Heat on NY HEAT

Our members and staff were in Albany with dozens of organizations and elected leaders from across New York on Wednesday, calling on Assembly Speaker Heastie and Governor Hochul to include the full NY HEAT bill in the final budget. If passed (and not watered down), this critical bill will lower energy bills for low- to moderate-income, help transition to clean energy, and stop subsidizing fossil fuels infrastructure.

The New York State Senate and Assembly each released their budget proposals this week. We issued a statement ([link removed]) celebrating the fact that the New York State Senate included the NY HEAT Act in their one-house budget and admonished the State Assembly for offering a far weaker approach to addressing energy affordability. We also issued a statement ([link removed]) commending both houses for including funding to expand New York City's free bus pilot program

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Join Us at the CB9 Public Health Forum

WE ACT will be on-hand at Community Board 9 ([link removed]) ’s Public Health Forum on Saturday, March 16 from 11 am - 3 pm at the Forum at Columbia University, which is located at 601 West 125th Street (at the corner of 125th & Broadway). Come by and learn how to improve the environmental health of our community!

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Join Us for Our Advocacy Days in Albany!

Many thanks to everyone who joined us for this advocacy day! The legislative session is in full swing and there are plenty of opportunities to help us champion important environmental justice bills. Check out this video ([link removed]) to see what to expect!
* March 19 - Housing Justice for All: ([link removed]) Help us advocate for the Housing Justice for All platform which includes several bills to increase tenant rights and stop rent increases and evictions.
* March 27 - Climate Justice Education ([link removed]) : Join the Climate Resilience Education Task Force ([link removed]) to advocate for climate justice education ([link removed]) legislation to establish a course of instruction and learning expectations on climate education in all of the New York State’s public elementary and secondary schools.
* April 16 - Earth Day: ([link removed]) Celebrate Earth Day by advocating for a variety of environmental justice legislation including the Enhanced Public Participation Plan, the Beauty Justice Bill, and the Lead Paint Right to Know Act.
* May 21 - Childhood Lead Poisoning: ([link removed]) Help us advocate for the prevention of childhood lead poisoning.

Food and transportation between New York City and Albany are always provided along with quick training to help you prepare to advocate!

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Lonnie Portis on Equitable and Clean Transportation Panel

Transportation is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in New York City, and both a climate and a public health issue. As New York City undertakes the clean energy transition, what infrastructure is needed to support the transition to clean transportation? Join the NY League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, Con Edison, and WE ACT for Environmental Justice for Electrifying New York: Expanding Equity and Clean Transportation, a panel discussion on Wednesday, March 18 from 5 - 6:30 pm at Columbia University’s Faculty House (64 Morningside Drive, between 116th & 118th Streets). The event is free to the public and light food and drink will be provided.

RSVP ([link removed])

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Micaela Martinez on Public Health Career Path Panels

Dr. Micaela Martinez will participate in two panel discussions at CUNY’s Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy’s symposium on public health innovation and partnership on Tuesday, March 26. The symposium, Public Health Everywhere: Nontraditional Career Paths, will run from 10 am - 3:30 pm at CUNY’s School of Public Health & Health Policy’s campus, located at 55 West 125th Street. The event is free and will be a great opportunity to discover diverse career paths in public health and law, the arts, media, the environment, advocacy, and entrepreneurship. Micaela will be part of the opening keynote panel at 10 am and the public health advocacy panel at 11:10 am.

Register Here ([link removed])
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Join Peggy Shepard at Climate Reality Project’s Leadership Conference

Peggy Shepard was quoted in a Gothamist article ([link removed]) about the upcoming Climate Reality Project’s Leadership Conference at the Javits Center on April 12-14. Peggy will be speaking about “false solutions” on two back-to-back panels beginning at 1:30 pm on Saturday, April 13. The conference is free and open to all, and will provide an opportunity to learn how to become more active in the fight to address the climate crisis. Learn more and RSVP ([link removed]) by March 24.
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Become a Cecil Corbin-Mark Fellow

