Rally for a Gas Free NYC! Thursday, September 23, 12:00 PM
Join us for a Gas Free NYC outdoor rally at 12:00 PM on Thursday, September 23 to demand that the New York City Council pass Intro 2317, legislation that will eliminate natural gas hookups in new construction and gut renovations. This is a critical step in fighting climate change because buildings are responsible for about 70 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions in New York City and contribute to deadly air pollution that disproportionately impacts communities of color. We’ll meet at the fountain in City Hall Park (Broadway & Park Row). This is our only in-person NYC Climate Week activity! RSVP
Redistricting Workshop: Review the Maps Thursday, September 23 at 6:30 PM
Join us on Thursday, September 23 at 6:30 PM EDT for our second workshop (watch the first one here) on Redistricting to review the maps and talk about testifying at the upcoming hearings. Help us map New York’s political future! RSVP
NYC Climate Week: Climate Justice Teach-In Thursday, September 23 at 6:00 PM
Join us at 6:00 PM EDT on Thursday, September 23 as Taylor Morton conducts a climate justice teach-in as part of our NYC Climate Week activities. Come learn about the movement and how you can get involved! RSVP
At 12:00 PM EDT on Wednesday, September 22, Jasmine Graham will participate in a Building Energy Exchange Climate Week panel discussing how environmental justice considerations will impact decision-making and planning in New York City, particularly with respect to its built environment. Part of our NYC Climate Week activities! RSVP
As part of the Childhood Cancer Prevention Initiative’s Childhood Cancer: Cross-Sector Strategies for Prevention week of action, Sonal Jessel will participate in the Cancer Free Economy Network’s Communities Taking Action panel on Friday, September 24 at 2:00 PM EDT. RSVP
CNN Features Sonal Jessel on Heat Health Inequities
In a CNN story that’s getting picked up by local news outlets across the country, Sonal Jessel discussed the heat health inequities in communities like East Harlem as well as the work we are doing to mitigate these impacts of climate change. Read the Article
Report: Producing PFAS Contributes to Climate Change
Our friends at Toxic-Free Future released a report this week tracing the path of Daikin America’s toxic pollution, from making PFAS for food packaging to producing tons of greenhouse gas emissions that fuel climate change. They found that Daikin, which has a massive facility in Alabama that manufactures PFAS for food packaging, annually produces greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 125,000 cars. As if the “forever” chemical PFAS wasn’t bad enough, its production is a significant contributor to the climate crisis. It’s a good thing we helped pass a law banning the use of PFAS in food packaging here in New York. Learn More & Read the Report
Taylor Morton is Young, Gifted, & Green!
Congratulations to Taylor Morton, who has been named one of Black Millennials for Flint’sYoung, Gifted, & Green 40 Under 40. The awards ceremony took place last night, featuring National Wildlife Federation Vice President of Environmental Justice, Climate, & Community Revitalization Mustafa Santiago Ali and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan. We're extremely excited to see Taylor being recognized as one of the rising voices in the movement! Learn More
Pamela Stewart-Martinez Calls on Congress to Build Back Better
The Green New Deal Network featured Pamela Stewart-Martinez in a series of online ads thanking Congressmembers who have supported the full Build Back Better plan. Learn about the campaign and reach out to your Congressmember to encourage their support here!
Summer Movie & Panel Rescheduled Thursday, September 30 at 6:00 PM
Join us on Thursday, September 30 for a panel discussion & free screening of A Dream Deferred: The Broken Promise of New York City Public Housing, a documentary about NYCHA and those working to make it a better place. We’ll begin at 6:00 PM with the panel, featuring the Emmy-nominated filmmaker Akisa Omulepu, and then start the film at dusk (around 7:00 PM) outdoors at West Harlem Piers Park (West 125th Street & the Hudson River). RSVP
Green 2.0 Spotlights WE ACT
Our friends at Green 2.0 – a nonprofit dedicated to increasing diversity across mainstream environmental organizations, foundations, and government agencies – featured WE ACT as one of their spotlight partners. See Our Profile
Congestion Pricing: Make Your Voice Heard
The MTA is holding virtual public hearings about the proposed congestion pricing plan. You can learn more about the MTA’s plan here, and stay tuned for additional information from WE ACT in the coming weeks. The virtual hearing for New Yorkers who live north of 61st Street in Manhattan will be on Wednesday, October 6 at 6:00 PM EDT. You can sign up for that Zoom hearing here and learn about the hearings for other neighborhoods along with other ways to comment here.
Help Improve the Washington Bridge Sign the Petition & Join the Clean-Up
We’re supporting our friends at Transportation Alternatives to improve the Washington Bridge, which connects Northern Manhattan and the Bronx at 181st Street. And there are two ways you can help. The first is by signing the petition to support safety and transit improvements and the second is to volunteer for their clean-up event from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Saturday, October 9. Of course, that coincides with our October Membership Meeting, but we’re sharing it in case you want to multi-task!
Communities, Climate Change, & Health Equity: A New Vision Two-Day Virtual Workshop on October 12 & 14
Join the Environmental Health Matters Initiative at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for a two-day virtual workshop on communities, climate change, and health equity. From 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM EDT on Tuesday, October 12 and from 12:00 to 4:00 PM EDT on Thursday, October 14, they will bring together people with lived experience, environmental health experts, resilience practitioners, and climate scientists to outline the disproportionate impact that climate change has on communities experiencing health disparities and environmental injustice. Learn More & Register Here
