Uptown Chats: Recent Episodes
Jaron Burke, Lonnie Portis, WE ACT for Environmental Justice
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.
It isn’t easy being green, especially when it comes to energy. Join Jaron and Lonnie as they reflect on recent episodes and discuss the issue of greenwashing in the energy sector.
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
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There’s nothing “natural” about natural gas, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) is no different. Lonnie and Jaron are joined by Roishetta Ozane to talk about how LNG facilities impact environmental justice communities in the fourth episode of our Wrong Direction mini-series.
Guest:
- Roishetta Ozane, Founder and Director of Vessel Project of Louisiana
Extra Resources:
- Natural Gas Explained
- Overview of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
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Technology is great, but is it always the answer? Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about carbon capture and storage (CCS) with help from Dr. Ana Baptista in the third episode of our Wrong Direction mini-series.
Guest Information:
- Ana Baptista, Associate Professor of Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management & Co-Director of the Tishman Environment and Design Center at The New School
Extra Resources:
- DOE Carbon Management Projects (CONNECT) Toolkit
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
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Green, blue, gray, and brown - so many colors of hydrogen! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn why WE ACT considers hydrogen a false solution in addressing climate and environmental justice. Guests include WE ACT's Federal Research Manager, Manuel Salgado, and Cecil Corbin-Mark Environmental Justice Research Fellow, Tali Natter.
Extra Resources:
- Hydrogen Fuel Cell 101
- Explain It Like I’m Five (ELI5)
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
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Energy is here, there, everywhere! Join Jaron and Lonnie for the first episode of the Wrong Direction mini-series to learn from WE ACT's Federal Policy Director, Anastasia Gordon, about new energy technologies that are creating environmental justice challenges.
Over the next three months, the Wrong Direction mini-series will explore the impacts of the current U.S. energy policy on individuals in environmental justice communities with the help of a few special guests.
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Summer is almost here - just in time for Uptown Chat's new mini-series starting on June 10th. Over the next three months, this series will explore the impacts of the current U.S. energy policy on individuals in environmental justice communities with the help of a few special guests.
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Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mountaineer/end-credits [License code: YUKLTYIBRS1GXEKM]
In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, Lonnie and Jaron are joined by Albert ‘AJ’ Yuan to highlight the role of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in building the environmental justice movement.
Guest Information:
- Albert ‘AJ’ Yuan, WE ACT’s Federal Policy Legislative Coordinator
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
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It’s time to vote again! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about the upcoming Federal, State, and City primary election on June 25 with the help of Pamela Stewart-Martinez, WE ACT’s Director of Civic Engagement & Organizing.
Find important election information at weact.org/vote!
Register for one of WE ACT’s upcoming Candidates Forums at weact.org/candidates-forum/
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
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Happy Earth Day, Earth Week, Earth Month! To celebrate, Lonnie and Jaron are joined by Stephanie Caban from Riverside Park Conservancy to talk about why parks are so important for environmental justice.
Help Jaron raise money for Riverside Park Conservancy by donating at bit.ly/runforparks!
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
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In honor of Cecil Corbin-Mark, WE ACT’s first full-time employee, Lonnie and Jaron are joined by Executive Director Peggy Shepard to learn about the formation of WE ACT and the legacy of Cecil’s work.
Join us for the Cecil Corbin-Mark Street Naming Ceremony on April 20th!
Apply for the Cecil Corbin-Mark Fellowship for Environmental Justice Leadership.
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
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Count ‘em up - New Yorkers have THREE elections to vote in this year! Lonnie and Jaron are joined by Tyisha Smalls, WE ACT’s Community Organizing Coordinator, to chat about what to expect in this year’s presidential primary and highlight the role that women have played in protecting the right to vote.
Find important dates and information about this year’s elections at weact.org/vote
Learn more about Women’s History:
- Between Two Worlds: Black Women and the Fight for Voting Rights (National Park Service)
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The rent is too damn high - and so are our energy bills! Jaron and Lonnie talk about WE ACT’s new campaign, Our Homes Under Our Control, with help from WE ACT’s Climate Justice Campaign Manager, Annie Carforo.
Join WE ACT’s Climate Justice Working Group on the third Tuesday of every month from 6:00-7:30 PM!