Applications for the Cecil Corbin-Mark Fellowship for Environmental Justice Leadership are now open! This will be our third year of the program, which honors the legacy of the late Cecil Corbin-Mark, our former Deputy Director and Director of Policy Initiatives who was a well-known and highly respected leader in the movement and served as an informal mentor to aspiring environmental justice advocates across the country. The Fellowship is a unique opportunity for young people to continue to follow in Cecil’s footsteps by preparing them to become the next generation of environmental justice leaders. The year-long paid fellowship will begin in June but applications are due on March 31. This year we will be inviting applicants to apply for a digital marketing fellowship and a civic engagement and community organizing fellowship. Learn more and apply here ([link removed]) . And stay tuned for an exciting celebration of Cecil Corbin-Mark around Earth Day!
Apply Here ([link removed])
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Become a WE ACT Membership Leader

Are you a WE ACT Member looking to get more involved or take a leadership role at WE ACT? Apply to join our Membership Planning Committee, which serves a leadership role in our Membership ([link removed]) . Consisting of eight members and one vision member, the committee functions as a conduit between our members and staff. We are now accepting applications for the 2024-2026 term. You have to be current on your membership dues, regularly attend Membership Meetings (like the one tomorrow), and be actively engaged with our organization. Check out some testimonials ([link removed]) from current members on what you can expect and then fill out an application ([link removed]) . And if you have questions, please contact Tyisha Smalls at [email protected].
Apply Here ([link removed])
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Get Ready for Our Earth Day 5K Fun Run!

Come celebrate Earth Day, help raise funds for WE ACT, and run or walk for a healthier, greener community at our annual Earth Day 5K fundraiser. We will be holding the fun run at Randall’s Island on Sunday, April 28. You can run or walk, and enter as an individual or as a team. Sign up today ([link removed]) and get a free WE ACT membership! And If you can’t join us, please consider making a donation ([link removed]) to support our work.
Register Here ([link removed])

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* EPA Rules: Peggy Shepard was quoted in an E&E News ([link removed]) article explaining why environmental justice advocates supported the delaying of the EPA’s rules for natural gas power plants and what they hope to see when the agency reexamines those rules.
* PSC Nominees: Sonal Jessel was one of the leaders quoted in Politico ([link removed]) about the Governor’s nominations for the Public Service Commission, showing our support for the candidates.
* TCTAC: Sarah Salem was quoted in a Waste Drive ([link removed]) article on the National Recycling Congress, uplifting our TCTAC ([link removed]) work to assist community-based organizations and municipalities in securing federal funding for environmental justice initiatives.
* NY HEAT Act: Harlem World Magazine ([link removed]) shared our statement in response to the one-house budgets, praising the New York State Senate for including the NY HEAT Act and admonishing the Assembly for failing to do so.
* Beauty Justice Fairs: Harlem World ([link removed]) also featured our upcoming Beauty Justice Fairs. Learn more about the New York City event on March 19 here ([link removed]) .

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New Uptown Chats: The Rent is Too Damn High!

The rent is too damn high – and so are our energy bills! Jaron and Lonnie talk to WE ACT’s Climate Justice Campaign Manager Annie Carforo about our new campaign, Our Homes Under Our Control ([link removed]) , and the intersection of environmental justice and housing justice in the newest episode of Uptown Chats podcast.

Listen Here ([link removed])
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Participate in Columbia’s Indoor Air Temperature Study

Extreme heat is the deadliest impact of climate change, and it disproportionately harms people of color. To better understand how extreme heat – and extreme cold – are impacting our indoor environments, researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health have launched the HEATE (Heat Exposure And Temperature Equity) Project, and are currently looking for residents of apartment buildings to participate in this important study. Participants will have two small temperature sensors installed in their home to record indoor air temperatures from this winter season until the end of summer 2024. Each household will be compensated $50 for their participation, and you must be 18 or older to take part. Follow this link ([link removed]) to participate, or reach out to Columbia’s Robbie M. Parks at [email protected] with questions.
I Want to Participate! ([link removed])

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Take This Survey on Cooling Centers & Extreme Heat in Northern Manhattan

Fill out this survey ([link removed]) on cooling centers and extreme heat! The summer of 2023 was the hottest one on record, and it's important that we do everything we can to protect ourselves and others. An undergraduate senior thesis project at Barnard College is collecting responses to better understand how cooling centers can increase access to air conditioning and help protect heat-vulnerable communities, as well as what residents want and need from policymakers. Overall, this project aims to build on already existing research and work done to create actionable recommendations to shape policy and planning initiatives to improve cooling centers and other heat-related projects.

Take the Survey ([link removed])
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