Join us Saturday, May 30 at 10:30 AM EDT for our Spring Orientation!

This orientation is designed for people who have attended a WE ACT event, follow our social media, receive our newsletter (that's you!), read about us in the news, or simply have heard good things from folks in the community. We will walk you through who we are, what we do, and the many ways you can get involved – including our Membership Program, Working Groups, and volunteer opportunities. And we’ll answer any questions you may have.

The orientation will be led by Charles Callaway, WE ACT’s Senior Community Organizer. It will be held online, via Zoom, and the link will be sent to everyone who RSVPs, so please RSVP here.

Come learn about our organization, the work we do, our impact on the community, and how you can be a part of it all!

Join us on Tuesday, June 2 at 6:00 PM EDT for a bilingual (English/Spanish) Facebook Live conversation with New York State Assemblywoman Carmen De La Rosa on COVID-19, summer heat, and your health. WE ACT's Sonal Jessel will be discussing our Heat, Health & Equity work. No RSVP needed; just follow either link at 6:00 PM on June 2: Zoom or Facebook

Join us Thursday, June 4 at 3:30 PM EDT for a panel discussion on COVID-19 & asthma. On the heels of National Asthma Awareness Month, we will examine the intersection of air quality, asthma, and COVID-19 - along with actions we can take. Our panelists include U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13); Dr. Alexea Gaffney-Adams, Infectious Disease Specialist at Stony Brook Medical Associates; and Mychal Johnson, Co-Founder of South Bronx Unite.

This event will be held online via Zoom. The Zoom link will be sent to registered participants before the event, so be sure to RSVP here.

Join us Thursday, June 4 at 6:00 PM EDT for an online conversation with Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer. As part of our ongoing Uptown Chats speaker series, she will talk about current initiatives from the Borough President’s Office that impact our community as well as answer questions from attendees.
 
This event will be held online via Zoom. The Zoom link will be sent to registered attendees before the event, so be sure to RSVP 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

Our first “virtual” Membership Meeting in May was a huge hit, so we’re cooking up another one for June. We will be posting the details shortly, but in the meantime you can go ahead and RSVP and mark your calendar for Saturday, June 13 at 10:00 AM EDT.

This meeting will be held via Zoom. Attendees who register will be sent the Zoom link prior to the meeting. If you have questions, or are not familiar with Zoom, contact Marquis Jenkins at [email protected] or 646-341-2588. RSVP Here

WE ACT has joined the Columbia Cancer Center and other NYC Cancer Centers to support NYC No Tobacco Week, from June 1-8. It will include three free webinars:
 
June 1, 6-8 PM EDT – Smoking & COVID-19
June 3, 6-8 PM EDT – Smoking Cessation
June 4, 6-8 PM EDT – El uso de Nicotina y Cómo Dejar de Fumar
 
Visit the NYC No Tobacco Week website for details, sign-up information, and helpful videos in English & Spanish.

As we shared in an earlier email, Peggy Shepard's pre-COVID-19 one-on-one conversation with Jane Fonda on climate change and social justice was rolled out to launch the new season of Harper’s BAZAAR “Dare I Say” podcast series. Listen to the Conversation

Cecil Corbin-Mark was interviewed by Moms Clean Air Force on the impacts of COVID-19 on the Latinx community. In Politico, he was noted for raising concern about warmer temperatures bringing an increased risk of asthma attacks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lubna Ahmed was interviewed by NYCity NewsService’s the Coronavirus Chronicles, explaining the health impacts of environmental racism during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was also a guest on the Climate One podcast that discussed post-COVID-19 cities. Lubna (beginning at the 9:45 mark) talked about the inequities communities face and how COVID-19 demonstrates the need for long-term, systemic changes as opposed to short-term, reactionary fixes.

Kerene Tayloe spoke with Sojourners Magazine about how funding from the HEROES Act could be used to support environmental justice communities. As an example, she cited our policy recommendation to improve indoor air quality by switching to electric stoves in public housing.

Today, May 29, is the deadline to register to vote in the June 23rd New York State Presidential & State Primaries. New Yorkers can register here. And you can see all the key dates for the June 23rd Primaries and the November 3rd General Election by visiting our voter information page. Be sure to register and vote, even if it's by absentee ballot (we have info on that, too)! Learn More