Plus Upcoming Events, Advocacy Days, & More!

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Be Sure to Vote in New York’s 2024 Presidential Primary

New York’s 2024 Presidential Primary Election is underway! Have you voted? You can vote early – today and tomorrow – or on Election Day, which is April 2. You can find your polling site and other important information here ([link removed]) . And never pass up an opportunity to vote!
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Become a Cecil Corbin-Mark Fellow: Apply by March 31

Applications for the Cecil Corbin-Mark Fellowship for Environmental Justice Leadership are open through March 31! Check out this video testimonial ([link removed]) and blog post ([link removed]) to hear first-hand from our current fellows about what the fellowship is like!

The Fellowship 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. It 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.
Apply Today! ([link removed])

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April Membership Meeting: Assembly District 68 Candidates Forum

Come to our April Membership Meeting on Saturday, April 13 and meet the candidates running for New York State Assembly District 68, which covers East Harlem, a few pockets of Central Harlem, and all of Randall's Island. The meeting will begin at 10 am at the New Heights Academy Charter School, which is located at 1818 Amsterdam Avenue (look for the signs between 150th and 151st Streets).

RSVP ([link removed])

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Celebrate Earth Month with Our Albany Advocacy Day

Join WE ACT and our colleagues for an Earth Day Lobby Day as we head to Albany on April 16 to advocate for a variety of environmental justice legislation, including the Enhanced Public Participation Plan (S.2510A ([link removed]) /A.6584A ([link removed]) ), the Beauty Justice Bill (S.4265 ([link removed]) /A.6969 ([link removed]) ), and the Lead Paint Right to Know Act.

We will be taking a bus up to Albany and scheduling meetings with key state legislators to explain to them why this environmental justice legislation is critical for the health of our communities. For those who sign-up to attend, we will do a Zoom prep meeting on April 15 from 6 - 7 pm to explain the details of the bills, provide tips on talking to legislators, and answer any questions you may have. In the meantime, feel free to watch this brief video ([link removed]) showing what you can expect on one of our Albany trips.

We will meet at WE ACT’s office (on the Second Floor of 1854 Amsterdam Avenue, which is at the corner of 152nd Street) at 6 am on April 16. We will have bagels and coffee before boarding the bus to Albany for the day, returning to our office around 6 pm.

Sign Up Here ([link removed])
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Come to the Unveiling of Cecil Corbin Mark Street!

Join us on Saturday, April 20 for a special ceremony unveiling Cecil Corbin-Mark Street. Yes, thanks to the help of New York City Councilmember Shaun Abreu, Cecil will have a street named after him! We will gather on Saturday, April 20 at 11 am for the ceremony at the corner of West 143rd Street and Convent Avenue. Get all the details ([link removed]) , and RSVP for the outdoor ceremony ([link removed]) as well as for the indoor reception ([link removed]) afterwards.

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Beauty Justice Fairs Raise Support to Get Toxins Out of Our Products

Thank you to everyone who turned out to our Beauty Justice Fairs in New York City and Buffalo last week! We were raising awareness of the toxic chemicals found in many of our beauty and personal care products, particularly those marketed at people of color, and were organizing support for the Beauty Justice Act (S.4265 ([link removed]) /A.6969 ([link removed]) ). If passed, this critical bill would ban the sale of products in New York State that contain many dangerous chemicals.

Take Action for Beauty Justice ([link removed])

Fairgoers also had the chance to win clean product giveaways, make their own DIY products, and shop for clean cosmetics from local NYC-based and Black-woman owned businesses including BLK Alchemy ([link removed]) , The Refig ([link removed]) , and Each Element ([link removed]) .

And of course, everyone at the Fairs helped us advocate for the Beauty Justice Act by giving testimonials, signing our petition, and sending postcards to Governor Hochul and Assembly Speaker Heastie. You can also help us advocate for this important bill by sending a letter ([link removed]) to your New York State representatives telling them that you want clean and safe products sold in New York stores and joining us to push for this bill during our Earth Day Advocacy Day ([link removed]) in Albany on April 16!

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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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* NY HEAT Act: Sonal Jessel was quoted in the New York Times ([link removed]) , emphasizing the importance of capping energy bills as part of the NY HEAT Act. The article was also picked up by a number of other news outlets ([link removed]) and aggregators ([link removed]) .
* Gas Stoves: Peggy Shepard and Annie Carforo were quoted in another Cool Down ([link removed]) article about the indoor air pollution produced by gas stoves, citing our Out of Gas pilot program ([link removed]) .
* EPA Emissions Rules: Harlem World ([link removed]) shared our statement, as part of the Clean Air for the Long Haul coalition, in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s updated rule on emissions standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles.
* Cecil Street Naming: Harlem World ([link removed]) also shared our announcement of the Cecil Corbin-Mark Street Naming Ceremony on April 20. Learn more and RSVP for the event here ([link removed]) .

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Uptown Chats: Learn About the Elections & the Role Women Played in the Fight for Voting Rights

With the first of New York’s three elections this year underway ([link removed]) , Lonnie and Jaron are joined by Tyisha Smalls, WE ACT’s Community Organizing Coordinator, to chat about what to expect in New York’s 2024 Presidential Primary Election and highlight the role that women have played in protecting the right to vote. Early voting for the primary runs through March 30, with Election Day on April 2.
Listen Here! ([link removed])
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