Uptown Chats

By Jaron Burke, Lonnie Portis, WE ACT for Environmental Justice

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 fo... more

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FAQs about Uptown Chats:

How many episodes does Uptown Chats have?

The podcast currently has 41 episodes available.

Uptown Chats episodes:

November 24, 2025Celebrating Our Wins in 2025
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 PERIOD PRODUCTS
SEND A LETTER TO GOVERNOR HOCHUL TO REPEAL THE 100 FOOT RULE!
Check out these past episodes related to some of our wins this year:
Fifty First Episodes (featuring Karla Cordero, WE ACT's Chief of Staff)
Energy Democracy – Power to the People (featuring Briana Carbajal, WE ACT's State Legislative Manager)
Extreme Heat: Too Hot to Handle (featuring members of WE ACT's Climate Justice Working Group)
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at [email protected]
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
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...more
30min
November 10, 2025 Trash Talk in New York
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 previous episode on Waste Incineration to learn more!
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at [email protected]
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
...more
27min
October 27, 2025 Youth-Led Climate Action
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 TREEage events!
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at [email protected]
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
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...more
35min
October 13, 2025 Green Healthy Schools
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 workforce. www.alignny.org/greenhealthyschools
You can also find ALIGN on Instagram: @align_new_york
Learn more about the Green Healthy Schools Report
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at [email protected]
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
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28min
September 29, 2025Air Quality Monitoring: Congesting Pricing, Pollution and More
Need some fresh air? Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about air quality monitoring projects in Northern Manhattan and how you can help promote environmental justice in New York with help from Valentina Rojas, WE ACT’s Environmental Health Manager.
Extra Resources:
Learn more about the EJNYC Report
Check out WE ACT’s Air Quality Monitoring Projects
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at [email protected]
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
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...more
35min
September 08, 2025Flooding
It’s raining, it’s pouring! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn how different types of flooding impact communities across New York, and what is being done to reduce those impacts with help from Tyler Taba, Director of Resilience at Waterfront Alliance.
Guest Information: Tyler Taba, Director of Resilience - Waterfront Alliance
Extra Resources:
Sign up for Notify NYC to get important updates about flooding and other climate-related hazards.
Live in Northern Manhattan? Check out WE ACT’s Climate Ready Uptown Plan
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at [email protected]
Connect with the show:
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...more
31min
August 25, 2025 Fifty First Episodes
It is our fifty-first episode! Join Lonnie and Jaron as they reflect on highlights and lessons from their first fifty episodes of the podcast with the help of Karla Cordero, WE ACT’s Chief of Staff.
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at [email protected]
Connect with the show:
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...more
34min
August 11, 2025 Uptown Chats Book Club: Powerless (Part 2)
The story continues! Join Jaron and Lonnie for the second part of their first Uptown Chats Book Club featuring a discussion with Dr. Diana Hernandez about her new book, Powerless: The People’s Struggle for Energy. No reading required!
Check out this Uptown Chats Book Club read: Powerless: The People’s Struggle for Energy
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at [email protected]
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
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...more
23min
July 28, 2025 Uptown Chats Book Club: Powerless (Part 1)
Energy insecurity is real! Join Jaron and Lonnie for their first Uptown Chats Book Club featuring a discussion with Dr. Diana Hernandez about her new book, Powerless: The People’s Struggle for Energy. No reading required!
Note: This is a two-part episode. Stay tuned for the rest of the interview in our next episode!
Check out this Uptown Chats Book Club read: Powerless: The People’s Struggle for Energy
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at [email protected]
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
...more
39min
July 14, 2025 Renewable Energy of the Future
Welcome to the future! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about some emerging renewable energy technologies ranging from totally plausible to way out there with help from Jama Joseph, WE ACT's Communications Associate. Be warned - this one may get a little silly!
DISCLAIMER: This episode is for entertainment and educational purposes only. WE ACT does not endorse any of the technologies discussed in this episode. Discussion of investments in any of the aforementioned technologies is fictitious and does not reflect any investments of real monies by WE ACT or any affiliated parties.
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at [email protected]
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook

...more
36min

FAQs about Uptown Chats:

How many episodes does Uptown Chats have?

The podcast currently has 41 episodes available.