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** A Great Day in Harlem!
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We had a fantastic Membership BBQ last Saturday. Many thanks to all our members who joined us, along with special guests – including New York City Council Member Gale Brewer, New York State Senator Cordell Cleare, New York State Assembly Member Manny De Los Santos, New York City Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice Executive Director Elijah Hutchinson, New York State Senator Robert Jackson, WE ACT Co-Founder Vernice Miller-Travis, and New York State Assembly Member Al Taylor, who presented us with a citation! See Some of the Photos ([link removed])
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** Harlem Week Climate Change Conference
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Peggy Shepard will be speaking at the annual Harlem Week Climate Change Conference on Wednesday, August 6th. Presented by Columbia Climate School and the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, the event will focus on environmental and climate justice issues impacting communities like Harlem and how the New York City Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice - with help from organizations like WE ACT - is working to develop the EJNYC Plan to address these issues, many of which were identified in its EJNYC Report ([link removed]) .

In addition to Peggy's keynote, there will be a panel with Columbia Climate School Professor of Climate Sheila R. Foster, CUNY BPL Founding Director Michael Bobker, Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice Deputy Executive Director Paul Lozito, and Columbia University Chief Climate & Sustainability Officer Daniel A. Zarrilli, who will moderate. Medgar Evers College President Dr. Patricia Ramsey will provide closing remarks.

Join us Wednesday, August 6th from 5:30-8:00 PM on the Second Floor of the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Harlem State Office Building, located at 163 West 125th Street (at the corner of 125th St. & Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd). Be sure to arrive early and with a photo I.D. to clear security. RSVP ([link removed])

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** Sunday: Art & Jazz on Governors Island
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Do you like art? Do you like jazz? The 5th Annual Jazz by the Water is this Saturday, July 26th from 12:00-6:00 PM on Governors Island. Learn More ([link removed])

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** Resources to Help You Deal with the Heat
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Today is going to a scorcher! That is why we encourage you to review our Cooling Assistance Resources ([link removed]) (PDF) and apply to see if you are eligible for the various City and State cooling assistance programs. New York City also has a network of Cooling Centers ([link removed]) open to the public free of charge. You can find the nearest Cooling Center here ([link removed]) . You can find additional information, resources, and tips on how to stay cool via the City’s Beat the Heat webpage ([link removed]) . The National Integrated Heat Health Information System has even more resources – from planning and preparing to staying safe –
available at heat.gov ([link removed]) . And visit weact.org/heat ([link removed]) to see all of our work on this issue, including a variety of reports and other resources.

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** Learn About Environmental Justice for FREE!
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Do you know what a liquid tree ([link removed]) is? Curious about thermal energy networks ([link removed]) ? What about community land trusts ([link removed]) ? Can carbon be captured ([link removed]) ? What is an energy democracy ([link removed]) ? How do you build a sand battery ([link removed]) ? These are the kind of things you can learn about simply by listening to Uptown Chats ([link removed]) , our environmental justice podcast. Thirty minutes twice a month will make you a smarter environmental justice champion. We have a new episode debuting on Monday, and then our 50th episode dropping on August 11th!
Listen ([link removed])

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In support of the federal Safer Beauty Bills package ([link removed]) , Jordana Vanderselt was quoted in Consumer Reports ([link removed]) , Caller Times ([link removed]) , and the Tease ([link removed]) . “Studies show that women of color, and Black women in particular, face greater exposure to these toxic chemicals due to racist beauty standards –on top of already being exposed to more toxic chemicals in their everyday lives,” said Vanderselt. “That is why we support the Federal Safer Beauty Bill Package, which will
remove many of these dangerous chemicals from products, improve transparency with regard to product labels and the supply chain, and increase awareness and protection for salon workers – many of whom are women of color.”

In advance of today’s hearing on our lawsuit ([link removed]) with Citizen Action of New York, Earthjustice, PUSH Buffalo, and Sierra Club against New York State’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for failing to issue regulations to ensure the State meets the emissions-reduction targets established by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019, Eric Walker raised concern in NY Focus ([link removed]) about the DEC’s request for lenience. “The administrative agency is asking for a free pass to essentially bypass the mandate of the people to the legislature and the administration,” Walker said. “This is really scary territory that we’re in.”

Our Out of Gas, In with Justice ([link removed]) pilot project continues to make news more than two years after we released our findings! A Chowhound ([link removed]) article that touted the superior performance of inductions stoves over gas stoves also cited our study that found gas stoves emit harmful indoor air pollution. "According to the U.S. Department of Energy ([link removed]) , induction ovens are more energy-efficient than electric and gas stoves, meaning you may save more on power bills. Induction is also cleaner than gas, which releases pollutants linked to childhood asthma. A report by WE ACT for Environmental Justice ([link removed]) found that gas ranges emitted more nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide than induction, noting that this was a point of concern for
groups disproportionately affected by respiratory diseases."

After six months of relentless attacks on environmental justice, we are happy to share some good news. Governor Wes Moore of Maryland signed an executive order to advance environmental justice ([link removed]) , and WE ACT Co-Founder Vernice Miller-Travis (below, far right) spoke at the ceremony, with coverage appearing in Progressive Maryland ([link removed]) , Nottingham MD ([link removed]) , and other outlets. “I witnessed Governor Moore’s inauguration, where he talked about the opportunity to lead with love. Today we are gathered here to watch our governor breathe life into those words once again as he signs this historic executive order on environmental justice,” said
Miller-Travis. “This is the first of what I anticipate will be many steps down the path toward achieving environmental justice for all who call our state home.”
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Click here ([link removed]) to call New York State Governor Kathy Hochul and ask her to sign the legislation that eliminates the 100-foot rule, saving New Yorkers $200 million annually ([link removed]) , ([link removed]) into law.

Click
here ([link removed]) to ask Governor Hochul to sign this bill ([link removed]) banning PFAS and other toxic chemicals from menstrual products sold in New York State.

Click here ([link removed]) to send a letter to New York State legislators demanding action to test homes for lead paint.

Take
New York’s air quality survey ([link removed]) to draw attention to Northern Manhattan’s air quality.

Donate ([link removed]) to support our work!

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