February Membership Meeting Federal Policy Campaigns & Testimony Workshop
Saturday, February 8th Time: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM Location: Church of the Crucifixion
Convent Avenue (at West 149th Street)
Come learn about our Federal Policy agenda, including:
The Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI), which is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which requires federal agencies to study and analyze the environmental effects of proposed plans prior to decisions on whether or not to proceed…but is under threat from the Trump Administration!
We’ll also be conducting an Advocacy Workshop on how to write testimony for a public hearing or other decision-making processes. RSVP Here
Earth Day 5K Fun Run
Saturday, April 18th Time: Register from 8:00 - 9:15 AM; Start at 9:30 AM Location: Riverside Park
Enter at West 116th Street
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, we’re hosting an Earth Day 5K Fun Run on Saturday, April 18th in Riverside Park. Join us and help raise funds for WE ACT’s work while you run or walk for a healthier, greener community. More Info/Sign Up
Environmental Justice Grants
Are you a nonprofit doing environmental justice and sustainability work in New York State? This morning we issued a request for applications for our Environmental Justice Capacity-Building Grant Program funded by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. As part of this program, WE ACT will award 18 grants – $50,000 each, for a total of $900,000 – to eligible groups throughout New York State. The RFA is available to download online at weact.org/grants.
Albany Lobby Days
Thursday, February 13th - NYCHA Tuesday, February 25th - Toxics
Our members were in Albany on Monday, meeting with elected officials to demand funding for the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. We will be heading back up to Albany on Thursday, February 13th to meet about funding for NYCHA and then again on Tuesday, February 25th to meet on toxics in personal care products - including mercury in skin lightening creams. If you would like to join us for one of these lobby days, please contact membership@weact.org.
Climate Justice Working Group
Wednesday, February 26th Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM Location: WE ACT for Environmental Justice
1854 Amsterdam Avenue, 2nd Floor (at W 152nd St)
Are you interested in advocating for climate justice? Do you want to help turn our Cooling Centers and Heat, Health, & Equity projects into legislation? Do you want to help advance our Energy Efficiency Equity & Jobs Act? Then join our Climate Justice Working Group to learn about these issues and participate in advocacy workshops to help advance them. We're especially interested in recruiting more NYCHA tenants to join the group! RSVP Here
WE ACT on a Roll
Yesterday, Peggy Shepard and Cecil Corbin-Mark (above) joined the the MTA's press conference announcing that electric buses will start operating on the M60 SBS route, which runs across Harlem's 125th Street before crossing to LaGuardia. WE ACT was asked to participate because of our long track record of advocating for cleaner buses to reduce emissions and help lower asthma rates - which are among the highest in the city in our community - as well as help combat climate change. Learn More and See the Coverage in WABC TV 7, amNewYork, & Patch
Cecil Corbin Mark also testified in support of the Renewable Rikers Act at a New York City Council hearing later that day. He was joined by WE ACT member John Hall, who was trained to install solar panels by WE ACT and Solar One. Renewable RIkers will build a solar farm on the island, and WE ACT plans to train those formerly incarcerated there to do the installations. John Hall's testimony was particularly powerful because, in addition to being someone trained to install solar panels, he also used to teach art classes at Rikers so he's familiar with the challenges faced by those formerly incarcerated there. Learn More
