Uptown Chats

March is here and money is on our minds. Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about some of WE ACT’s priorities for the City and State budget this year with help from WE ACT’s City Policy Manager, Caleb Smith. Did one of the topics in this episode pique your interest? Listen to one of our previous episodes to learn more: Episode 11: The Legacy of Lead (Pb) Episode 20: Celebrating Parks on Earth Day Episode 61: New York City Policy Updates: Plans, Compost and More You can also listen to this episode on YouTube. Got questions? Call our Uptown Chats Hotline at 877-UPTOWN6! You can also email us at podcast@weact.org. Make sure to subscribe to the WE ACT newsletter for updates, upcoming events and actions you can take! Connect with the show: Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook Donate to WE ACT for Environmental Justice

Tax season is here again, which means finances are on everyone’s minds. In this episode, Lonnie and Jaron are joined by Bunny McKensie Mack, CEO & Founder of MMG Earth, to talk about liberatory finance and how it connects to environmental justice. Did one of the topics in this episode pique your interest? Listen to one of our previous episodes to learn more: Episode 34: Community Land Trusts You can also listen to this episode on YouTube. Got questions? Call our Uptown Chats Hotline at 877-UPTOWN6! You can also email us at podcast@weact.org. Make sure to subscribe to the WE ACT newsletter for updates, upcoming events and actions you can take! Connect with the show: Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook Donate to WE ACT for Environmental Justice

A lot is happening in New York City, especially when it comes to policy. Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about some of WE ACT's priorities for 2026 with help from Caleb Smith, WE ACT's City Policy Manager. Topics include the City's Environmental Justice (EJNYC) Plan, the East Harlem Climate and Community Master Plan, and organic waste diversion. Check out WE ACT’s 2026 Policy Agenda! Make sure to subscribe to the WE ACT newsletter for updates, upcoming events and actions you can take! Did one of the topics in this episode pique your interest? Listen to one of our previous episodes to learn more: Episode 16: NYC Environmental Justice Report Episode 35: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), featuring Lisa Garcia You can also listen to this episode on YouTube. Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org  Connect with the show: Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook Donate to WE ACT for Environmental Justice

This week, Lonnie and Jaron are joined by Weezie Foster, WE ACT’s Government Affairs Manager to share some updates from our Federal Policy Office and talk about some important items on WE ACT’s federal policy agenda for 2026. Check out some of the resources from WE ACT's Federal Policy Office: WE ACT produced six StoryMaps including ones sharing the past, present and future of Black History and Environmental Justice. Want to learn more about the National Environmental Policy Act? Check out this StoryMap titled NEPA Does Not Delay! You can also listen to this episode on YouTube. Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org  Connect with the show: Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook Donate to WE ACT for Environmental Justice

WE ACT’s 2026 Policy Agenda is hot off the press! Join Jaron, Jama, and Briana to learn about some exciting campaigns WE ACT is advocating for in New York State this year. Check out WE ACT’s 2026 Policy Agenda! Make sure to subscribe to the WE ACT newsletter for updates, upcoming events and actions you can take! Did one of the topics in this episode pique your interest? Listen to one of our previous episodes to learn more: Episode 2: Don’t Be Toxic, Be Beautiful Episode 40: The New York State Beauty Justice Act You can also listen to this episode on YouTube. Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org  Connect with the show: Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook Donate to WE ACT for Environmental Justice

The holidays are here again, and this year, Lonnie and Jaron are joined by Leslie Fields, WE ACT’s Chief Federal Officer to share stories from the environmental justice movement, including Leslie’s role in creating our Federal Policy Office in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the Environmental Justice Leadership Forum made up of organizations across the country! You can also listen to this episode on YouTube. Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org  Connect with the show: Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook

It has been a difficult year for many of us, but that hasn’t stopped WE ACT from accomplishing some big wins in the name of environmental justice. Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn more about some of the wins for 2025 that we are excited to celebrate. Want to take action? Check out the links below: SEND A LETTER TO GOVERNOR HOCHUL TO PROTECT OUR HEALTH AND BAN PFAS & OTHER TOXIC CHEMICALS IN PERIOD PRODUCTS SEND A LETTER TO GOVERNOR HOCHUL TO REPEAL THE 100 FOOT RULE! Check out these past episodes related to some of our wins this year: Fifty First Episodes (featuring Karla Cordero, WE ACT's Chief of Staff) Energy Democracy – Power to the People (featuring Briana Carbajal, WE ACT's State Legislative Manager) Extreme Heat: Too Hot to Handle (featuring members of WE ACT's Climate Justice Working Group) You can also listen to this episode on YouTube. Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org  Connect with the show: Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook

Want to hear some trash talk without all of the drama? Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about some emerging policies in New York State to reduce the impact of plastic and other waste materials on the environment and our health, with help from a member of WE ACT's Planning Committee, Danielle Dookie. Danielle also serves on the Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board. Liked this episode? Check out our previous episode on Waste Incineration to learn more! You can also listen to this episode on YouTube. Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org  Connect with the show: Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook

