Plus Upcoming Candidates Forums, News Highlights, and More!

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TONIGHT: Free Documentary Film Screening & Panel Discussion

Join us for another screening of Cooked: Survival by Zip Code ([link removed]) , a documentary on the deadly 1995 Chicago heatwave by filmmaker Judith Helfand. Caleb Smith will moderate a panel discussion featuring the 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. The event will be April 26 at the Maysles Documentary Center at 343 Malcolm X Boulevard (between West 127th & 128th Streets). We'll kick-off with a reception at 6 pm, followed by the film at 7 pm, and then the panel.

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SUNDAY: Join Our Earth Day 5K Fun Run Fundraiser

It’s not too late to register for our annual 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. Join us on Randall’s Island at 8:30 am this Sunday, April 28. You can run or walk, and enter as an individual or as a team. And if you can’t join us this weekend, please consider making a donation ([link removed]) to support our work.

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Clean Air and Climate Webinar

As part of our TCTAC program ([link removed]) , Dr. Micaela Martinez will be hosting a webinar ([link removed]) on Tuesday, April 30 from 6 - 7 pm to provide an introduction to environmental justice, environmental health, climate change, and health disparities for those interested in advocacy work. We will explore the impacts of climate change on human health and the link between climate change and air pollution. We will also cover health disparities related to climate and pollution.
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RESCHEDULED: Senate District 31 & Assembly District 71 Candidates Forum

We have pushed back our virtual Candidate’s Forum to introduce you to all the candidates running for New York State Senate District 31 and Assembly District 71 from May 2 to Thursday, May 16 at 6:30 pm via Zoom.
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TAKE ACTION: Demand the City Fund Environmental Justice in the 2025 Budget

The climate crisis and other environmental hazards have proven tremendously costly for New York City, in terms of lives and livelihoods as well as damage to infrastructure and the communities where we live. There is an urgent need ([link removed]) to make substantial, strategic investments in climate and environmental issues across New York City agencies to mitigate future impacts of the climate crisis and prevent environmental racism.

We are asking that the City Council and Mayor Adams include the following in the Fiscal Year 2025 Adopted Budget:
* $1 million to the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice (MOCEJ)
* $7 million per year in funding for community composting operations
* 1% of the total city operating budget to the Department of Parks and Recreation to make parks – which not only offer opportunities for recreation but also serve a vital role in address the impacts of extreme heat – safer, cleaner, and more resilient
* $600 million to do deep retrofits and electrify 500 school buildings by 2030 and achieve a net zero emissions school district by 2040.
* $7 million investment and increased enforcement to transition our buildings and homes off of fossil fuels

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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!

I Want to Help! ([link removed])

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APPLY TODAY: Cooling Assistance Helps Eligible Households Buy and Install an Air Conditioner or Fan

Click here ([link removed]) to see if you are eligible for financial support to cover the cost and installation of an air conditioner or fan in your home. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, so act today because funding for this program has run out in July the last two years!

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WE ACT Weighs-In on EPA Power Plant Emissions Standards

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its rules to reduce emissions from power plants, and we welcome the fact that the new standards are projected to reduce 1.38 billion metric tons of carbon pollution ([link removed].) overall through 2047. However, while the agency has agreed to abandon hydrogen as a clearly flawed alternative to emission reduction, the inclusion of carbon capture is deeply concerning as it would actually increase our pollution burden, expand fossil fuel reliance or infrastructure, and exacerbate health risks that disproportionately impact environmental justice communities. Read the statement from environmental justice leaders here ([link removed]) , and from the Clean Air for
the Long Haul coalition here ([link removed]) .
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* Peggy Shepard on CBS Earth Day Special: CBS New York aired an Earth Day special ([link removed]) highlighting local challenges and the innovative organizations working to address them. WE ACT was featured (at the 10:30) mark, with a clip of Peggy Shepard and a look at our new Environmental Justice Center. ([link removed])
* Climate Power Players: Peggy Shepard was featured among the 2024 PoliticsNY & amNY ([link removed]) Metro Power Players in Climate, Energy, & Sustainability - an annual listing of leaders dedicated to protecting the environment and innovating positive environmental change. Click here ([link removed]) to see her profile.
* Peggy Shepard Honored for Earth Day: Essence Magazine ([link removed]) also profiled five Black women environmental leaders for Earth Day, including Peggy Shepard. The story also appeared on MSN via TANTV. ([link removed])
* Shoutout in Oprah Daily: An excerpt from Lessons for Survival ([link removed]) , a new book by Emily Raboteau ([link removed]) , appeared in Oprah Daily ([link removed]) . The City College professor (and WE ACT member) writes about finding nature in New York City and connection in a changing climate, including her Northern Manhattan community - giving WE ACT a shout-out as she discusses the environmental disparities we face.
* More Shoutouts: Speaking of shout-outs from our members, Paola Garcia, a Green Roof Professional, mentioned us in Living Architecture Monitor ([link removed]) , saying she "started attending their events last year and have become increasingly impressed by their organization and programming. I recently joined them on two lobbying trips to Albany." And Corbin Hill Food Project Volunteer Julio López Torres told Columbia Neighbors ([link removed]) that he also volunteers for WE ACT.

Peggy Shepard with Dr. Jalonne L. White-Newsome (left), Federal Chief Environmental Justice Officer at The White House Council on Environmental Quality and former WE ACT Director of Federal Policy. They both delivered keynote addresses at Headlines and Footnotes: Environmental Justice in a Time of Planetary Crisis, a day-long summit hosted by Wake Forest University’s Environmental & Epistemic Justice Initiative on Wednesday, April 24.

We had a beautiful ceremony last weekend to unveil the new Cecil Corbin-Mark Way at Convent Avenue and W. 143rd Street. We were joined by a crowd of Cecil's family, friends, and colleagues, many of whom shared their memories of Cecil's kindness, adventurous spirit, and hard work for environmental justice. Watch the recording ([link removed]) of the event and head over to Hamilton Heights to see the sign for yourself!

Columbia students presented their capstone research findings and proposals at our Community Air Monitoring Program (CAMP) meeting this week. The students are working with our program to study the potential effects of the City's congestion pricing program on air pollution uptown, which we'll be closely monitoring as it takes effect this year.

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New Uptown Chats: Celebrate Earth Day and Parks

In celebration of Earth Day, Lonnie and Jaron are joined by Stephanie Caban from Riverside Park Conservancy ([link removed]) for a special Earth Day episode of Uptown Chats exploring why parks are so important for environmental justice.
Listen Here! ([link removed])
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Run, Jaron, Run

Many of you are joining and supporting our 5K fundraiser ([link removed]) on Sunday, but here's a story that shows how important a 5K fundraiser can be in your own journey to a healthier lifestyle. Jaron Burke ran his first 5K back in 2012 to raise funds to fight food insecurity in his community. Now he is training for his first marathon, the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon, and he will be running to raise funds for the incredible work of the Riverside Park Conservancy (listen to our podcast ([link removed]) to learn about the work they are doing). Click here ([link removed]) if you'd like to support Jaron's fundraising efforts for the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon - and support our friends at the Riverside Park Conservancy!
Support Jaron ([link removed])
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