WE ACT for Environmental Justice

We empower and organize low-income, people of color to build healthy communities for all.

It is well-documented that some of the most polluted environments in America are where people of color live, work, play, and pray. WE ACT was started in 1988 when three fearless community leaders saw that environmental racism was rampant in their West Harlem neighborhood, and they demanded community-driven, political change. Today, the organization has grown to over 46 staff members in our New York City headquarters and our Federal Policy Office in Washington, D.C., and is considered one of the leading voices in the national Environmental Justice Movement.

WE ACT’s mission is to build healthy communities by ensuring that people of color and/or low income residents participate meaningfully in the creation of sound and fair environmental health and protection policies and practices. WE ACT envisions a community that has:

• informed and engaged residents who participate fully in decision-making on key issues that impact their health and community.

• strong and equal environmental protections.

• increased environmental health through community-based participatory research and evidence-based campaigns.