April Membership Meeting: Get to Know the Candidates for New York State Assembly Districts 70 & 71
As we prepare for the New York State primaries on June 28, we are conducting a series of Candidates Forums to help you get to know the candidates seeking to represent Northern Manhattan. First up will be the candidates for New York State Assembly Districts 70 & 71 during our April Membership Meeting, which will begin at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 9. RSVP here. And learn about all of our Candidates Forums and other key voter information here.
How Can Philanthropy Help Advance Environmental Justice?
On Thursday, April 7 at 12:30 PM, Peggy Shepard will participate in a panel discussion exploring how philanthropists and funders have been – and should be – approaching and supporting the environmental justice movement. A collaboration between Aperio Philanthropy and the New York University School of Professional Studies Center for Global Affairs, the panel will be moderated by Dr. Carolyn Kissane, Director of the NYU SPS Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab. In addition to Peggy, the other panelists include Jamiah Adams, SVP of Diversity and Justice at the Climate Reality Project; Lylianna Allala, Climate Justice Director at the City of Seattle’s Office of Sustainability and Environment; and King Laughlin, SVP of Principal Gifts at the National Park Foundation. RSVP here.
Toxic Legacies: How Cumulative Impacts Are Harming Our Communities
Peggy Shepard will join a panel discussion on the cumulative impacts that lead and other toxic substances have on our communities at 2:00 PM on Friday, April 8. The panel is part of the New York State Association of Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, & Asian Legislators’ 51st Annual Legislative Conference, which convenes April 8-10 at the Hilton’s Grand Ballroom in Albany. Moderated by New York State Assemblymember Karines Reyes, the panel will also include Oceanna Fair, Advocate at Families for Lead Freedom Now!; Torrance Harvey, Mayor of Newburgh, NY; and Paul Webster, Director of Programs at Clean and Healthy NY. RSVP here.
Calling on Albany to Increase Funding for the Childhood Lead Crisis
New York State Senator Cordell Cleare (left) and Sonal Jessel (right) were among the speakers at the Lead-Free Kids New York press conference in Albany, where they asked the Governor and New York State Legislature to include increased funding in the 2022-2023 New York State budget to address the childhood lead poisoning crisis. New York State has more children with elevated blood lead levels than any other state in the nation. And we know from studies that Black children living below the poverty line are twice as likely to suffer from lead poisoning as poor white children. Learn more here.
VIDEO REPLAY: Watch Our Press Conference on Con Ed's Rate Hikes
Sonal Jessel, Jasmine Graham, and Briana Carbajal made the case for opposing Con Edison’s proposed double-digit rate hikes for gas and electric during a City Hall press conference ahead of the Public Service Commission’s rate case hearings. Our colleagues from Alliance for a Green Economy, Earthjustice, Public Utility Law Project, and Sane Energy participated, along with New York City Council Member Shaun Abreu. Watch the video here.
Sonal Jessel, fellow advocates, and elected officials were featured in Harlem World Magazine, calling on the Governor and New York State Legislature to include $15 billion in the 2022-2023 New York State budget to fund climate justice programs and legislation. Read the article here.
Dana Johnson spoke on an electrification panel hosted by U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, who Co-Chairs the Electrification Caucus. Dana discussed our Out of Gas, In with Justice pilot that’s examining the changes in indoor air quality when transitioning from gas appliances to all-electric in affordable housing. Read the article in the Los Alamos Daily Posthere.
In a Fox Business article on the push to expand liquified natural gas (LNG) exports, Peggy Shepard called on the Biden administration to halt LNG infrastructure expansion and focus instead on renewable energy growth. Read the article here.
In a Gothamist article on the legacy of redlining, Sonal Jessel called for the passage of New York State bills we’ve been advocating for to address the cumulative impacts of multiple sources of pollution on these communities. Read the article here.
In a Grist article on the U.S. Department of Energy’s move to make $3.16 million available for its Weatherization Assistance Program, Jasmine Graham raised concern as to whether those funds could be used for things like mold abatement and lead removal, which are often necessary before energy efficiency improvements can be made in older homes. If weatherization programs fail to include such repairs, then residents of environmental justice communities may not be eligible to take advantage of them. Read the article here.
The Cecil Corbin-Mark Fellowship for Environmental Justice Leadership Apply Today!
We are proud to announce that WE ACT is now accepting applicants for the inaugural year of the Cecil Corbin-Mark Fellowship for Environmental Justice Leadership. Two applicants will be selected to work on environmental justice policy issues, and gain experience in community-based policy advocacy, legislative and regulatory drafting, policy research, and community engagement. The deadline for application is Friday, April 15. All the details can be found here.
Annual Earth Day 5K Fun Run Celebrate Earth Day by Supporting WE ACT!
Register today and come celebrate Earth Day, help raise funds for WE ACT, and run or walk for a healthier, greener community at our annual Earth Day 5K fundraiser. Like much of our lives right now, it will be both virtual and in-person. Participants can run or walk five kilometers (3.1 miles) at a time and place of their choosing beginning on Earth Day, Friday, April 22. And on Sunday, May 1, we will have an in-person run and/or walk on Randall’s Island for those who want to participate in-person. You can register here as an individual or as a team. If you choose to start a team, you can share your team fundraising page with family, friends, and colleagues interested in joining your team or donating to support it. And if you are interested in sponsoring this great event, you can download our sponsorship brochure here (PDF). We hope you can join us!
WE ACT's Membership Planning Committee Take a Leadership Role
Our Membership Planning Committee serves a leadership role in our membership and does a lot of the work planning and preparing for our Membership Meetings and other events. The committee also works toward more effective communication between the membership body and staff and helps set goals for membership participation. We are holding elections for this volunteer committee and encourage any member interested in becoming a candidate to please complete this form by Friday, May 6. Questions? Reach out to Bailey at [email protected].
Apply for a Fellowship to Help Build a Diverse Workforce to Decarbonize the Electricity Sector
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced the Clean Energy Innovator Fellowship, a $6 million program that sends recent graduates and energy professionals to work at critical energy organizations to advance clean energy solutions. This program will help increase access to clean energy career opportunities across the country and accelerate the national transition to a resilient and affordable clean energy economy. Learn more about the program, eligibility, and how to apply here.
