Urban Heat

The Clean Water, Clean Air, Green Jobs Bond Act

The General Election in November New Yorkers can take advantage of early voting from Oct. 29 through Nov. 6 or vote in-person on Election Day, Nov. 8. To learn more, visit our Voter Information page. Flip Over Your

Too Hot to Handle: The Reality of Extreme Heat in New York & How to Prepare Frontline Communities

Join us on Wednesday, June 1 at 12:00 PM for WE ACT for Environmental Justice’s comprehensive webinar on extreme heat, the deadliest impact of climate change, on the residents of Northern Manhattan, and how you can help address it. We

Peggy Shepard & Sonal Jessel Recognized Among City & State New York’s Energy & Environment Power 100 – Dec. 20, 2021

On December 20, 2021, WE ACT for Environmental Justice’s Co-Founder & Executive Director Peggy Shepard and Director of Policy Sonal Jessel were named among City & State New York’s Energy & Environment Power 100. Read the Article

Peggy Shepard’s Extreme Heat in East Harlem Op-Ed in the Daily News – August 12, 2021

WE ACT for Environmental Justice’s Co-Founder & Executive Director Peggy Shepard penned an Op-Ed on the impacts of extreme heat in communities of color, like East Harlem, that was published in the New York Daily News on August 12, 2021.

Report Reveals Inequities in the Exposure to the Urban Heat Island in New York City

REPORT REVEALS INEQUITIES IN THE EXPOSURE TO THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND IN NEW YORK CITY Black and Latino Communities in Northern Manhattan are more vulnerable to heat-related health threats FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 20, 2021 CONTACTS: Fabiola Nunez,

Sonal Jessel Takes the Verge on Our East Harlem Heat Tour – July 14, 2021

When the Verge approached us to learn more about the Urban Heat Island effect, WE ACT for Environmental Justice’s Director of Policy and resident heat expert Sonal Jessel, M.P.H. took journalist Justine Calma and her film crew on our East

Sonal Jessel on Extreme Heat in East Harlem in National Geographic – June 17, 2021

WE ACT for Environmental Justice’s Director of Policy Sonal Jessel, M.P.H. was featured in a June 17, 2021 National Geographic article on the impact of extreme heat around the world. She gave the journalist a “heat tour” of East Harlem

Sonal Jessel Talks About Extreme Heat and Climate Justice on Can’t Take the Heat – September 3, 2020

WE ACT for Environmental Justice’s Policy & Advocacy Coordinator Sonal Jessel was interviewed on the Can’t Take the Heat podcast, which is produced by the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre. The interview aired on September 3, 2020, and she

Public Green Spaces: Racism, Heat, and Barriers to Access

By Emma Urofsky & Robbie M Parks Public green spaces are cornerstones of our communities. Some, like Central Park, have become cultural icons, distinguishing landmarks. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, public green spaces also confer health benefits to those who make

Sonal Jessel Voices Concern About NYC’s Get Cool Program in the New York Times – August 21, 2020

In an August 21, 2020 article in the New York Times, WE ACT for Environmental Justice’s Policy & Advocacy Coordinator Sonal Jessel voiced concerns about the effectiveness of New York City’s Get Cool program, which was designed to provide free