Celebrate Earth Day with Our Cecil Corbin-Mark Street Naming Ceremony Sign Unveiling & Reception on April 20th
Join us on Saturday, April 20th from 11:00 AM-12:00 PM outdoors at the intersection of Convent Avenue and West 143rd Street for a special ceremony unveiling the Cecil Corbin-Mark Street Sign. RSVP for the Unveiling Ceremony
Immediately following the unveiling, we will have an indoor reception from 12:00-2:00 PM at Burger & Shake Co., located at 1625 Amsterdam Ave (between 140th & 141st Streets). RSVP for the Reception
Cecil Corbin-Mark was the Deputy Director and Director of Policy Initiatives at WE ACT for Environmental Justice when he passed away on October 15, 2020 at the age of 51. He helped develop and pass numerous environmental health related bills in New York City and New York State, provided overall policy guidance to WE ACT’s New York program staff, managed WE ACT’s Federal Policy Office in Washington, DC and served as an informal mentor to aspiring environmental justice advocates across the country – a legacy which is celebrated today by the Cecil Corbin-Mark Fellowship for Environmental Justice Leadership program.
Cecil was 25 years-old when he joined WE ACT, becoming the first paid staff person hired by the Harlem-based volunteer group when it became a formal nonprofit organization. Over the following 26 years, Cecil grew to be one of the leading figures in the environmental justice movement – both well-known and highly respected.
He was also a life-long resident of Hamilton Heights in Harlem, New York, where his family has lived for six decades. That is why we have worked with New York City Council Member Shaun Abreu to have the street near his home named in his honor. And many thanks to Council Member Abreu, who has been instrumental in making this happen.
Become a Cecil Corbin-Mark Fellow Applications Due March 31st
One way we have been honoring the legacy of the late Cecil Corbin-Mark is through the Cecil Corbin-Mark Fellowship for Environmental Justice Leadership. It is a unique opportunity for young people to continue to follow in Cecil’s footsteps, as it helps prepare them to become our next generation of environmental justice leaders. We are close to wrapping up the second year of this fellowship, and you can read about the experience of all four of our fellows to date in this blog post. You can also watch Fellow Tali Natter’s video on what she has gained from the experience.
This year we are inviting applicants to apply for a digital marketing fellowship and a civic engagement and community organizing fellowship. The year-long paid fellowship will begin in June, but applications are due on March 31st!
