Uptown Chats cover art

Uptown Chats

Uptown Chats

Written by: Jaron Burke Lonnie Portis WE ACT for Environmental Justice
Listen for free

About this listen

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.© 2022 Economics Management Management & Leadership Social Sciences
Episodes
  • EPA Rollbacks Part 1 - The Endangerment Finding
    Apr 27 2026

    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 environmental justice communities. Special guests include Byron Ramos Gudiel, Executive Director of Center for Earth, Energy & Democracy (CEED) (convener of the Platform for a Just Climate), and Manuel Salgado, Federal Research Manager for WE ACT's Federal Policy Office.

    Did one of the topics in this episode pique your interest? Listen to one of our previous episodes to learn more:

    • Episode 35: A Conversation with EPA Region 2 Administrator Lisa Garcia

    You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.

    Got questions? Call our Uptown Chats Hotline at 877-UPTOWN6! You can also email us at podcast@weact.org.

    Make sure to subscribe to the WE ACT newsletter for updates, upcoming events and actions you can take!

    Connect with the show:

    Follow us on Instagram

    Follow us on Facebook

    Donate to WE ACT for Environmental Justice

    Show More Show Less
    32 mins
  • Energy Justice in New York
    Apr 13 2026

    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 Program: The Renewable Heat Now coalition invites you to email your state legislators, urging them to defend the law and fund the Sustainable Future Program. There’s no harm in asking twice! Take Action
    • Tell the Public Service Commission to Deny the Fossil Fuel Industry’s Petition: A fossil fuel-backed group has asked a state agency - the New York Public Service Commission - to hold a hearing that could weaken New York's clean energy law. Click here to tell the PSC to deny this attempt by the fossil fuel industry to weaken our climate law. Take Action

    Other Resources:

    • How to Read Your Utility Bill (Con Ed)

    Did this episode pique your interest? Check out other similar episodes:

    • Episode 4: Energy Democracy - Power to the People
    • Episode 49 and 50: Uptown Chats Book Club - Powerless (Part 1) and (Part 2)

    You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.

    Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org

    Connect with the show:

    Follow us on Instagram

    Follow us on Facebook

    Donate to WE ACT for Environmental Justice

    Show More Show Less
    38 mins
  • Healthy Homes First
    Mar 30 2026

    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

    Did one of the topics in this episode pique your interest? Listen to one of our previous episodes to learn more:

    • Episode 23: Energy is Environmental Justice (Wrong Direction Mini-Series)

    You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.

    Got questions? Call our Uptown Chats Hotline at 877-UPTOWN6! You can also email us at podcast@weact.org.

    Make sure to subscribe to the WE ACT newsletter for updates, upcoming events and actions you can take!

    Connect with the show:

    Follow us on Instagram

    Follow us on Facebook

    Donate to WE ACT for Environmental Justice

    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
No reviews yet