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Our Mission

WE ACT’s mission is to build healthy communities by ensuring that people of color and/or low income residents participate meaningfully in the creation of sound and fair environmental health and protection policies and practices. WE ACT envisions a community that has:

informed and engaged residents who participate fully in decision-making on key issues that impact their health and community.
strong and equal environmental protections.
increased environmental health through community-based participatory research and evidence-based campaigns.

Sonal Jessel Offers Recommendations to Improve Communications During Extreme Heat Events in the New York Times – August 5, 2020

In an August 5, 2020 article in the New York Times, WE ACT for Environmental Justice’s Policy & Advocacy Coordinator Sonal Jessel offered New York City recommendations on how to improve communications with vulnerable populations during extreme heat events. Read

Peggy Shepard Talks About Diversity in the Environmental Movement in Ensia – July 28, 2020

In a July 28, 2020 article in Ensia, WE ACT for Environmental Justice’s Co-Founder & Executive Director Peggy Shepard discusses the lack of diversity in the mainstream environmental movement and how it impacts grassroots environmental organizations. This article also appeared

Sonal Jessel Calls for Action on Heightened Threats of Heat & COVID-19 in Gotham Gazette Op-Ed – July 21, 2020

In a July 21, 2020 Op-Ed in the Gotham Gazette, WE ACT for Environmental Justice’s Policy & Advocacy Coordinator Sonal Jessel called for action from New York City & New York State to address the heightened health threats of extreme

Kerene Tayloe on the Weakening of NEPA in the New York Times – July 15, 2020

WE ACT for Environmental Justice’s Director of Federal Legislative Affairs Kerene Tayloe was quoted in a July 15, 2020 New York Times article on the Trump administration’s weakening of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), noting that this will impact

Peggy Shepard on the Importance of NEPA in the Hill – July 14, 2020

As a result of our virtual press conference on the importance of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), WE ACT for Environmental Justice’s Co-Founder & Executive Director Peggy Shepard was quoted in a July 14, 2020 article in the Hill,

Peggy Shepard on How Environmental Racism Shapes Environmental Views of People of Color in Morning Consult – July 6, 2020

In a July 6, 2020 article in Morning Consult about a recent poll finding that people of color are more concerned about local pollution than their white counterparts, WE ACT’s Co-Founder & Executive Director Peggy Shepard explains how environmental racism has

Kerene Tayloe Quoted on Opposition to Consumer Product Safety Commission Nominee in E&E News – July 2, 2020

In a July 2, 2020 article in E&E News, WE ACT’s Director of Federal Legislative Affairs Kerene Tayloe was quoted on our opposition to the the nomination of Nancy Beck to head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Read the

Cecil Corbin-Mark Talks Renewable Rikers with The New Republic – June 19, 2020

A June 19, 2020 article in The New Republic on the Renewable Rikers plan to turn the jail complex into a solar farm quoted Cecil Corbin-Mark, our Deputy Director and Director of Policy Initiatives, and credited WE ACT for taking

Taylor Morton Talks to HuffPost About Developing an Appreciation for Environmental & Social Justice – June 19, 2020

In a June 19, 2020 HuffPost article on the intersection of racism, inequality, & the environment, WE ACT’s Environmental Health and Education Manager Taylor Morton talked about developing an appreciation for environmental and social justice while growing up in the

Peggy Shepard on the Environmental, Health, & Racial Inequities Fueling the Relaunch of the NBEJN in the Guardian – June 18, 2020

In a June 18, 2020 article on the relaunch of the National Black Environmental justice Network (NBEJN) in the Guardian, our Co-Founder and Executive Director Peggy Shepard was quoted on the environmental, health, racial, and other inequities that fueled the

Peggy Shepard on the Return of the NBEJN in the Hill – June 15, 2020

In a June 15, 2020 article in the Hill, our Co-Founder and Executive Director Peggy Shepard was quoted on the advocacy role of the National Black Environmental Justice Network (NBEJN). The NBEJN relaunched via a virtual press conference that day,

Peggy Shepard Interviewed by CBS on Environmental Justice – June 12, 2020

In a June 12, 2020 article on CBSNews.com, our Co-Founder and Executive Director Peggy Shepard was interviewed about the environmental justice movement and why, in this time of COVID-19 and renewed protests for racial justice, it has become even more

Cecil Corbin-Mark Urges Action on CLCPA in E&E News – June 11, 2020

In a June 11, 2020 article on the status of New York State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, our Deputy Director and Director of Policy Initiatives Cecil Corbin-Mark recognized the budget challenges brought on by COVID-19 but urged for

Peggy Shepard Discusses Environmental Support for Racial Justice in Politico – June 4, 2020

In a June 4, 2020 article in Politico on the support big green groups are offering the protests for racial justice, our Co-Founder & Executive Director Peggy Shepard welcomed statements of support but said that action is what’s really needed.

Kerene Tayloe Focuses on the Importance of Environmental Health in Addressing COVID-19, Climate Change, & Racial Injustice in Grist – June 4, 2020

A June 4, 2020 article in Grist shared the views of environmental justice leaders on ways to address the compounded threats of racial injustice, climate change, and COVID-19. Our Director of Federal Legislative Affairs Kerene Tayloe looked at the challenge

Cecil Corbin-Mark Discusses Impact of COVID-19 in Latinx Communities with Moms Clean Air Force – May 26, 2020

Deputy Director Cecil Corbin-Mark was interviewed by Moms Clean Air Force on the impacts of COVID-19 on the Latinx community for a May 26, 2020 article, in which he discusses the lack of access to healthcare and housing as well

Peggy Shepard & Julie Tighe Call for Parks Funding in Manhattan Times – May 20, 2020

As part of the Play Fair for Parks coalition, WE ACT’s Peggy Shepard joined New York League of Conservation Voters President Julie Tighe in writing an Op-Ed on the need for increasing equitable park funding that was published in the

Peggy Shepard and Jane Fonda Talk Climate Justice on Harper’s BAZAAR Podcast – May 8, 2020

In November 2019, Peggy Shepard sat down with Jane Fonda for a one-on-one conversation on climate change, climate justice, and social justice at Le Chalet in Saks Fifth Avenue. The event, sponsored by American Express, was recorded for the

Patch Reports the Launch of WE ACT’s Online EJ Lessons for Kids – April 20, 2020

In an April 20, 2020 article, Patch reported WE ACT for Environmental Justice’s introduction of free online learning modules designed to teach children about environmental health and justice. Read the Article

Peggy Shepard Profiled in Marie Claire’s Women Fighting to Save the World – April 13, 2020

Our Co-Founder and Executive Director Peggy Shepard was profiled in the April issue of Marie Claire as one of the Women Fighting to Save the World, which featured female environmental leaders in honor of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.

Cecil Corbin-Mark Featured in Inside EPA Article on the Child Safe Products Act – April 8, 2020

WE ACT’s Deputy Director & Director of Policy Initiatives Cecil Corbin-Mark was featured in an April 8, 2020 article in Inside EPA on New York State’s Child Safe Products Act, which was signed into law earlier this year. Corbin-Mark, who

Kerene Tayloe Defends NEPA in Blavity Op-Ed – March 6, 2020

WE ACT’s Director of Federal Legislative Affairs Kerene N. Tayloe, Esq. wrote an Op-Ed in Blavity on March 6, 2020 urging readers to voice their opposition to the proposed rollbacks to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Read the Op-Ed

Peggy Shepard Co-Authored NEPA Op-Ed in the Hill – February 25, 2020

Peggy Shepard, Co-Founder and Executive Director of WE ACT for Environmental Justice, and Christy Goldfuss, Senior Vice President for Energy and Environment Policy at the Center for American Progress, co-authored an Op-Ed in the Hill on February 25, 2020 making

Peggy Shepard in the Huffington Post – March 8, 2019

On March 3, 2019, WE ACT’s Co-Founder & Executive Director Peggy Shepard was featured in a Huffington Post article for International Women’s Day celebrating “8 Women Making the World A Better Place.” Read the Article

Solar Uptown Now on ABC’s Here and Now – February 3, 2019

WE ACT’s Deputy Director and Director of Policy Initiatives Cecil Corbin-Mark appeared on ABC Channel 7’s Here and Now on Feb. 3rd, 2019 discussing our Solar Uptown Now program, which is putting rooftop solar on affordable housing in Harlem and training