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Rikers Island: Help Start the Transformation
Remember how we passed the Renewable Rikers Act ([link removed]) ? Now it’s time for the City to start transferring parts of the island to the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services. Please take a moment to sign this petition to urge Mayor Bill de Blasio to transfer as much of Rikers Island as possible starting July 1. Let’s make sure this happens! Sign the Petition ([link removed])
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Our Second NYC Mayoral Candidates Forum: Scott Stringer & Ranked Choice Voting
Join us for our second Mayoral Candidates Forum at 10:00 AM EDT on Saturday, June 5, in partnership with our 501(c)(4), WE ACT 4 Change. We’ll start off with a Ranked Choice Voting ([link removed]) workshop and then spend 40 minutes with candidate Scott Stringer. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions. RSVP ([link removed])
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Full Frontal Exposes the Dangers of Gas Stoves
Did you see the story about cooking with natural gas on Full Frontal with Samantha Bee? Not only do the emissions from cooking on a gas stove contribute to climate change, they also create so much air pollution in your home that you could be violating the Clean Air Act when you boil water. Think about that for a moment. Cooking with gas produces enough air pollution inside your home that the EPA would not permit it outdoors. Watch ([link removed])
TAKE ACTION
Your efforts helped us get New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson to introduce a bill in the City Council – Intro 2317, Gas Free NYC – that will phaseout the use of natural gas in new construction in New York City. This is a critical step in reducing harmful indoor air pollution, getting us off fossil fuels, and fighting climate change. But we really need Speaker Johnson to co-sponsor the bill, so we’re asking for your help again. Please call Corey Johnson at 888-431-7599 and ask him to co-sponsor and pass Intro 2317!
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Our Final NYC Mayoral Candidates Forum: Kathryn Garcia
Join us for our third and final New York City Mayoral Candidates Forum at 8:30 PM EDT on Friday, June 11, in partnership with our 501(c)(4), WE ACT 4 Change. We will spend 30 minutes with candidate Kathryn Garcia. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask her questions. RSVP ([link removed])
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Green & Healthy Schools Report
New York City public schools were among the institutions hit hardest by COVID. The shutdown of schools disrupted the lives of countless families, students, teachers, and parents. This is especially true in communities of color, where already underfunded schools were further hampered by the digital divide when they switched to remote learning. As schools start to emerge from the pandemic, and rethink the way they operate, we – as part of the Climate Works for All coalition – released a report this week making a number of recommendations, including the installation of solar energy and air control systems to enhance equity and safety in public schools, reduce emissions, and create good-paying jobs. Read the Report ([link removed]) (PDF)
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June Membership Meeting: District Attorney Candidates Forum
Join us for our June Membership Meeting ([link removed]) and get to know the candidates running for New York County (Manhattan) District Attorney, including Tahanie Aboushi, Alvin Bragg, Tali Fahadian-Weinstein, Diana Florence, Lucy Lang, and Eliza Orlins. Our meeting will start at 10:00 AM EDT on Saturday, June 12. Members will have an opportunity to ask them questions. RSVP ([link removed])
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Pride Month
UPTOWN CHATS: Toxics are a Drag
A Panel Discussion on Toxic Beauty Products in the Queer Community
Hair straighteners, skin lighteners, and makeup products can be packed with harmful chemicals that can leave negative impacts on the body. Many of these toxic products are disproportionately aimed at women and femme identified people of color. And through our Beauty Inside Out ([link removed]) campaign, we have been working to address this.
In celebration of Pride month, we will host a panel of researchers, advocates, and queer drag performers to discuss the toxic chemicals found in beauty and other personal care products and their impact on the queer community. Join us for this special Uptown Chats, Toxics are a Drag ([link removed]) , at 6:00 PM EDT on Tuesday, June 29. Attendees will be able to submit a question for the panelists upon registration or ask it during the event. RSVP ([link removed])
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Peggy Shepard will speak at the Rochester Area Community Foundation’s webinar at 12:00 PM EDT on Thursday, June 10, sharing how WE ACT engages communities and develops leaders to advocate for a clean, healthy, and equitable environment. RSVP ([link removed])
Sonal Jessel will discuss climate justice solutions on the Weathering the Storms: Unnatural Disasters and Paths to Equitable Climate Resilience panel at the Grantmakers In Health annual conference at 2:00 PM EDT on Thursday, June 10. RSVP ([link removed])
Sonal Jessel will also be on the closing panel of the North American Passive House Network’s Passive Houses for All conference at 4:00 PM EDT on Friday, June 11, discussing how our built environment and the building industry can better serve vulnerable communities. RSVP ([link removed])
Peggy Shepard and Jeff Jones – WE ACT Board Member and political strategist, environmental lobbyist, & media expert who runs his own consultancy, Jeff Jones Strategies – will speak at the annual New York State Redevelopment Summit, presented by the Center for Creative Land Recycling, at 11:00 AM EDT on Friday, June 18. RSVP ([link removed])
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Online Learning Opportunity:
Environmental Justice 101 & Introduction to Organizing
We have finished our first online Environmental Health & Justice Leadership Training session and are halfway through the second. But you can still sign-up for the next two: learn the fundamentals of environmental justice and how you can weave them into your work with Environmental Justice 101, and learn how to build power in your community to advance environmental justice with Introduction to Community Organizing. Sign Up ([link removed])
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Environmental Justice Mini-Doc Film Expo
Join us at 5:30 PM EDT on Thursday, June 10 to celebrate the WHEELS class of 2021 and their student-produced mini-documentaries on environmental justice issues related to their Clean Air Green Corridor initiative. The initiative traces its roots to our Environmental Health & Justice Leadership Training program, as part of our long-term partnership with WHEELS – the Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School. The expo is in partnership with WE ACT, Educational Video Center, Teaching Tolerance, and Friends of WHEELS. RSVP ([link removed])
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Watch Our Ranked Choice Voting Video
Can’t make the Ranked Choice Voting workshop at Saturday’s Mayoral Candidates Forum ([link removed]) ? Watch this video to learn the basics about Ranked Choice Voting, a new system you will have to navigate when heading to the polls this month ([link removed]) . Watch ([link removed])
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