Why celebrate Earth Day when you can be celebrating Earth Month! Here’s what WE ACT has going on this month:

 

Saturday, April 11th
April Membership Meeting
Mark your calendar for our April Membership Meeting from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM on Saturday, April 11th at the Most Worshipful Prince Hall, which is located at 454 West 155th Street. We will be talking about our Earth Month events, cumulative impacts, and sustainable land use.

 

Tuesday, April 14th
Stronger Together: Uniting Immigrant Justice and Climate Justice in New York City
Briana Carbajal will participate in a panel discussion, Stronger Together: Uniting Immigrant Justice and Climate Justice in New York City, exploring how the climate justice and immigrant justice movements can work together to build collective resilience and a more just future. Co-hosted by the New York University Department of Environmental Studies, the New York Immigration Coalition, the Climate Museum, and WE ACT, this event will be on Tuesday, April 14th from 5:15-6:45 PM in person (location shared upon registration) or online. Other panelists include Breanna Byrd, Mellon Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow in Climate Humanities and Social Justice at the Climate Museum; Carlos Arnao, Director, Healthy Communities at the New York Immigration Coalition; and Marry Miss, Founder & Artistic Director of City as a Living Laboratory.

 

Wednesday, April 15th
Literacy in Community: Little Readers Love the Earth
We have joined forces with Literacy in Community (LINC) and the Family Enrichment Center in Washington Heights & Inwood for an Earth Month children’s literacy event on Wednesday, April 15th from 4:00-6:00 PM in Suite 110-A of 4211 Broadway at the George Washington Bridge Market Place. This free event will feature stories, songs, and activities designed for families with children ages 0-5 years old, but all are welcome.

 

Thursday, April 16th
Earth Month Teach-In: Can New York Afford Climate Law Rollbacks?
Eric Walker will be among the speakers at New Yorkers for Clean Power virtual teach-in on the Governor’s proposed rollbacks to New York State’s Climate Law and how this could impact energy affordability, public health, and the climate. Our speakers include Laura Haight, Policy Advisor, Partnership for Policy Integrity and Liz Moran, New York Policy Advocate for Earthjustice. Join us on Thursday, April 16th from 12:00-1:00 PM via Zoom.

 

Saturday, April 18th
Come Walk & Talk to Build a Stronger Parks System in Harlem
We are among the groups that have joined New Yorkers for Parks to host a Harlem Walk & Talk for better parks on Saturday, April 18th from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM at Hancock Park, which is located at the intersection of West 123rd Street, Manhattan Avenue, and St. Nicholas Avenue. This free, guided community tour will bring together residents, parks advocates, and community leaders to walk through a portion of Harlem to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing neighborhood parks. Along the way, participants will hear from local advocates and partners about the importance of investing in Harlem’s green spaces and ensuring every New Yorker has access to high-quality parks and open space. RSVP

 

Saturday, April 18th
Marciely Alvarado Joins 2026 NYCHA Resident Climate Action Grants Celebration
Marciely Alvarado was a jury member for the 2026 NYCHA Resident Climate Action Grants, which will be celebrated at a special event on Saturday, April 18th from 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM at the Arts Center (Building 110) on Governors Island. Hosted by the Public Housing Community Fund and The New York Climate Exchange – and made possible by HSBC – the NYCHA Resident Climate Action Grants is a community-focused grant initiative supporting climate action and sustainability projects within the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments. This program invests in climate action projects led by residents through grants and technical assistance. The winners will be honored at this special event! RSVP

 

Sunday, April 19th – Postponed
Waterfront Alliance Community Day Street Fair: Focus on Flooding
We’ll be joining the Waterfront Alliance and the South Street Seaport to celebrate Earth Week with a family friendly mini-street fair at 213 Water Street from 1:00-4:00 PM on Sunday, April 19th. Focused on minding your water, this free event will offer a chance to learn about flood preparedness and how to reduce flooding in your neighborhood. We’ve been told that this event has been postponed, but it looks like you can still RSVP for a future date.