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
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New report alert! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about the first-ever EJNYC Report with help from Peggy Shepard, Executive Director and Co-Founder of WE ACT for Environmental Justice.
You can find the EJNYC Report on the NYC Mayor's Office of Climate & Environmental Justice website.
Report not released yet? Sign-up for WE ACT's Newsletter for updates!
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
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Show me the money! Jaron and Lonnie explore how the budget gets decided at the city and state level in New York with the help from WE ACT’s State Legislative Manager, Briana Carbajal.
Advocacy Resources:
- Albany Advocacy Day: What to Expect When Lobbying with WE ACT at the State Capitol
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
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The war on rats continues! Jaron and Lonnie talk about rat contraceptives and other rat prevention strategies with the help of New York City Councilmember Shaun Abreu.
Rat Resources:
- Got rats? Call 311 to file a complaint.
- View rat inspection results and follow-up actions on our Rat Information Portal. Look up rat inspection history by address, borough, block and lot (BBL) number or by neighborhood.
- Learn more about rat prevention by signing up for Rat Academy Trainings hosted by the NYC Department of Health.
More Information About Rat Contraceptives:
- Brief history of rat contraceptives.
- How do rat contraceptives work?
- How does NYC use rat contraceptives now?
- Will rat contraceptives solve the rat problem?
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org
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Jaron and Lonnie are kicking off the new year with their first listener-requested topic - Rats! We all know those furry creatures are a nuisance, but are they also an environmental justice issue? Listen to find out!
Rat Resources:
- Got rats? Call 311 to file a complaint.
- View rat inspection results and follow-up actions on the Rat Information Portal. Look up rat inspection history by address, borough, block and lot (BBL) number or by neighborhood.
- Learn more about rat prevention by signing up for Rat Academy Trainings hosted by the NYC Department of Health.
Join us for WE ACT’s first membership meeting of the year. Register here!
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
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In the spirit of the holidays, Jaron and Lonnie are joined by two of the people who helped make WE ACT what it is today to tell their part of the WE ACT story.
Guest Information:
- Eric Goldstein, Senior Attorney and Director, New York City Environment, People & Communities Program
- Vernice Miller-Travis, Co-Founder of WE ACT
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
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Lead is everywhere! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about the long history of lead exposure and why it is an environmental justice issue, with help from two special guests.
Guest Information:
- Sonal Jessel, WE ACT’s Director of Policy
- Matthew Chachere, Former Staff Attorney at Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation (NMIC)
References from the Show:
- Information and referrals for children and pregnant women with elevated blood lead levels: Lead Poisoning Prevention and Treatment Program at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center
- Information on lead exposure on the job for adults: Mt. Sinai Hospital Selikoff Centers for Occupational Health and Bellevue/NYU Occupational Environmental Medicine Clinic
- NYC Environment & Health Data Portal
- NYC 311: Make a complaint about lead paint
- NYC Department of Health Lead Poisoning Prevention Resources
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
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In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Jaron and Lonnie are joined by three special guests, including City Councilmember Carmen De La Rosa, to hear about their experience working in the environmental justice movement.
Guest Information:
- Manuel 'Manny' Salgado, WE ACT’s Environmental Justice Research Analyst
- Carmen De La Rosa, New York City Councilmember (District 10)
- Marileidy Pimentel Paniagua, WE ACT’s Bilingual Community Organizer
References from the Show:
- Poll of Black and Latino/x Communities on Climate Change and the Clean Energy Transition
- Justice40 Initiative
- Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST)
- WE ACT’s Civic Engagement Working Group (Bilingual)
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
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What is air pollution and why does it matter? Join Jaron and Lonnie as they explore how air quality impacts New York City with the help of WE ACT’s Community Organizer, Tyisha Smalls and Leslie Vasquez from South Bronx Unite.
Guest Information:
- Tyisha Smalls, WE ACT’s Community Organizer
- Leslie Vasquez, Clean Air Project Organizer at South Bronx Unite
EJ in the News Articles:
-
WE ACT’s Community Air Quality Monitoring
-
Health Disparities from Canadian Wildfire Smoke in NYC
References from the Show:
- Sign up for the South Bronx Unite Newsletter
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
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Jaron and Lonnie talk about how transportation and public transit impact environmental justice communities with help from Flora Huang, a fellow podcaster and member of WE ACT's Transit Working Group, as well as our very own, Louis Bailey.
