Come Meet the Candidates Running for New York State Assembly District 68 on Saturday Live from the MNN Studio in East Harlem
Join us at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 13 for our Candidate’s Forum for New York State Assembly District 68, which covers East Harlem, a few pockets of Central Harlem, and all of Randall’s Island. We have invited all the candidates running for this office and will be hosting this, as part of our April Membership Meeting, at the Manhattan Neighborhood Network El Barrio Firehouse Community Media Center, which is located at 175 East 104th Street (between Lexington & Third Avenues).
Why are we having this at the Manhattan Neighborhood Network El Barrio Firehouse Community Media Center (MNN) in East Harlem? For starters, it’s located in District 68. But also because our friends at MNN are recording it to broadcast on their television channels (we’ll let you know where and when once it has been edited). MNN operates two state-of-the-art emerging media production and education and runs Manhattan's public access TV channels, reaching some 400,000 cable subscribers in the borough. MNN and MNN-facilitated productions are also available in more than 29 states and in countries such as the Philippines and the Dominican Republic through live streams and online archives.
MNN produces the cable and digital channel NYXT.nyc, presented in partnership with more than 100 Manhattan community-based organizations, which shines a spotlight on groups that are working to connect people and build neighborhoods. NYXT.nyc is available on Spectrum 1992, FiOS 38, and online at nyxt.nyc. In addition, MNN offers MNN-FSTV, a partnership with independent media network Free Speech TV. MNN FSTV is available on Spectrum 1301 and FiOS 39.
And one of the reasons we love MNN is the unique and valuable service they provide our community. Beyond the broadcasts, they are a media learning, production, and distribution hub that promotes creative expression, independent voices, and community engagement. MNN’s NYC Center for Media Education offers education and training in traditional and virtual video production, emerging media, editing, podcasting, and broadcasting. By providing the tools and training, the center helps cultivate a diverse collective of change-makers and storytellers who will level the playing field in media production.
Annie Carforo on Energy Justice Panel
On Sunday, April 14, Annie Carforo will participate in a panel discussion on achieving energy justice in New York State as part of the New Directions in Environmental Law conference, which runs from April 12-14. Annie’s panel will be in-person at 10:15 AM at the NYU Law School, located at 40 Washington Square South. Fellow panelists include PULP Staff Attorney Andrew Saavedra and Earthjustice Senior Attorney Meagan Burton, with Seton Hall Professor Heather Payne as moderator. Learn more and RSVP here.
Celebrate Earth Day by Lobbying for Environmental Justice Legislation
Join WE ACT and our colleagues for an Earth Day Lobby Day as we head to Albany on Tuesday, 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 have a Zoom prep meeting on April 15 from 6:00-7:00 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. If you join us, 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 6:00 AM on April 16. We will have bagels and coffee before boarding the bus to Albany for the day, returning to our office around 6:00 PM. RSVP Here
Cooked: Survival by Zip Code Free Harlem Documentary Film Screenings & Discussions
WE ACT is involved in two free screenings of Cooked: Survival by Zip Code, a documentary on the deadly 1995 Chicago heatwave by filmmaker Judith Helfand. On Wednesday, April 17, Caleb Smith will participate in a discussion with filmmaker Judith Helfand and JCC Rabbi in Residence Rabbi Mira Rivera at the 6:30-8:30 PM screening event at the JCC Harlem, located at 318 West 118th Street. On Friday, April 26th, we will have our own free screening, at which Caleb will moderate a panel discussion featuring Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice Executive Director Elijah Hutchinson; South Bronx Unite’s Clean Air Project Organizer Leslie Vasquez; and Columbia Mailman Professor & NRDC Senior Scientist Kim Knowlton, Ph.D. This will be at the Maysles Documentary Center, located at 343 Malcolm X Boulevard (between West 127th & 128th Streets). It will kick-off with a reception at 6:00 PM, followed by the film at 7:00 PM, and then the panel. Seating is limited so be sure to RSVP: April 17 at JCC or April 26 at Maysles.
