June Meeting: Emotional Sustainability and Resilience in the Face of the Climate Crisis: A Toolkit for Activists
Thursday, June 10, 7:30 pm EDT
Climate activism is one of the most important ways to engage in the growing existential threat of climate and environmental crisis, yet those who are willing to engage directly may also feel considerable emotional distress as part of this reckoning. In this workshop, climate psychologist Wendy Greenspun will identify some important ways to understand and honor painful emotions, develop tools for preventing burnout, and develop strategies to build ongoing emotional sustainability and resilience. Sharing of examples, discussion, and resources will be included.
Register for the June Meeting on Zoom.
Tabling for Electric School Buses
Sunday, June 13th, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EDT
J.J. Byrne Playground, Washington Park, Fourth Street and Fifth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11215
Volunteer or just stop by our table outside J.J. Byrne Playground to sign the petition and show support for electrifying our school buses! A diverse group of kids, citizens, activists, council members, bus drivers and advocacy groups have been asking for Electric School Buses for over twenty years, but now that the legislation (Intro 455) finally has enough votes to pass, Speaker Corey Johnson is ignoring our calls for a vote on it! We'll have postcards to fill in and school bus coloring pages for kids. If you can't make the event on June 13th, but are interested in helping at another time, you can sign up to volunteer on a different weekend.
Help City Action Create A Musical Auxiliary!
City Action is looking for help launching a musical auxiliary, provisionally dubbed “The Eco-Tones.” The all-volunteer band will be a hip and energetic brass combo with a lively, multicultural repertoire. The band will rehearse and polish a few songs together and then be available to play at selected 350Brooklyn events and actions. We are currently looking for a practice space and are also seeking diverse, intermediate level (or higher) young brass players, saxophonists, or percussionists for mentorship. Please contact Marc or Georgi for more details or if you have any leads for us!
Got Audio Skills? Help Us Launch Our Podcast Series
350Brooklyn is hard at work on a new podcast series called Climate Check: Stories and Solutions, but we still need someone with sound mastering skills to help get these programs ready to launch. If you or someone you know has sound
mastering skills and would like to help, please contact [email protected].
Our Work in Washington
In January, 350Brooklyn's Legislation Committee joined the national Climate Crisis Policy network, a group that analyzes proposed federal legislation and assesses its potential to measurably impact the climate crisis, and to promote environmental justice. Groups "adopt" their local Congress Member and work to persuade them to support a suite of promising bills. 350BK has adopted Congress Members Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) and Yvette Clarke (NY-09) and has led productive meetings with their staff. 350BK is also the lead organizer for New York State overall. Together with CCP members from across the state, we met with Senator Gillibrand's staff in March, and on May 26th met with Senator Schumer himself. You can follow our successes with our representatives on 350Bk's Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook accounts!
NEWS FROM OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS
From our Allies: Project DrawdownNYC Speaker Series
DrawdownNYC (DDNYC) is a regional affiliate of Project Drawdown, an organization whose cutting-edge research has demonstrated that global warming can be reversed. DDNYC inspires active engagement with the Project Drawdown solutions through intensive workshops, inspiring events, targeted organizing, and alliances with local groups pursuing similar goals. On Thursday, June 17 from 7:00 pm - 8:15 pm EDT, DrawdownNYC's Speaker Series will feature two NAACP leaders who will address the question, "What is a good ally in the struggles of People of Color for climate justice?” For more information, contact Keith at (732) 804-3313. The series is free. Register here.
Get involved in one of our workgroups!
350Brooklyn is volunteer-powered. At the heart of these efforts are our campaigns and committees. Follow the links below for more information on how to join.
City Action Committee’s mission is to make Brooklyn and New York City leaders not only in climate policy but also in the long-term actions and engagement needed to make those policies effective. Current campaigns include The Renewable Rikers Act, Fighting Peaker Plants, Electric School Buses, and the Department of Sustainability and Climate Change. Use this google form to connect with City Action.
The Climate Idea Exchange works to deepen public understanding of the climate crisis, breaking it down into manageable topics and showing how to take action locally. We work both independently and in collaboration with Brooklyn Public Library, and we're developing a podcast series. email [email protected].
350BK Families organizes activities that bring children, youth, and their adults together for the climate. Current projects include pushing for the creation of 529 college savings plans that are free of fossil fuel investments. email [email protected].
Gowanus Neighborhood Coalition for Justice is a diverse coalition focused on equity, inclusion, justice, and economic and environmental sustainability. 350Brooklyn is part of this coalition, which is working to ensure that the rezoning of the Gowanus area honors the needs of all community members. email [email protected].
Legislation focuses on federal and New York State climate legislation. Current campaigns are NY Renews (to pass the Climate Community Investment Act), the Green New Deal, and stopping the repowering of the Gowanus power plant (with 350BK's City Action). email [email protected].
The Media Committee is 350Brooklyn's all-around in-house media team. This group writes press releases and promotional copy, creates graphics, keeps tabs on 350BK's social media presence, and runs the new 350BK blog. email [email protected].
Stop the Money Pipeline plans and participates in direct actions that pressure financial institutions to stop funding deforestation and fossil fuel industries. We are part of a national movement targeting New York-based corporations, including Chase Bank and BlackRock Investment Management. email [email protected].
Plastic Free works to eliminate plastic pollution and reduce reliance on single-use plastic products. We meet biweekly via Zoom, and work on a variety of projects including legislative lobbying efforts, campaigns promoting going plastic free, and neighborhood efforts to reduce waste. email [email protected].
No time but able to donate? While we are an affiliate of 350.org, we are programmatically independent and our financial support comes solely from our members. Can you offer financial support, at any level? Donate here.