 

Monday, April 20th
DC Climate Week: Mapping & Communicating Hope, Justice, & Action
​Taking place during DC Climate Week, this panel will focus on a positive, necessary vision for the future of environmental and climate justice at the local and federal level. Moderated by Johns Hopkins University ESP/EPC/GIS and led by WE ACT, this panel will discuss the latest insights on broad, bipartisan support for climate justice, effective messaging, and the power of storytelling. Join us from 12:00-1:00 PM on Monday, April 20th either online or in-person in Room B226 of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center, which is located at 555 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW in Washington, DC. RSVP

 

Monday, April 20th
Energy Justice Film Screening & Panel
In New York State, there is a battle brewing over how to best achieve energy justice, the need to equitably reduce the cost of energy while transitioning to clean, renewable sources. WE ACT and the Climate Film Festival have once again teamed up for a free and timely Earth Week documentary film screening and panel discussion. Join us on Monday, April 20th at the Maysles Documentary Center in Harlem, located at 343 Malcolm X Boulevard (between West 127th & 128th Streets). We’ll kick things off at 6:00 PM with some networking over food and beverages followed by the 7:00 PM screening of The Light’s Won’t Dim, a short documentary exploring the promise and urgency of solar power from Puerto Rico to New York City in this climate crisis. Immediately after the film screening, we will have a panel discussion moderated by Caleb Smith and including Director Jackson Hyland-Lipski; Vote Solar’s Deputy Program Director, Northeast & Mid-Atlantic Stephan Roundtree, Jr.; and WE ACT’s Energy Justice Senior Policy Manager Eric Walker. RSVP

 

Tuesday, April 21st
Community Emergency Preparedness: Standing Stronger Together
On Tuesday, April 21st, Mae Kennedy will be participating in a panel discussion during the New York City Office of Emergency Management’s Community Preparedness Symposium: Stronger Together in Emergencies. Mae will join colleagues from the Harlem Emergency Network and East Harlem COAD to discuss the creation of the Climate Ready Uptown Plan (CRUP) in 2023 and how we are adapting CRUP as climate risks intensify each year. Community and faith-based leaders are encouraged to attend. RSVP

 

Wednesday, April 22nd – RSVPs Closed!
Earth Day Advocacy Day in Albany: Reduce Our Exposure to Toxic Chemicals
People of color are disproportionately exposed to toxic chemicals, which can lead to a variety of adverse health issues. As part of the JustGreen Partnership, we are having an Earth Day Advocacy Day in Albany to meet with New York State legislators and lobby for bills designed to reduce this exposure in beauty and other personal care products, cookware, and packaging – along with sources of lead poisoning.

If you want to do something truly meaningful this Earth Day, join us for a day-long trip to Albany and advocate for lasting change! Click here to see what these trips are like.

On Wednesday, April 22nd, we will be providing free transportation to and from Albany along with a free breakfast and lunch. The bus will leave our office (1854 Amsterdam Avenue, at the corner of West 152nd Street) at 6:00 AM, returning around 6:00 PM. On Tuesday, April 21st, we will host a Zoom prep call to give you a better understanding of the legislation we are advocating for and answer any questions you may have. Due to capacity, we’ve had to close RSVPs for this event.

 

Wednesday, April 22nd
DC Climate Week: Life after EJScreen – The Future of Environmental Justice and Environmental Mapping
For more than a decade, EJScreen served as the most widely used federal mapping tool for environmental justice analysis. But with the Trump administration shutting down these tools last year, important questions have emerged about the broader ecosystem of environmental and environmental justice data and tools. Our DC Climate Week panel, co-hosted with the Environmental & Health Data Analysis Trust (EHDAT), brings together former federal practitioners, state and local leaders, community-based organizations, academics, and data tool builders to examine what comes next. Join us from 11:00 AM -12:30 PM on Wednesday, April 22nd in Room B226 of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center, which is located at 555 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW in Washington, DC. RSVP

 

