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 49 episodes available.

Uptown Chats episodes:

April 13, 2026Energy 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 [email protected]
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
Donate to WE ACT for Environmental Justice
...more
38min
March 30, 2026Healthy 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 [email protected].
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
...more
32min
March 09, 2026City 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 [email protected].
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
...more
24min
February 23, 2026Liberatory 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 [email protected].
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
...more
33min
February 09, 2026New 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 [email protected]
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
Donate to WE ACT for Environmental Justice
...more
36min
January 26, 2026WE 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 [email protected]
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
Donate to WE ACT for Environmental Justice
...more
39min
January 12, 2026WE ACT 2026 Policy Agenda
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 previous episodes to learn more:
Episode 2: Don’t Be Toxic, Be Beautiful
Episode 40: The New York State Beauty Justice Act
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
Donate to WE ACT for Environmental Justice
...more
31min
December 15, 2025 Holiday Special with Leslie Fields
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 episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at [email protected]
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
...more
42min
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
Follow us on Facebook
...more
31min
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
28min

FAQs about Uptown Chats:

How many episodes does Uptown Chats have?

The podcast currently has 49 episodes available.