Uptown Chats

Don’t let the name fool you - virtual power plants have real-life benefits! Join Jaron and Lonnie as they chat with Zoe Voss Lee from South Bronx Unite to learn about virtual power plants and their potential to help reduce peak energy demand and lower energy bills. Check out some other related episodes: Episode 4 - Energy Democracy: Power to the People Episode 72 - Peaker Plants Episode 74 - Batte...

Hyperscale data centers are getting a lot of coverage in the news lately. Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about the impact of these data centers on environmental justice communities across the country with help from WE ACT’s Federal Policy Manager, Yosef Robele. Learn more about WE ACT's Data Center Environmental Justice Principles ! Check out one of our previous episodes featuring Dr. Nicky Sheats...

Climate week may be over, but we're still here doing the work! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about some of WE ACT's ongoing efforts in East Harlem to promote climate resilience along with an interview with Dr. Gary Yohe about the intersection between climate resilience and economics. Want to learn more about our work in East Harlem? RSVP for the State of East Harlem Town Hall on Wednesday, Octobe...

It's a podcast takeover! Join Tali Natter, WE ACT's Research Coordinator and former Cecil Corbin-Mark Environmental Justice Research Fellow, to get to know the Environmental Justice Leadership Forum, a group of over 40 environmental justice organizations across 24 states and D.C. hosted by WE ACT. Our special podcast episode was recorded at this year's convening in June, held in Chicago with partn...

Battery energy storage systems are coming to NYC! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn how this technology can help lower energy bills and improve local air quality with help from Alia Soomro, Deputy Director of New York City Policy at the New York League of Conservation Voters. This episode builds on our conversation about Peaker Plants with Yuwa Vosper, WE ACT’s Senior Policy Advisor. Check out the ep...

Have you ever struggled to pay your utility bill? Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about one of the twelve Clean Energy Hubs across New York State that help New Yorkers access programs to lower their energy bills and participate in the clean energy transition. Our special guest for this episode is Sachaly De Leon from the Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development (ANHD). Want to learn mor...

Ever wonder why your utility bill is higher in the summer? Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn how peak demand and peaker plants affect both the cost of electricity and the air quality in NYC communities. Our special guest this week is WE ACT’s Senior Policy Advisor, Yuwa Vosper. Check out one of our previous episodes to learn more about energy justice and how our electricity grid works  Episode 4: Ene...

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 Valent...

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...

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 pa...

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: Episode 65: Energy Justice in New York You can also...

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 fi...

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 fuele...

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?  Ask Your State Legislators to Defend the Climate Act & Fund the Sustainable Future Progr...

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 Equitable Principles for Building Decarbonization Di...

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 Epis...

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 Y...

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 s...

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 En...

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 previo...

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 episod...

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 PERI...

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...

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...

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...