Uptown Chats

Hosted by Jaron Burke, Lonnie Portis, WE ACT for Environmental Justice

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Jun 2026

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About the show

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.

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25 recent

June 8, 202630 min

Solar and Storytelling (Part 1)

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 part two! Check out one of our previous episodes to learn more about the legacy of Cecil Corbin-Mark and his contributions to WE ACT! Episode 19: Honoring Cecil Corbin-Mark You can also hear more of Kiana on her podcast, Climate with Kiana! 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

May 25, 202628 min

Deep Dive on Energy Justice

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 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

May 11, 202626 min

EPA Rollbacks Part 2 - Fighting Back

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 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. Make sure to check out the first part of this conversation if you haven’t already: Episode 67: EPA Rollbacks Part 1 - The Endangerment Finding 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

April 27, 202632 min

EPA Rollbacks Part 1 - The Endangerment Finding

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

April 13, 202637 min

Energy Justice in New York

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

March 30, 202631 min

Healthy Homes First

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

March 9, 202623 min

City and State Budget Update

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 Episode 61: New York City Policy Updates: Plans, Compost and More 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

February 23, 202632 min

Liberatory Finance

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 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

February 9, 202635 min

New York City Policy Updates: Plans, Compost and More

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 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 previous episodes to learn more: Episode 16: NYC Environmental Justice Report Episode 35: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), featuring Lisa Garcia 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

January 26, 202638 min

WE ACT Federal Policy Office Update

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 Environmental Justice. Want to learn more about the National Environmental Policy Act? Check out this StoryMap titled NEPA Does Not Delay! 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

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