The People's Festival - TODAY! Friday, September 3, 12:00-7:00 PM
Come out to the People’s Festival from 12:00-7:00 PM today – Friday, September 3 – at Plaza de las Americana (175th & Broadway). The outdoor event is hosted by the New York City Civic Engagement Commission and will feature live performances and interactive workshops along with information about community groups and initiatives. Be sure to check out the People’s Bus and the Ice Cream Truck of Rights. And from 3:00-5:00 PM, you can learn about and give feedback on New York City’s Environmental Justice for All Report.
Summer Movie & Panel on NYCHA Wednesday, September 8, 6:00 PM
On Wednesday, September 8, join us for a panel and free screening of A Dream Deferred: The Broken Promise of New York City Public Housing, a documentary about the problems within NYCHA and the people fighting for better living conditions and accountability for themselves and their community. The event will begin at 6:00 PM with a panel discussion featuring the Emmy-nominated filmmaker Akisa Omulepu. Then we’ll show the film at dusk, which we expect to be around 7:30 PM. Come join us for this outdoor event in West Harlem Piers Park (West 125th Street & the Hudson River). RSVP Today
September Membership Meeting Saturday, September 11, 11:00 AM
Join us for our September Membership Meeting on Saturday, September 11 at 11:00 AM EDT. We’ll have staff presentations and member discussions on Redistricting in NYC, NYCHA RAD & Pact, and Electric School Buses for NYC. Join us online, via Zoom, for these deep dives into critical issues impacting our community. NOTE: We’re starting an hour later than usual out of respect for the memorial ceremony honoring the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks. RSVP Today
Rally for a Gas Free NYC Monday, September 13 at 10:30 AM
Join us, elected officials, and other environmental activists from across the city as we rally for a Gas Free NYC in front of 100 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn at 10:30 AM on Monday, September 13.
This building will be our backdrop as elected officials and environmental advocates call on New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson and his colleagues to pass Intro 2317, a bill that will require all new construction in our city to be built, like 100 Flatbush, without natural gas hookups. This is one of more than 74 buildings that have already been built in New York City without gas hookups. And it’s about a block from the Atlantic Avenue subway station, so it’s super easy to reach via public transportation.
Experts at the event will explain the benefits of and make the case for building gas-free, including:
- Combat the climate crisis by stopping new natural gas infrastructure that otherwise would lock-in decades of new climate pollution;
- Create new, clean energy jobs as buildings shift to heat pumps and energy efficiency in place of fossil fuels for heating and cooling;
- And improve air quality – both indoors and outdoors – by reducing deadly local air pollutants, which is especially important in environmental justice communities where air quality is typically worse.
Join us on Monday, September 13, and call for a Gas Free NYC! RSVP Here
Report on Environmental Justice & Health Issues in Carceral Facilities
We encourage you to read the report and watch the webinar we developed with Clean and Healthy New York on environmental justice and health issues in carceral facilities, including our New York State policy recommendations to address these issues. Read the Report and Watch the Webinar
How to Address Heat Health Inequities
In an Op-Ed published in City & State New York, Sonal Jessel and Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health Professor Diana Hernández make the case for increasing the funding of LIHEAP, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, to address the heat health inequities impacting low-income communities and communities of color. Read the Op-Ed
Peggy Shepard is a Trailblazer
Peggy Shepard is profiled in TRAILBLAZERS, Black Women Who Helped Make America Great, American Firsts/American Icons Volume 1, the first book of a six-part series by Gabrielle David. TRAILBLAZERS features biographical stories of Black women in America who have made significant contributions in their field. Learn More
LAST CHANCE: Don't Miss Out! Help Us Shape NYC's Environmental Justice Priorities
If you live in New York City, especially Northern Manhattan, please take a moment to review the draft of New York City’s Environmental Justice for All Report (download the PDF) and give your feedback online, by email, or by voicemail (212-788-4144) by Sunday, September 5. Don’t miss this opportunity to help shape the city’s environmental and climate justice priorities! Review the Report & Provide Feedback
Peggy Shepard Encourages Youth to Get Involved in Environmental Justice
Peggy Shepard spoke with Dylan D’Agate, a youth leader at the Sierra Club’s Long Island Chapter and host of Earth Blogger. They discussed environmental justice and ways that youth and others can get involved in the movement. Watch the Video
Environmental Justice Fellowship Opportunity
The Tishman Environment and Design Center is now accepting group applications for its new “Ripe for Creative Disruption: An Environmental Justice Movement Fellowship.” The two-year fellowship is open to groups of 2-4 leaders who are working together to address environmental justice in the areas of climate justice, environmental health, energy democracy, or just transition. Groups can apply now through September 26, 2021. Learn More
New York City’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program can assist those unable to pay rent due to COVID-19. Learn more at otda.ny.gov/erap or by calling 844-691-7368.