Children’s Environmental Health Month is almost over, but youth-led climate action is still going strong! In this episode, Lonnie and Jaron are joined by Shiv Soin, Founder and Co-Executive Director of TREEage to learn how young people have helped shape the climate justice movement and ways for more young people to get involved. Want to support climate action in your community? Check out upcoming TREEage events! You can also listen to this episode on YouTube. Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org  Connect with the show: Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook

October is Children’s Environmental Health Month! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about the Green Healthy Schools campaign with help from Faiza Azam, Climate & Labor Organizer at ALIGN. Take Action! Join the Climate Works for All coalition and sign the petition to tell our next mayor: we need Green, Healthy Schools to ensure the future of New York City’s climate, children, education system, and workforce. www.alignny.org/greenhealthyschools You can also find ALIGN on Instagram: @align_new_york Learn more about the Green Healthy Schools Report  You can also listen to this episode on YouTube. Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org  Connect with the show: Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook

Need some fresh air? Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about air quality monitoring projects in Northern Manhattan and how you can help promote environmental justice in New York with help from Valentina Rojas, WE ACT’s Environmental Health Manager. Extra Resources: Learn more about the EJNYC Report Check out WE ACT’s Air Quality Monitoring Projects You can also listen to this episode on YouTube. Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org  Connect with the show: Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook

It’s raining, it’s pouring! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn how different types of flooding impact communities across New York, and what is being done to reduce those impacts with help from Tyler Taba, Director of Resilience at Waterfront Alliance. Guest Information: Tyler Taba, Director of Resilience - Waterfront Alliance Extra Resources: Sign up for Notify NYC to get important updates about flooding and other climate-related hazards. Live in Northern Manhattan? Check out WE ACT’s Climate Ready Uptown Plan You can also listen to this episode on YouTube. Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org  Connect with the show: Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook

It is our fifty-first episode! Join Lonnie and Jaron as they reflect on highlights and lessons from their first fifty episodes of the podcast with the help of Karla Cordero, WE ACT’s Chief of Staff. You can also listen to this episode on YouTube. Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org  Connect with the show: Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook

The story continues! Join Jaron and Lonnie for the second part of their first Uptown Chats Book Club featuring a discussion with Dr. Diana Hernandez about her new book, Powerless: The People’s Struggle for Energy. No reading required! Check out this Uptown Chats Book Club read: Powerless: The People’s Struggle for Energy You can also listen to this episode on YouTube. Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org  Connect with the show: Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook

Energy insecurity is real! Join Jaron and Lonnie for their first Uptown Chats Book Club featuring a discussion with Dr. Diana Hernandez about her new book, Powerless: The People’s Struggle for Energy. No reading required! Note: This is a two-part episode. Stay tuned for the rest of the interview in our next episode! Check out this Uptown Chats Book Club read: Powerless: The People’s Struggle for Energy You can also listen to this episode on YouTube. Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org  Connect with the show: Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook

Welcome to the future! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about some emerging renewable energy technologies ranging from totally plausible to way out there with help from Jama Joseph, WE ACT's Communications Associate. Be warned - this one may get a little silly! DISCLAIMER: This episode is for entertainment and educational purposes only. WE ACT does not endorse any of the technologies discussed in this episode. Discussion of investments in any of the aforementioned technologies is fictitious and does not reflect any investments of real monies by WE ACT or any affiliated parties. You can also listen to this episode on YouTube. Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org  Connect with the show: Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook  

That’s a wrap! Join Jaron and Lonnie as they reflect on lessons from their Right Direction mini-series and share some of their highlights. You can also listen to this episode on YouTube. Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org  Connect with the show: Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook

This episode is a TEN out of TEN! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about geothermal energy and thermal energy networks, also known as TENs, with help from Jon Furlong, Clean Buildings Campaign Manager at New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV). Extra Resources: Overview of Thermal Energy Networks (TENs) Examples of Thermal Energy Networks Geothermal Energy Basics You can also listen to this episode on YouTube. Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org  Connect with the show: Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook

Are you a big fan of wind energy? Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn more about the growing offshore wind industry in New York and the workforce development that is needed to support it with help from the City University of New York’s Offshore Wind Advisory Network. Special guests include Robert Zandi (Kingsborough Community College) and Alexander Seki (LaGuardia Community College). Extra Resources: Learn about the offshore wind industry in New York through CUNY’s Bridges to Offshore Wind program. Career Skills & Workforce Training at LaGuardia Community College Offshore Wind 101 Renewable Energy Generation in the U.S. (2023) Wind Energy in the News: In Reversal, Trump Officials Will Allow Huge Offshore N.Y. Wind Farm to Proceed Governor Hochul Announces Executed Contracts for 26 Large-Scale, Land-Based Renewable Energy Projects You can also listen to this episode on YouTube. Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org  Connect with the show: Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook

Pump it up! In this episode, Lonnie and Jaron are joined by Jordan Bonomo from the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to talk about how they have been piloting heat pumps in their buildings to reduce their energy usage and improve the comfort of their residents. Extra Resources: Heat Pump 101 You can also listen to this episode on YouTube. Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org  Connect with the show: Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook