Don't forget that our July Membership Meeting is tomorrow, July 11th, at 10:00 AM EDT. We'll be talking about summer heat waves and how we can cope with COVID-19 keeping many of us indoors. Our speakers will include:
Carolyn Olsen, Deputy Commissioner, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Jainey Bavishi, Director, Mayor’s Office of Resiliency
Tanya Jones, Director of Energy Assistance and Community Development, HeartShare Human Services
Sonal Jessel, WE ACT’s Heat Policy & Advocacy Coordinator
has suffered health issues caused by or made worse by poor housing conditions?
believes change is possible if we get organized?
Then come join our Healthy Homes Working Group and be a part of this campaign! In preparation for the 2021 New York City Council and Mayoral races, we will work together to organize and build on your leadership to protect public housing and improve living conditions to ensure every public housing resident lives in a healthy home. Come join us and make a difference in your community!
Our Federal Policy Office has had another busy month down in Washington, DC. We held a press conference to voice our opposition to the Trump administration’s proposed changes to the National Environmental Policy Act. We have also been raising concerns about the appointment of Nancy Beck to head the Consumer Product Safety Commission. We responsed to the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis' report, “Solving the Climate Crisis: The Congressional Action Plan for a Clean Energy Economy and a Healthy, Resilient and Just America." And we submitted a letter of record to the House Committee on Energy & Commerce's hearing on “Pollution and Pandemics: COVID-19’s Disproportionate Impact on Environmental Justice Communities.” In addition, we have been helping to facilitate the Environmental Justice Leadership Forum and are actively planning its virtual 2020 Summer Convening on July 29.
Extreme Heat Advocacy: Keeping Our Community Cool
Saturday's heat-focused membership meeting is just the tip of the melting iceberg. WE ACT has a long history of working to address the health impacts of extreme heat in our communities. You can learn about our current work - and how you can get involved - by visiting weact.org/heat. You will also find a link to our new 2020 Extreme Heat Policy Agenda as well as a host of other resources to help inform you about how to stay safe and healthy during this summer's combined threats of heat waves and COVID-19.
WE ACT in the News
As we shared in an earlier email, Peggy Shepard was interviewed by CBS about the environmental justice movement and why, in this time of COVID-19 and renewed protests for racial justice, it has become an even more critical issue. She also spoke to Politico on this issue as well. She was interviewed by Grist, the Guardian, and the Hill on the return of the National Black Environmental justice Network as well as Common Dreams and Gizmodo on the the climate, environment, and energy planks of the 2020 Democratic Party Platform. In addition, she spoke with the Center for American Progress about energy insecurity, Mother Jones about the Climate Crisis Action Plan, and Morning Consult about why people of color are more concerned about pollution.
Cecil Corbin-Mark was interviewed by the New Republic about Renewable Rikers, including our Solar Uptown Now work and solar workers cooperative, as well as E&E News about the need for action on the CLCPA.
Kerene Tayloe was interviewed by Grist on on ways to address the compounded threats of racial injustice, climate change, and COVID-19. She also spoke with E&E News about our opposition to the the nomination of Nancy Beck to head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission and to Audubon on the Trump administration’s Executive Order to waive environmental reviews for infrastructure projects. And she made a wildly popular IGTV guest appearance on actress, comedian, and screenwriter June Diane Raphael's Instagram account!
Sonal Jessel was interviewed by Grist and WNYC Radio about our advocacy to get New York City to provide free air conditioners along with the funds to operate them for the most vulnerable members of our community. She also spoke with Bloomberg Law about energy insecurity in the summer of COVID-19.
And Taylor Morton was interviewed by WFUV Radio about environmental justice and the impact of COVID-19 as well as the HuffPost for an article on the intersection of racism, inequality, and the environment.
Get Ready for the 2020 WE ACT Gala!
Thursday, October 15th Time: 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Mark your calendar for the 2020 WE ACT Annual Gala. It will be held on Thursday, October 15. We will be posting additional information throughout the summer, but you can already become a sponsor. Learn More
With the continued threat of environmental racism, the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the opportunities raised by the Black Lives Matter movement, 2020 is not the year to simply read email newsletters (though we do thank you for doing that). Here are some ways you can get more involved with WE ACT:
