EJNYC Community Charrette: Help Us Develop Solutions to Environmental Justice Issues in Harlem

WE ACT has joined forces with New York City Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice (MOCEJ) on a citywide outreach effort to engage communities and get their input on the EJNYC Plan, a plan to address the environmental justice issues identified in the EJNYC Report. Engaging with the residents of New York’s environmental justice communities, those who are most impacted by these issues, will be critical in developing effective, equitable solutions.

Thanks to the generous support of conEdison, our first charrette will be here in Harlem, TOMORROW, Saturday, Dec. 6th, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Manhattanville Community Center. Come join us and help ensure that the voices of our community are included in this plan. RSVP

Town Hall: Preventing Future Outbreaks of Legionnaires’ Disease in Harlem

The Harlem Legionnaires Task Force will be hosting a town hall to discuss how to prevent future outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease in our community. A panel of experts, including our own Anhthu Hoang, will lead the discussion and answer your questions. Join us after our EJNYC charette (see above) on Saturday, Dec. 6th  from 3:00-5:00 PM at ARC A. Philip Randolph Older Adult Center, which is  located at 108 West 146th Street. RSVP & Submit Questions

The Heat Is On: Apply to HEAP for Help with Winter Heating Costs

Staying warm shouldn’t be a luxury. The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is now open – and it’s a critical resource for low-income frontline communities facing rising energy burdens and winter heating costs.

Too many New Yorkers are forced to choose between heat, food, and rent because of unaffordable utility bills and aging, inequitable energy systems. HEAP can help provide a credit toward your heating bill, whether you use electric, gas, oil, propane, or other fuels.

Check to see if you qualify and apply at MyBenefits.ny.gov. You can learn more and apply at otda.ny.gov/programs/heap or by calling 1-800-342-3009, but our friends at PULP recommend MyBenefits.ny.gov as it could be quicker. Learn More & Apply 

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul has 26 days left to sign two of our bills into law. We need your help in reminding her to do so!

Click here to ask the Governor to sign into law the legislation that repeals the 100-foot rule, saving New Yorkers $200 million annually.

Click here to ask the Governor to sign into law the legislation banning PFAS and other toxic chemicals from menstrual products sold in New York State.

And if you want to make sure that we can still successfully advocate for legislation like this, please make a donation to support our work!

Take Action: Support Climate Education in New York State’s Schools

The New York Board of Regents published a proposed amendment of section 100.2 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education to require instruction in climate education in our schools. They are accepting public comments from now until January 19th, 2026. These comments will help them determine how to vote on the proposed amendment in March 2026, so hearing from you is critical.

As a member of Climate & Resilience Education Task Force, we strongly endorse this amendment, and hope you do as well. Click here to learn how you can submit comments to let them know that interdisciplinary P-12 climate education is essential in New York State. Support the Required Instruction in Climate Education

Video Replay: Adapting to and Mitigating Extreme Heat in New York City

On Tuesday, Nov. 18th, Caleb Smith was on the Riding Out the (Heat) Wave: Adapting to and Mitigating Extreme Heat in New York City panel discussion hosted by the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice (MOCEJ). This panel was part of a series of panels MOCEJ hosted in all five boroughs in preparation for the EJNYC Plan, a comprehensive, citywide plan to address the environmental justice issues identified in the 2024 EJNYC Report. The focus of this discussion was all the good work that the City and community organizations like WE ACT are doing to help address extreme heat, the deadliest impact of climate change. In addition to Caleb, the other panelists included Dr. Laura Bozzi, Executive Director of Environmental Health Policy at NYC Health; Jen Leone, Assistant Commissioner and Chief Sustainability Officer at HPD; Emily Maxwell, Senior Advisor at the City Parks Foundation; and Navé Strauss, Director of Tree Planting at NYC Parks. Paul Onyx Lozito, Deputy Executive Director of MOCEJ, moderated. Watch

Staff Presenting Our Work at the American Geophysical Union’s Annual Meeting

Our staff will be presenting at the annual American Geophysical Union meeting in New Orleans from Dec. 15-19th. Valentina Rojas will be presenting on our Community Air Monitoring Project (CAMP) on Monday, Dec. 15th. Tali Natter will be presenting on our StoryMaps on Tuesday, Dec. 16th. Learn More

Peggy Shepard’s appointment to Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani’s transition team has been reported in numerous outlets, including Politico, CBS New York, amNY, and SIlive.com.

Our Out of Gas, In with Justice pilot continues to generate coverage, with another story appearing on the MSN news portal.

WE ACT Expanding Its Board: Welcoming Basil Seggos & Charles Lee

WE ACT for Environmental Justice is proud to announce that Basil Seggos has joined our Board of Directors. Currently a Partner & Senior Policy Director at Foley Hoag, Basil served as Commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Co-Chair of the New York State Climate Action Council. In addition, environmental justice pioneer Charles Lee has joined our Advisory Board. Currently a Scholar in Residence at Howard University School of Law, Charles was the principal author of the landmark 1987 report, Toxic Wastes and Race in the United States. He spearheaded efforts to establish the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice, where he served as the Senior Policy Advisor, as well as the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council, of which he was a charter member. He also was a Lead Organizer at the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit and instrumental in establishing Executive Order 12898. See our full list of Board Members at the bottom of our Staff page.

New Handbook for Environmental Action & Change

This new book, a first in a series, brings together decades of groundbreaking interviews from veteran investigative journalist Karl Grossman, a pioneer in environmental broadcasting, and Frank Melli, whose vision has transformed the historic Enviro Close-Up television series, into a powerful, accessible guide for a new generation. Featuring Nobel laureates, scientists, physicians, Indigenous leaders, legal innovators, and activists, this volume turns hard-won truths about nuclear power, climate change, toxic pollution, and justice into inspiration for action – providing a roadmap for those seeking to transform awareness into change. Learn More