Wednesday, April 22nd
East Harlem Earth Day Conference
Community Board 11 is hosting its annual East Harlem Earth Day Celebration at the Museum of the City of New York on Wednesday, April 22nd from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. With a focus on environmental justice, the event will discuss how the built environment plays a role in achieving a more equitable, sustainable, and healthy neighborhood that will yield better health outcomes for East Harlem residents. Our staff will be on-hand to discuss the work we are doing in the community. Learn More

 

Thursday, April 23rd – RSVPs Closed!
Earth Day 2026: Climate & Environmental Justice in New York City
The Columbia Climate School and the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce’s annual Earth Day Conference will take place on Thursday, April 23rd from 5:30-8:00 PM in the Skyline Dining Room of the Faculty House, located at 64 Morningside Drive. This event will explore the climate-driven health and environmental challenges impacting housing, education, and policy in New York City’s underserved communities. Speakers include Sheila Foster, Columbia Climate School; Louise Yeung, New York City’s Chief Climate Officer; New York City Councilmember Yusef Salaam (9th District); and Judge Milton Tingling, West Harlem Development Corporation. Peggy Shepard will join Sandra Goldmark, Columbia Climate School; Christine Osuji, Con Edison; and Dr. Shakila Merchant, City College of New York on a panel moderated by Daniel Zarrilli, Chief Climate & Sustainability Officer, Columbia University. Be sure to RSVP before Wednesday, April 22, at 3:00 PM to ensure entry; no walk-ins will be admitted. Due to capacity, they’ve had to close RSVPs for this event.

 

Saturday, April 25th
WE ACT’s Earth Day 5K Fun Run: Raise Funds for Environmental Justice
There are plenty of ways to celebrate Earth Day, but our 5K Fun Run is the best. You’ll have a chance to be active, enjoy one of the less-explored parks in Manhattan, and support WE ACT for Environmental Justice!

Our annual 5K is a fundraiser open to all ages. We have competitive runners, casual joggers, and leisurely walkers. You can enter as an individual or as a team. The important thing is being there, being a part of our community, and raising money for environmental justice. Register Today

Join us on Saturday, April 25th on Randall’s Island. Our staff will be there at 8:00 AM with pre-race snacks and drinks. Check-in starts at 8:30 AM, with the fun run starting at 9:00 AM. And once our last participants cross the finish line, we’ll hand out the medals, with awards for the top finishers and fundraisers.

To register for the race, read our FAQ, or get more information, please click here. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, email gianna@weact.org. All proceeds from the Earth Day 5K support WE ACT! If you can’t join us, please consider making a donation to support our work.

 

Saturday, April 25th
Randall’s Island Earth Day Festival
In the case you are looking for something to do after the 5K, the Randall’s Island Earth Day Festival will run from 12:00-3:00 PM on Saturday, April 25th. Held at the Urban Farm and on Fields 62 & 63, the family-friendly event will feature arts & crafts, educational activities, live performances, a cherry blossom tour, free treats, and more! Learn More

 

Tuesday, April 28th
Energy Savings Online Workshop: Save Green by Going Green
Want to reduce your energy bill? Our Manhattan Clean Energy Hub is hosting another virtual Energy Savings Workshop for people interested in learning more about energy saving tips they can use at home. Participants will receive a free home energy kit with $92 worth of energy efficiency materials, including LED light bulbs, a window insulation kit, and more! The workshop will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, April 28th from 6:30-8:00 PM. Pick up times for the free home energy kit as well as a drop off option will be shared during the meeting. RSVP

 

More Earth Month Events?
Join the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health’s Community Outreach Translation Core and their community partners (like us!) for even more Earth Month activities that inspire, connect, and create impact. Learn More

 

Make a Difference This Earth Day: Become an Environmental Justice Sustainer & Double Your Donation

For 38 years, WE ACT for Environmental Justice has been fighting for equitable environmental health and protection policies. This Earth Month, you can deepen your commitment to this fight by becoming a WE ACT Environmental Justice Sustainer. WE ACT’s Sustainers are our passionate community of monthly givers who sustain our work year-round. With an average gift of $25, we hope you’ll become a WE ACT Sustainer, too, by signing up for a monthly recurring gift. And all Sustainers who join during Earth Month will have their gifts matched, up to $10,000! Sign Up