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Congratulations to our inaugural class of Environmental Justice Ambassadors!
On November 19, Save the Sound and Junta for Progressive Action celebrated the graduation of the first cohort of the Environmental Justice Ambassadors program, part of Junta’s Youth Empowerment Program. Eight New Haven-area teenagers completed the training, designed by Junta and Save the Sound staff to empower young advocates to address environmental justice challenges in their communities.
This program went beyond traditional education, blending theory with action. Over two months, ambassadors explored the history and principles of environmental justice, community organizing, and civic advocacy. They participated in community cleanups and rain garden installations, gaining practical tools for sustainability and advocacy.
Ambassadors, families, and community supporters came out for the graduation ceremony. Keyana White of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency delivered an inspiring keynote speech: “Your work advocating for yourself, and your community, is what will help us achieve a world where our communities are healthier, safer, and greener.”
Ambassadors also shared reflections on their journeys. Keila Cintron described environmental justice as “fighting for what you believe in and standing with your community to create change.” Isabella Jamison noted, “I didn’t realize how the little things we do impact the world, but now I see the importance of taking responsibility.” Melissa Rodriguez called for action: “Environmental justice is about creating change by coming together for a shared goal. It’s our future, and we need to act to protect it.” Guillermo Piscil shared hope for the future, saying, “This program opened my eyes to the challenges we face and gave me hope that we can solve these problems together.”
This inaugural cohort represents a new generation of environmental advocates. Save the Sound and Junta for Progressive Action are proud to support these young leaders as they continue to drive change.
For more details about the graduation read the full blog post.
What You Can Do This Week
- CT EVENT: See a river in recovery! Last fall, we removed Dana Dam (aka Strong Pond Dam) in Wilton to reconnect Norwalk River habitats. Come see the restoration site one year later, and learn about dam removal design, implementation, and ecosystem benefits. Alex Krofta from Save the Sound will lead the tour tomorrow, Dec. 3. Register now.
- REGIONAL ACTION: Giving Tuesday is tomorrow! Protect the Sound and its communities; donating to Save the Sound on Giving Tuesday will fuel vital projects like wetland restoration and dam removals that shield homes, businesses, and beaches from further harm from climate change. We greatly appreciate your support! Visit savethesound.org/givingtuesday to make your gift early.
- NY EVENT: Join our partners from the PFAS-Free New York coalition for an important conversation about PFAS contamination in consumer products on Tuesday, Dec. 10 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Then get ready to help us fight in Albany for legislation to restrict these toxic forever chemicals from use in everyday household items.
- CT EVENT: DEEP is holding public meetings throughout 2024-2025 to consult the public and stakeholder industries in the development of regulations regarding CT’s environmental justice law. Register today for the upcoming workshop on “EJ Public Participation Planning and Reporting” on Dec. 10 or attend the in-person workshop at Shiloh Baptist Church in Hartford on Dec. 12.
Find Details on our Events page.
Clock is ticking on protecting horseshoe crabs in NYS
Horseshoe crabs are important players in the ecological dynamics of our coasts. They precede the dawn of humanity, having endured a lot over the last 450 million years, from five mass extinction events (including the one that wiped out the dinosaurs) to our planet’s most recent Ice Age. Now, we’re running out of time to protect this animal from further population decline in New York.
Governor Hochul has until the end of the year to sign the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act into law. This bill, which passed the NYS Legislature with overwhelming support during the 2024 session, would prohibit the taking of horseshoe crabs for commercial and biomedical purposes.
In just a few clicks, you can email Governor Hochul, urging her to provide this venerable, vulnerable species the same protections in New York already in place in Connecticut.
Quick Links
- Technical issues prevented the sending of our last two Weekly Update—thanks for bearing with us! Catch up on more recent happenings by reading the Nov. 19 and Nov. 26 updates on our blog.
- A recent poll on the Environmental Protection Agency shows significant bipartisan support for the agency. Find out the details.
- Global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels are projected to reach a record 37.4 billion metric tons in 2024, a 0.8 percent increase compared to 2023 levels, according to new data from the Global Carbon Project.
- Read the New York Times coverage of COP29, “Are All These U.N. Climate Talks Doing Any Good?” It addresses concerns about how to finance clean energy in the future, especially in assistance to developing countries.
- Did you know there have been dolphin sightings in the Sound? Read the story.
- “Environmentalists sensibly point out that green crabs, an invasive species that have become a problem in Long Island Sound, also can be used as bait,” rather than horseshoe crabs. “Targeting green crabs instead seems like a win-win.” This Newsday op-ed gives other solutions and reasons for horseshoe crab conservation and calls on Governor Hochul to sign the legislation to protect them. (Scroll back up in this email to send the Governor your own message!)
Photo of the Week
A great team of volunteers joined us in gluing seeds to clam shells for eelgrass restoration efforts in the Sound. In case you missed it, last week for Thanksgiving we put together a video expressing our gratitude to ALL the amazing volunteers who generously gave of their time this fall. From numerous coastal cleanups and rain garden installations to water quality advocacy and monitoring, we couldn’t do this work of protecting and restoring the Long Island Sound region without you!
Would you like your photo to be featured in an upcoming issue? Send it to us at info@savethesound.org!