October Membership Meeting: Let’s Talk About the Election Tomorrow

The November General Election is around the corner, with early voting starting on Oct. 25th (learn more). Tomorrow, at our October Membership Meeting, we will be talking about the election and what you need to know to be an informed voter. Join us on Saturday, Oct. 11th at 10:00 AM at P.S./I.S. 210 – Twenty-first Century Academy for Community Leadership, the school located on the corner of West 152nd Street and Amsterdam Avenue (501-503 West 152nd Street), across the street from our office. RSVP

Last Chance: Buy Your Gala Tickets Today

Tickets are still on sale for WE ACT’s 2025 Annual Gala on Tuesday, October 14th from 6:00-9:00 PM at 583 Park Avenue (at the corner of 63rd Street). In fact, we are

now offering a special discounted ticket rate for nonprofit staff and community members, so don’t miss out! We will be honoring environmental justice champions (see our honorees below) and celebrating our ongoing work for a more equitable future. Buy Tickets Today

MEET OUR 2025 HONOREES:

THANKS TO OUR 2025 SPONSORS:

CRUP Emergency Preparedness Workshop: En Espanol

Marileidy Pimentel Paniagua will be conducting a Spanish-language Climate Ready Uptown Plan (CRUP) workshop from 5:00-6:30 PM on Thursday, Oct.16th at the Family Enrichment Center in Washington Heights (4320 Broadway, Suite 16). CRUP is a community-driven emergency preparedness plan for Northern Manhattan. The Family Enrichment Center in Washington Heights is co-hosting this event, which is open to the public. RSVP

Community Conversation: Preventing Childhood Lead Poisoning

Childhood lead poisoning is completely preventable. Yet New York State still leads the nation in cases of children with elevated blood levels. Twelve percent of the children born in the state in 2019 – 28,820 children – have been diagnosed with elevated blood lead levels. In fact, childhood lead poisoning rates for communities across New York State are five to six times higher than those in Flint, MI at the peak of its water crisis. And studies show that Black children living below the poverty line are twice as likely to suffer from lead poisoning as poor white children.

Make a Difference

We need your help to change this. Join us for a community conversation on preventing childhood lead poisoning and help us shape a new tool to raise public awareness about the dangers our communities face. We’ll meet on Thursday, Oct. 30th from 6:00-8:00 PM at WE ACT’s office, which is located on the Second Floor of 1854 Amsterdam Avenue (at the corner of West 152nd Street). Contact Liz Reyes at [email protected] or 646-983-7098 to RSVP.

November Membership Meeting: Preview Our 2026 Policy Agenda

It’s that time of year again. Our big, you-don’t-want-to-miss November Membership Meeting is a chance to celebrate all that we achieved this year and preview what we have planned for next year – including the unveiling of our 2026 Policy Agenda. Join us in-person on Saturday, Nov. 8th from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM. The location will be announced soon. RSVP

We helped pass the Mercury Out of Cosmetics law in 2022, which banned the sale – both in-store and online – of skin lighteners and other cosmetics containing mercury in New York State. Having recently discovered skin lighteners containing mercury being sold in our area, we tested the products and alerted the New York State Attorney General’s Office, which conducted their own testing and took action to enforce the law earlier this week. To date, coverage quoting Peggy Shepard (see below) has appeared in Gothamist, Personal Care Insights, Newsday, and LongIsland.com. The press release was also shared on the United Nations’ Global Mercury Partnership website. And additional coverage has appeared in outlets such as LoHud.com, Hoodline NYC, FingerLakes1.com, and the Philippines-based Journal Online. Learn more about the dangers of these products here.

“WE ACT for Environmental Justice is committed to seeing the proper enforcement of New York State’s Mercury Out of Cosmetics law that we helped pass in 2022, so we highly commend and sincerely thank Attorney General Letitia James and her team for conducting their own testing and taking action against the companies violating this law,” said Peggy Shepard. “It is egregious to see these products being marketed to people of color, especially women and girls, taking advantage of racist, Eurocentric beauty standards that encourage them to lighten their skin. Because toxic chemicals in cosmetics and personal care products disproportionately burden women of color, WE ACT and our fellow advocates are working to ban many of these dangerous chemicals and promote the right of all New Yorkers to healthy lives.”

Lonnie Portis wrote an Op-Ed in City Limits, urging New York State Governor Kathy Hochul to sign the bill repealing the state’s 100-foot rule, one of the key components of the NY HEAT Act. Just this week, Governor Hochul indicated that she may sign the bill, which will save New York ratepayers $200 million annually that utilities have been charging them to subsidize gas infrastructure installations.

New York City’s public schools are often too hot, too cold, and plagued with mold, leaks, asbestos, and poor ventilation. That is why, as part of the Climate Works for All coalition, we are asking you to sign the Green Healthy Schools petition demanding the Mayor invest in upgraded ventilation systems, increased energy efficiency, and rooftop solar for our schools.

Our friends at Toxic-Free Future maintain a Retailer Report Card that grades retailers on how environmentally responsible they are when it comes to protecting customers from toxic chemicals. Trader Joe’s has received a failing grade, lagging behind even Walmart when it comes to tackling toxic chemicals and plastics. That has landed Trader Joe’s in the “Toxic Hall of Shame.” Click here to tell Trader Joe’s to eliminate toxic chemicals and unnecessary plastics from their store shelves and commit to safer solutions.

Community Input Session: Fort Washington Park Retaining Wall & Greenway

NYC Parks is hosting another community listening session to discuss the retaining wall and greenway in Fort Washington Park on Thursday, Oct. 16th at 6:00 PM at the YM & YWHA of Washington Heights and Inwood (54 Nagle Avenue). Click here to learn more about this project, and click here to register for the input session.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Breast Health Education Webinar

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness month, the American-Italian Cancer Foundation and the Community Engagement Core at the New York Center for Advancing Translational Research and Health are hosting a free breast health education webinar on Monday, Oct. 20th from 6:30-7:30 PM. This webinar is for health care professionals, breast cancer survivors, and community health advocates to learn, network, and engage in important dialogue about breast health education - but all are welcome to attend. RSVP