Guest Information:
- Flora Huang, Member of WE ACT's Transportation Working Group & Podcast Host
- Louis Bailey, WE ACT's Manager of Membership & Organizing
EJ in the News Articles:
- https://gothamist.com/news/mtas-congestion-pricing-plan-means-big-upgrades-for-nyc-transit
- https://gothamist.com/news/nyc-congestion-pricing-gets-key-federal-approval-possibly-in-place-by-april-2024
- https://nypost.com/2023/07/17/mta-to-spend-50m-on-5-free-bus-routes-across-nyc-boosted-subway-service/
References from the Show:
- Collaborative Blog Post - Fixing the C Train (Flora & Bailey): https://fihuang.wordpress.com/2015/09/07/fixing-the-c-train/
- Flora's Podcast: New Normal in Parenting
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
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It’s getting hot! Jaron and Lonnie are joined by members of WE ACT’s Climate Justice Working Group along with our very own Caleb Smith to talk about their experience with extreme heat advocacy.
Guest Information:
- Liz McMillan, Climate Justice Working Group Member
- Louis Kleinman, Climate Justice Working Group Member
- Stuart Aaronson, Climate Justice Working Group Member
- Nan Faessler, Climate Justice Working Group Member
- Caleb Smith, WE ACT's Resiliency Coordinator
References from the Show:
- WE ACT Extreme Heat Advocacy: https://linktr.ee/extremeheatnyc
- NYC Urban Forest Agenda: https://forestforall.nyc/nyc-urban-forest-agenda/
- Take Action! 1% for New York City Parks: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/1-percent-for-nyc-parks/
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
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Join Jaron and Lonnie as they take a short detour through space [and the internet] to look at WE ACT’s Green Institute with help from our Director of Workforce Development, Charles Calloway.
Guest Information:
- Charles Calloway, Director of Workforce Development & Head of the Green Institute
References from the Show:
- Definitions of Green Jobs:
- International Labour Organization (ILO): https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/green-jobs/news/WCMS_220248/lang--en/index.htm
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/green/green_definition.pdf
-
FINAL (ILO): https://www.cepal.org/sites/default/files/ana_sanchez_en_0.pdf
-
GPRO Certificate: https://www.gpro.org/
- WE ACT Green Jobs Report: https://www.weact.org/publications/green-jobs-report/
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
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We need renewable (and affordable) energy now! Jaron and Lonnie are joined by two experts to discuss solutions for addressing the disproportionate burden that low-income communities and communities of color experience when it comes to their energy bill.
Guest Information:
- Stephan Roundtree, Vote Solar's Deputy Program Director (Northeast)
- Briana Carbajal, WE ACT’s State Legislative Manager
References from the Show:
- https://www.sierraclub.org/energy-burden-calculator
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
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In honor of Women’s History Month, Jaron and Lonnie are joined by WE ACT’s Environmental Health Intern Gabriela Lebron along with three special guests to highlight Women of Color who have laid the groundwork for the Environmental Justice movement and are shaping its future.
Guest Information:
- Gabriela Lebron, WE ACT Environmental Health Intern
- Kristy Drutman, aka Brown Girl Green
- WE ACT’s own Dana Johnson
- Vernice Miller-Travis, Co-founder of WE ACT
Join WE ACT's April Membership Meeting: April 8 @ 10am (454 W 155th St, New York, NY 10032)
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
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Love hurts and so can beauty - but should it? Jaron and Lonnie talk to a local social media advocate about the role of colorism in the beauty industry and why it is an environmental justice issue.
Guest Informaton:
TK Saccoh (Creator of The Darkest Hue)
Yuwa Vosper (Policy & Regulatory Manager at WE ACT)
References from the Show:
Safe Beauty Apps: Clearya, EWG Skin Deep, Think Dirty
WE ACT's Beauty Inside Out Campaign: weact.org/beauty-inside-out/
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
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Composting is coming uptown! Jaron and Lonnie talk to a local composting advocate and discuss the benefits of composting for environmental justice communities.
Join Jaron and Lonnie from WE ACT for Environmental Justice to learn what the show's all about and what they have in store for 2023!