Learn about our May Membership Meeting, Climate Justice Education Panel, Working Group Meetings, Latest News Coverage & Blog Posts, and more!

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May Membership Meeting

Saturday, May 9th
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Join us Saturday, May 9 at 11:00 AM for our first online Membership Meeting! We will discuss the role of environmental racism in contributing to the higher COVID-19 mortality rates in our community, along with ways we can protect, advocate on behalf of, and organize New York City’s most vulnerable. And we will be joined by a very special guest, New York City Council Member Carlina Rivera, who is the Chair of the Committee on Hospitals.

This meeting will be held via Zoom. Access information will be sent to everyone who registers ([link removed]) before the event. So please RSVP ([link removed]) in advance and join us! RSVP Here ([link removed])

Zoom Training for Members
If you are not familiar with Zoom, we'll be holding a special Zoom training for our members at 7:00 PM on Thursday, May 7. RSVP Here ([link removed])

If you have questions, contact Marquis Jenkins at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Questions%20About%20Our%20Zoom%20Meeting) or 646-341-2588.

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Uptown Chats: Climate Justice Education Panel

Tuesday, May 12th
Time: 6:30 - 7:30 PM

Join us Tuesday, May 12 at 6:00 PM for the first online installment of our annual Uptown Chats speaker series. Our panel of experts will speak and answer your questions about climate justice education in New York:

Meredith McDermott, Director of Sustainability, NYC Department of Education
Jared Fox, Environmental and Climate Science teacher, Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School (WHEELS)
Taylor Morton, Environmental Health and Education Manager, WE ACT for Environmental Justice
Students from the WHEELS Green Corridor Project

Access information will be sent to registered attendees ([link removed]) before the event, so be sure to register in advance. And please consider making a donation of $15 or more to help make events like this one possible in the future. RSVP Here ([link removed])

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Healthy Homes Working Group Meeting

Tuesday, May 19th
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Join our Healthy Homes Working Group online meeting on Tuesday, May 19 at 6:00 PM and learn how to organize with other NYCHA tenants around health and safety conditions. Help us protect our housing and improve living conditions for every NYCHA resident! RSVP Here ([link removed])

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Heat, Health, & Equity Initiative Policy Meeting

Thursday, May 7th
Time: 5:30 - 6:30 PM

This summer’s heatwaves are on their way – longer, stronger, and more frequent. We invite all residents of Northern Manhattan to join us for this meeting and help decide what types of New York City policies and programs we want to push for to protect our communities from the health impacts of extreme heat. RSVP Here ([link removed])

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Help with HEAP: Volunteers Wanted

We are working to expand the Home Energy Assistance Program ([link removed]) and would like to follow people through the enrollment process to better understand how we can improve it. If you are eligible ([link removed]-) and interested in enrolling ([link removed]) to help pay your energy bill this summer, we can help guide you through the process. Have questions? Not sure if you qualify? Reach out to Sonal Jessel at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?subject=HEAP%20Volunteer) .

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News from Our Federal Policy Office

Supporting the Safe Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Act
Did you know that we use an average of 12 products a day as part of our personal care routines? As a result, some of us are exposed to 168 unique toxins that have been linked to infertility, miscarriage, and poor infant and maternal health outcomes. That is why we are supporting H.R. 4296: The Safe Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Act, which is sponsored by U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-9th). Learn More ([link removed])

Resisting the EPA’s Rollbacks
Under the Trump administration, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said it would give polluters a free pass during the COVID-19 pandemic. Determined not to let them use this public health crisis as cover to encourage the dumping of toxins in our communities, we partnered with other environmental justice organizations, including members of the Environmental Justice Leadership Forum, and the Natural Resources Defense Council to file a lawsuit against the EPA ([link removed]) . We also issued a statement opposing the EPA's plan to undermine the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards ([link removed]) .

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WE ACT in the News

Peggy Shepard was interviewed by Popular Science ([link removed]) about the evolution of Earth Day. She also spoke with American Prospect ([link removed]) about the impact of COVID-19 on communities of color.

Lubna Ahmed was interviewed on COVID-19 by Newsy ([link removed]) and the Freeman World Experiment podcast ([link removed]) . And Kerene Tayloe spoke with Teen Vogue ([link removed]) about the importance of appointing climate leaders in the next presidential administration.

Sonal Jessel talked to Truthout ([link removed]) about the impacts of extreme heat on communities of color during COVID-19. She also spoke Gizmodo’s Earther ([link removed]) about NYC’s Open Streets plan and helped draft the Climate Works For All Coalition’s platform ([link removed]) for workers and a just transition from the COVID-19 pandemic.

New York City Patch ([link removed]) and Harlem World ([link removed]) reported the launch of our series of free online learning modules to teach children about environmental justice. Our second online lesson will be launched soon!

More New Blog Posts
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, Peggy Shepard co-wrote a blog post ([link removed]) about Earth Day with Abigail Dillen, President of Earthjustice, and Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Founder of Urban Ocean Lab and Ocean Collectiv. Also, Environmental Health intern Leslie Martinez wrote a blog post ([link removed]) about her journey to clean beauty and the work she’s been doing on our Beauty Inside Out campaign ([link removed]) to remove toxic chemicals from personal care products.

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Save the Date: WE ACT Gala 2020

Thursday, Oct. 15th
Time: 6:00 - 9:00 PM

Mark your calendar for the 2020 WE ACT Annual Gala. It will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15th at the International House. We will be posting additional information throughout the summer, but you can already become a sponsor. Learn More ([link removed])

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Earth Day 5K Winners

Thank you for making our Earth Day 5K such a huge success! Even while physically apart, the WE ACT community came together to raise more than $8,700 to support our work. And special thanks and congratulations to our top fundraiser, top runner, and top team!

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