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 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.
Episodes
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Toxic Hair Braiding
Do you or someone you know use braiding hair products? Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about chemicals and heavy metals that have been found in braiding hair products thanks to testing done by Consumer Reports. Our guests include James Rogers and Oriene Shin, who will share their insights about…
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Virtual Power Plants
Don’t let the name fool you - virtual power plants have real-life benefits! Join Jaron and Lonnie as they chat with Zoe Voss Lee from South Bronx Unite to learn about virtual power plants and their potential to help reduce peak energy demand and lower energy bills. Check out some other related...
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Data Centers and Environmental Justice
Hyperscale data centers are getting a lot of coverage in the news lately. Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about the impact of these data centers on environmental justice communities across the country with help from WE ACT’s Federal Policy Manager, Yosef Robele. Learn more about WE ACT's Data…
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Climate Resilience and Economics
Climate week may be over, but we're still here doing the work! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about some of WE ACT's ongoing efforts in East Harlem to promote climate resilience along with an interview with Dr. Gary Yohe about the intersection between climate resilience and economics. Want to…
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Environmental Justice Leadership Forum
It's a podcast takeover! Join Tali Natter, WE ACT's Research Coordinator and former Cecil Corbin-Mark Environmental Justice Research Fellow, to get to know the Environmental Justice Leadership Forum, a group of over 40 environmental justice organizations across 24 states and D.C. hosted by WE…
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Battery Energy Storage Systems
Battery energy storage systems are coming to NYC! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn how this technology can help lower energy bills and improve local air quality with help from Alia Soomro, Deputy Director of New York City Policy at the New York League of Conservation Voters. This episode builds on...
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Manhattan Clean Energy Hub
Have you ever struggled to pay your utility bill? Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about one of the twelve Clean Energy Hubs across New York State that help New Yorkers access programs to lower their energy bills and participate in the clean energy transition. Our special guest for this episode is...
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Peaker Plants
Ever wonder why your utility bill is higher in the summer? Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn how peak demand and peaker plants affect both the cost of electricity and the air quality in NYC communities. Our special guest this week is WE ACT’s Senior Policy Advisor, Yuwa Vosper. Check out one of our...
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Measuring the Impact of Extreme Heat
Summer is here and it is HOT! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about a new project to measure the impact of extreme heat inside the homes of everyday New Yorkers led by WE ACT’s Environmental Health Manager, Valentina Rojas. Relevant Resources: Read the NYC DOHMH 2026 Heat Mortality Report to learn...
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Solar and Storytelling (Part 2)
Have you ever seen or heard a reference to climate or environmental justice in mainstream movies, TV, or novels? Join Jaron and Lonnie as they continue their conversation with Kiana Michaan, long-time WE ACT member and host of Climate with Kiana, where they discuss how climate and environmental...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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WE 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…
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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...
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Celebrating 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:...
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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…
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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...
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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…
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Air 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...
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Flooding
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...
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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]…
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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...
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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…
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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...
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Right Direction Reflection
That’s a wrap! Join Jaron and Lonnie as they reflect on lessons from their Right Direction mini-series and share some of their highlights. 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
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Geothermal Energy and Thermal Energy Networks (TENs)
This episode is a TEN out of TEN! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about geothermal energy and thermal energy networks, also known as TENs, with help from Jon Furlong, Clean Buildings Campaign Manager at New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV). Extra Resources: Overview of Thermal Energy...
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Wind Energy
Are you a big fan of wind energy? Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn more about the growing offshore wind industry in New York and the workforce development that is needed to support it with help from the City University of New York’s Offshore Wind Advisory Network. Special guests include Robert…
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Heat Pumps
Pump it up! In this episode, Lonnie and Jaron are joined by Jordan Bonomo from the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to talk about how they have been piloting heat pumps in their buildings to reduce their energy usage and improve the comfort of their residents. Extra Resources: Heat Pump…
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Solar Energy
Solar energy is everywhere! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about how New York State is using the power of the sun to help meet its climate goals with help from Stephan Roundtree, Deputy Program Director for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic at Vote Solar. Extra Resources: Learn more about Vote…
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Just Transition
Lonnie and Jaron are kicking off their Right Direction mini-series by exploring what it means to promote a just energy transition with special guest Shalanda Baker, Vice Provost for Sustainability & Climate Action at the University of Michigan, and former Director of the Office of Energy Justice...
About this 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.
Hosted by
Jaron Burke, Lonnie Portis, WE ACT for Environmental Justice
Categories