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 54 episodes available.

Uptown Chats episodes:

March 24, 2025PFAS
PFAS - only four letters, but it includes 15,000 chemicals that are found in products we use every day. Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn more about what New York and other states are doing to ban these chemicals with help from Kate Donovan, Director of Northeast Environmental Health at NRDC.
Extra Resources:
Visit pfasfreeny.org to learn more about the PFAS-Free NY campaign.
Check out PFAS Free NY on Instagram @pfasfreeny
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at [email protected]
Connect with the show:
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31min
February 24, 2025New York Beauty Justice Act
Are your personal care products safe to use? Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about WE ACT’s Beauty Justice campaign, which aims to ban dangerous toxic chemicals from products we use every day. Featuring special guest Elizabeth Reyes, WE ACT’s Toxics Policy Campaign Coordinator.
Extra Resources:
Not sure if your products are safe? Check out the apps and resources below to learn more.
Clearya - Nontoxic Shopping Made Easy
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Check out our previous episode Don't Be Toxic, Be Beautiful to learn more about WE ACT's work on beauty justice.
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
28min
February 10, 2025Affordable and Renewable Energy with NY HEAT
Is your energy bill too expensive? Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about WE ACT's campaign to help make energy more affordable and support New York’s transition to renewable energy, featuring Cameron Clark, WE ACT's NY HEAT Campaign Coordinator.
Extra Resources:
How a Bill Becomes a Law (New York State)
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
32min
January 28, 2025Congestion Pricing
Congestion pricing is here! What is it, and why should you care? Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about the pros and cons for environmental justice communities with help from New York State Senator Liz Krueger.
Extra Resources:
What Is Congestion Pricing? (NRDC)
Congestion Pricing Myths and Facts (NRDC)
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
36min
January 13, 2025Looking Back, Thinking Forward: Building on the Success of 2024
Goodbye 2024, Hello 2025! Join Jaron and Lonnie as they reflect on some of WE ACT's major wins from 2024 and discuss some exciting advocacy efforts coming in 2025 with the help of WE ACT's new Acting Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs.
Resources:
Check out WE ACT's 2025 Policy Agenda at weact.org/policy!
Get involved with 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:
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...more
31min
December 23, 2024Holiday Special with WE ACT Chair Jeff Jones
In the spirit of the holidays, Lonnie and Jaron are joined by long-time activist and Chair of WE ACT’s Board of Directors, Jeff Jones to tell stories and reflect on this moment in the environmental justice movement.
Guest Information:
Jeff Jones, Jeff Jones Strategies
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions or suggestions? Email us at [email protected]
Connect with the show:
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...more
31min
December 09, 2024Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been working to keep our air, water, and soil clean since 1970. Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn more about how the EPA supports environmental justice with help from the Administrator for EPA Region 2, Lisa Garcia.
Resources:
You can learn more about WE ACT’s Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center supported by the EPA at weact.org/tctac.
Check out the EPA’s EJSCREEN tool to explore maps and data about environmental justice in your area at epa.gov/ejscreen.
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
37min
November 25, 2024Community Land Trusts
Public land for public good! In this episode, Lonnie and Jaron are joined by WE ACT’s Climate Justice Campaigns Manager, Annie Carforo, to talk about community land trusts and how they can help address the housing affordability crisis in NYC.
Want to get involved? Join WE ACT’s Climate Justice Working Group on the third Tuesday of every month from 7:00-8:00 PM.
Want to learn more? Check out these helpful resources:
Affordable Housing (NYT)
What is a Community Land Trust?
Community Land Trusts Explained
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
32min
November 11, 2024Waste
It’s time for more trash talk! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn more about the history of waste management in New York City and how it impacts environmental justice communities with help from Julio Lopez Torres, a member of WE ACT’s Climate Justice Working Group.
Resources:
Want to reduce your waste? Check out this 3 Step Guide to Zero Waste!
The Absurd Problem of New York City Trash (NYT)
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at [email protected]
Connect with the show:
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36min
October 28, 2024 Wrong Direction Wrap-Up
That’s a wrap! Join Jaron and Lonnie as they reflect on important themes from the Wrong Direction mini-series, and drop some not-so-subtle hints about future episode topics.
Anyone who missed WE ACT’s Webinar on the Implementation of New York State’s Cumulative Impacts Law can find a recording on our YouTube channel.
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
25min

FAQs about Uptown Chats:

How many episodes does Uptown Chats have?

The podcast currently has 54 episodes available.