NYAM's How to Blow Up a Pipeline Feature Film Screening & Discussion
Briana Carbajal will participate in a discussion on climate activism following the New York Academy of Medicine’s (1216 Fifth Avenue, at the corner of East 103rd Street) free screening of the feature film How to Blow Up a Pipeline on Thursday, April 18 from 6:00-8:30 PM. RSVP Here
East Harlem Earth Day Conference
WE ACT will be participating in Community Board 11’s annual East Harlem Earth Day Conference at the Museum of the City of New York from 11:00 AM-3:00 PM on Friday, April 19 at 1220 Fifth Avenue (between East 103rd & 104th Streets).
Cecil Corbin-Mark Street Naming Ceremony
Join us on Saturday, April 20 for a special ceremony unveiling Cecil Corbin-Mark Way. 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 11:00 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.
Inwood Hill Park Earth Day Festival
WE ACT will also be attending the Friends of Inwood Hill Park’s Annual Earth Day Festival from 10:00 AM-5:00 PM on Saturday, April 20 in Inwood Hill Park (at the Seaman Avenue & Isham Street entrance). Learn more and RSVP here.
As what we expect will be a long, hot summer approaches, we will be featuring a new section – the Hot Box – throughout the Cooling Season to provide you with useful news and information on handling extreme heat.
It’s important to take stock of the year so far because the tone has already been set. Last year was the hottest year ever, and we can’t let our guards down now. This year, New York City witnessed the end of a 700+ day period without snow, and globally, last month was the hottest March on record.
What does this mean? It’s time to get ready for a warmer-than-usual spring. Here are some key actions you should consider to be prepared:
1. Check Your LIHEAP Eligibility. Applications for the ACCESS HRA Cooling Benefit open April 15th this year. Apply early as funds have run out by early July the past two years!
2. Sign Up for NotifyNYC. This notification system is available via text, email, or app is your direct line to city advisories about extreme heat, flooding, and other local emergencies. As we continue the fight for more transparent communication and expanded access to Cooling Centers, this is your best tool to know when and where they open during heat emergencies. Create an account here or visit their FAQ page for more information.
3. Make Your Home as Energy Efficient as Possible. Cooling in the summer can be expensive! But here are some lower cost interventions you can adapt to make your cooling devices lower temperatures faster and consume less energy. Check out our Manhattan Clean Energy Hub to get assistance accessing state funded energy assistance programs as well.
Through the remainder of the cooling season, we will be sharing news, events, and resources to help you beat the heat!
Help Us Survey Northern Manhattan for Community Land Trust Opportunities
We are supporting the growth and expansion of Community Land Trusts (CLTs) in Northern Manhattan. CLTs are nonprofit organizations governed by community residents that provide lasting community assets like commercial spaces for local businesses, affordable rental and cooperative housing, and urban green spaces for the benefit of all. To achieve this, we need to know what opportunities exist. Join WE ACT as we survey every block uptown for lots that could be acquired and developed by a CLT. Volunteers will receive training and stipends for their time. Spots are limited, so sign up today!
Calling for Greater Funding of EPA for Environmental Justice
To kick-off Earth Month, WE ACT and more than 130 other organizations joined together to write to Congressional appropriators to advocate for high topline funding levels for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in particular their environmental justice investments, in fiscal year 2025 Appropriations. After cuts to environmental funding in the 2024 appropriations bills, this call from dozens of organizations emphasizes the need to invest in climate mitigation, public health, and the environment. Read the statement here.
Manny Salgado was featured in a Grist story about the Biden administration’s environmental justice scorecard, explaining that it does not necessarily reflect the major steps the administration has taken to advance environmental justice: “It’s an undeniable fact that this administration has done more for environmental justice than any of the previous administrations.”
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 at 8:00 AM 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. Learn more here.
The Planet Village: A New Children's Book
For those of you captivated by last week’s solar eclipse, 6-year-old Lior from Abuja, Nigeria has written a book, The Planet Village, for children aged 4-12 years-old. It takes young readers on an adventure through the planets of our solar system, igniting their curiosity and imagination. Something to consider if you want to spark that curiosity in a child you know. Click here.
