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. And never pass up an opportunity to vote!
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 and blog post 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.
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).
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/A.6584A), the Beauty Justice Bill (S.4265/A.6969), 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 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.
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, and RSVP for the outdoor ceremony as well as for the indoor reception afterwards.
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/A.6969). If passed, this critical bill would ban the sale of products in New York State that contain many dangerous chemicals.
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, The Refig, and Each Element.
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 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 in Albany on April 16!
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 and get a free WE ACT membership! And If you can’t join us, please consider making a donation to support our work.
NY HEAT Act: Sonal Jessel was quoted in the New York Times, 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 and aggregators.
Gas Stoves: Peggy Shepard and Annie Carforo were quoted in another Cool Down article about the indoor air pollution produced by gas stoves, citing our Out of Gas pilot program.
EPA Emissions Rules:Harlem World 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 also shared our announcement of the Cecil Corbin-Mark Street Naming Ceremony on April 20. Learn more and RSVP for the event here.
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, 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.
