NYC Climate Justice Hub Launches!
On September 19th, we gathered at the CUNY Graduate Center to celebrate the launch of the newly established NYC Climate Justice Hub, a partnership between the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance
(NYC-EJA) and The City University of New York (CUNY) to advance climate solutions led by communities of color on the front lines.
Watch the full video of the press conference for the NYC Climate Justice Hub launch below, featuring New York State Attorney General, Letitia James; New York City Public Advocate, Jumaane Williams; CUNY GC Interim President, Joshua C. Brumberg; Strategy Director of Waverley Street Foundation, Alexandria McBride; Executive Director of NYC-EJA and NYC Climate Justice Hub Co-Director, Eddie Bautista; and Associate Professor at Brooklyn College and NYC Climate Justice Hub Co-Director, Mike Menser, and representatives from three NYC-EJA member organizations participating inthe Hub, Marco Carrión, Executive Director of El Puente; Jessica Clemente, Chief Executive Officer of We Stay/Nos Quedamos; and Damaris Reyes, Executive Director of Good Old Lower East Side (GOLES):
This inaugural event kicked off with opening remarks from the incoming Interim President of the CUNY Graduate Center Joshua Brumberg, and Strategy Director of the Waverley Street Foundation Alexandria McBride. Joshua Brumberg said:
"CUNY and NYC-EJA have the roots and reach to shape discourse and policy, propel innovation, and promote health and equity in and beyond New York, as they work together to address the struggles and augment the success of New York City climate justice movements."
Alexandria McBride said:
"We know that together, these partners and partnerships can really grow and create the types of climate solutions we hope to see."
Then, a press conference was held featuring New York State Attorney General, Letitia James; New York City Public Advocate, Jumaane Williams; CUNY GC Interim President, Joshua C. Brumberg; Strategy Director of Waverley Street Foundation, Alexandria McBride; Executive Director of NYC-EJA and NYC Climate Justice Hub Co-Director, Eddie Bautista; Associate Professor at Brooklyn College and NYC Climate Justice Hub Co-Director, Mike Menser.
NYC-EJA Executive Director Eddie Bautista, who moderated the press conference, said:
For NYC-EJA, this convergence of environmental climate justice, and educational commitment from CUNY is exactly the kind of mix that we're hoping to take climate solutions that have been developed by the neighborhood groups in our leadership and find a way to work with CUNY to expand that, to get the resources and research that we need to help elevate the climate solutions we've been working on.”
During the press conference, the honorable NYS Attorney General Letitia James and the honorable NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, both CUNY alumni and strong advocates of climate justice, reflected on the importance of the Hub and the partnership between NYC-EJA and CUNY:
“The Hub will not only have an immense impact on sustainability. But it will also cultivate the next generation of environmental leaders in New York City. (...) I'm especially proud to celebrate this next step in CUNY’s lasting commitment to climate justice and continued work to provide opportunities for the historically marginalized population to participate in environmental policy review and development”.
—NYS Attorney General Letitia James.
“I'm glad to be at the launch of a key initiative for the future of our city and our planet. The New York City Climate Justice Hub is vital, not only because of the urgency of moving to green infrastructure, sustainable processes and climate resilience, but because it centers the intersection of climate justice, and social justice”.
—NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.
The press conference also featured representatives from three NYC-EJA member organizations participating in the Hub: Marco Carrión, Executive Director of El Puente; Jessica Clemente, Chief Executive Officer of We Stay/Nos Quedamos; and Damaris Reyes, Executive Director of Good Old Lower East Side (GOLES).
The press conference closed with New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams awarding certificates of service to NYC-EJA
and its Executive Director Eddie Bautista. Certificates were also presented to the CUNY Graduate Center and Brooklyn College, accepted by CUNY's NYC Climate Justice Hub Co-Directors Mike Menser and Kendra Sullivan in recognition of their commitment and dedication to serving the diverse communities of New York City.
The second half of the launch event consisted of a panel featuring representatives of three NYC-EJA member organizations and three representatives of the CUNY Research Action Team (CRAT) participating in the Hub: Maria Torres, President and Chief Operating Officer of The Point CDC; Elizabeth Yeampierre, Executive Director of UPROSE; Michael Higgins, Senior Organizer for Housing and Sustainability of Brooklyn Movement Center; Ryan Mann-Hamilton, Associate Professor Anthropology in the Social Science Department at Laguardia College and Co-Director Casa de las Americas; Denise Thompson, Associate Professor of Disaster Risk Management, Resilience and Sustainable Development in the Department of Public Management at John Jay College for Criminal Justice; and Mariposa Fernández, English Department Lecturer at Lehman College. Watch the full video of the panel below:
The panel was moderated by Deputy Director of NYC-EJA, Eunice Ko. The panelists discussed how their expertise as community organizers or academics, respectively, coincides through the work of the Climate Justice Hub and how they will use this collaboration to advance equity, public health, and sustainability priorities throughout environmental justice communities in NYC.
The NYC Climate Justice Hub will connect classes, create research teams, fund student fellowships, and promote widespread public engagement to support NYC-EJA, its member groups, and its many active campaigns advancing platforms including renewable energy, clean air for all, and just transition. Find out more about the project here, which is funded by Waverley Street Foundation and a two-year grant totaling $4 million to support the partnership.
We are excited to celebrate the launch of a partnership that will play a decisive role in realizing climate justice from a community-led framework advancing just transition across NYC.
Stay tuned for more updates, news, events and opportunities to participate and get involved with the NYC Climate Justice Hub.
