Attend Our Annual Gala Thursday, October 21 at 7:00 PM
Join us we celebrate WE ACT’s 2021 achievements at our annual Gala on Thursday, October 21 from 7:00-8:30 PM EDT via Zoom. We’ll have an optional, opt-in only virtual Cocktail Reception at 6:30 PM EDT. This is your chance to support the work we do! Buy Tickets
Rally for Electric School Buses Thursday, September 30 at 11:00 AM
There’s been a lot of talk about sending children back to school during a pandemic, and rightly so. But there hasn’t been enough talk about packing kids onto diesel buses that pump carcinogenic exhaust that’s just as bad inside the bus as it is outside. Join us and our partners in the New York City Clean School Bus Coalition on Thursday, September 30 at 11:00 AM to rally to pass Intro 455 and bring electric school buses to New York City! The rally will be held on the steps of the Tweed Courthouse, which is located at 52 Chambers Street, between Broadway and Centre Street.
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
NYC Climate Week
As usual, it’s been a productive Climate Week here at WE ACT! Peggy Shepard kicked things off at a press conference on Monday with (pictured above, left to right) New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos, EPA Administrator Michael Regan, Bloc Power CEO Donnel Baird, and Rev. Sean McGillicuddy at the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Catholic Church in the Bronx, which received an energy upgrade from Bloc Power.
Peggy Shepard and EPA Administrator Michael Regan also spoke with students at the Immaculate Conception School in the Bronx about environmental and climate justice.
And a big thank you to all of our members and staff who turned out for the Gas Free NYC rally yesterday (watch the video replay). Not only did we garner some media attention (including this local ABC TV story), but one of the members of our coalition was able to get New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson to say the he supports Intro 2317, legislation that will eliminate natural gas hookups in new construction and gut renovations – a critical step in reducing the city’s greenhouse gas emissions.
On Monday, September 27, Raya Salter will participate in a New Rochelle Against Racism panel discussing environmental justice.
Peggy Shepard will talk about environmental justice as part of Bank of America’s Courageous Conversations series, speaking with members of its Environmental, Social, & Governance group on Wednesday, September 29.
Raya Salter will be on a panel discussing how to strategize the green infrastructure plan at 2:20 PM on Friday, Oct. 1 as part of Northeastern University’s 7th Annual Energy Conference. RSVP
October Membership Meeting Saturday, October 9 at 10:00 AM
Mark your calendar for our October Membership Meeting on Saturday, Oct. 9 at 10:00 AM EDT. We’ll be talking about why lead poisoning is still an issue, especially in our communities, and what we can do about it. RSVP
Dana Johnson raised concerns in Bloomberg Law about the delays in developing the EPA’s environmental justice screening tool. Read the Article
Sonal Jessel was quoted in an article about the New York State Attorney General fining one of New York City’s largest landlords for failing to comply with laws we helped pass to protect children from childhood lead poisoning. Read the Article
Peggy Shepard was quoted in Environmental Health News’ coverage about Toxic-Free Future’s report on greenhouse gas emissions from the production of PFAS. Read the Article
As part of the New York State Climate Action Council’s Climate Justice Working Group, Sonal Jessel outlined clean energy action recommendations, including energy efficiency upgrades for municipally owned buildings and mapping tools to help municipalities effectively plan and evaluate. Read the Article
Learn About Public Power Sunday, September 26 at 2:00 PM
We are part of the Public Power NY coalition, which is having an orientation on Sunday, Sept. 26 at 2:00 PM EDT for those who are interested in learning more about the campaign for public power in New York. Next year will be massive for renewable energy, and making utilities democratically controlled and publicly owned will be instrumental in ensuring a just transition for all! RSVP
