Uptown Chats
Join Jaron and Lonnie as they explore issues in their community through the eyes of everyday people, and discuss how environmental justice is showing up in the news. It’s not just for experts, it's for everyone! The podcast is officially 1 year old! Now that we're older and wiser, we're releasing episodes twice each month - on the second and last Monday of each month. Uptown Chats is the official podcast of WE ACT for Environmental Justice. WE ACT was founded in 1988 and has offices in New York City and Washington, D.C. You can find us online at weact.org.
Episodes
Summer is here and it is HOT! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about a new project to measure the impact of extreme heat inside the homes of everyday New Yorkers led by WE ACT’s Environmental Health Manager, Valentina Rojas.
Relevant Resources:
- Read the NYC DOHMH 2026 Heat Mortality Report to learn more about the impact of extreme heat in NYC.
Check out one of our previous episodes featuring Valentina, where we ...
Have you ever seen or heard a reference to climate or environmental justice in mainstream movies, TV, or novels? Join Jaron and Lonnie as they continue their conversation with Kiana Michaan, long-time WE ACT member and host of Climate with Kiana, where they discuss how climate and environmental justice show up through storytelling in all kinds of media.
Make sure to check out the first part of our conversation with Kiana: Epis...
Have you ever seen or heard a reference to climate or environmental justice in movies, TV, or novels? Join Jaron and Lonnie for their first podcast collaboration with Kiana Michaan, long-time WE ACT member and host of Climate with Kiana, where they discuss the state of the solar industry and then explore how climate and environmental justice show up through storytelling in media. Stay tuned for part two!
Check out one of our previo...
Summer is almost here and that means more expensive energy bills for many people. Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn more about energy justice and how it is being impacted by climate change with help from WE ACT’s Senior Policy Manager for Energy Justice, Eric Walker.
Make sure to check out the first part of this conversation if you haven’t already:
Our health, environments, and climate action are under attack! Join Jaron and Lonnie to continue our conversation about the recent rollback of over 30 Federal EPA regulations protecting us from dangerous vehicle and climate pollution, including the Endangerment Finding. These hard-earned protections are at risk of being undone, despite being vital in protecting our health, neighborhoods, and in fighting climate fueled extreme weath...
Our health, environments, and climate action are under attack! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about the recent rollback of over 30 Federal EPA regulations protecting us from dangerous vehicle and climate pollution, including the Endangerment Finding. These hard-earned protections are at risk of being undone, despite being vital in protecting our health, neighborhoods, and in fighting climate fueled extreme weather, especially for e...
Happy Earth Month! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn more about how energy justice impacts everyday New Yorkers and what WE ACT is doing to defend our landmark Climate Law with help from WE ACT’s Senior Policy Manager for Energy Justice, Eric Walker.
Want to take action to support energy justice in New York?
Everyone deserves to live in a healthy home! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about WE ACT’s Healthy Homes First campaign and how you can get involved with help from WE ACT”s Federal Policy Director, Anastasia Gordon.
Extra Resources:
- Learn more about WE ACT’s Healthy Homes First campaign at healthyhomesfirst.org
- Want to dive deeper? Check out our Equita...
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:
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:
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 newsle...
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 His...
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 mo...
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 quest...
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:
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.
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 upcomin...
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&rs...
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 EJNY...
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:
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