Dear environmental allies, As Westchester County government prepares its budget for 2026, it still has not completed its ongoing waste reduction study, which we hope will recommend Zero Waste solutions instead of continuing to burn trash. This is disappointing,...
WESPAC Foundation supports Environmental and Food Justice with a separate listserv used for promoting upcoming events and discussion. WESPAC opposes fracking and two of our members have produced a documentary that highlights Indigenous Peoples’ perspectives on fracking: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdwCKzqVRdQ. We have cultivated an extensive cooperative network of food justice activists around the county who seek to expand access to fresh, local food. We also partner with the Wassaic Community Farm CSA (Community Supported Agriculture): http://wassaiccommunityfarm.com. To get involved or for more information, please contact the office at 914.449.6514 or by email at [email protected].
Government Funding Update
From Mark Schlosberg: Dear colleague, Thank you for signing on to the letter we circulated in August and September urging senators to take strong stand against partisan rescissions. I’m writing to provide an update. Senate Democrats are under increasing pressure...
Tsunami of E-Waste Exports to Asia
Following the Smoke: Investigation of Ten U.S. Companies Points to a Hidden Tsunami of e-Waste Exports to Asia Basel Action Network (BAN) releases startling exposé “Brokers of Shame” SEATTLE, WA, October 22, 2025 - Today, the Basel Action Network (BAN), released a...
Jump Start Cooperative Development Hudson Valley
Dear neighbors, this is special edition newsletter is an invitation for you to check out JUMPSTART—a hands-on co-op development lab for local Hudson Valley co-op dreamers. If you or other co-conspirators you know are curious about joining this Fall’s cohort, check out...
From Amnesty International
7-Day Challenge to Help Stop Starvation in Gaza Palestinians in Gaza are facing extreme starvation while Israel's militarized aid system, backed by the U.S., has turned distribution sites into death traps. Hundreds have been killed trying to access aid. Amnesty...
Campaign for NY Health
Summer may be here, but we’re not taking a break—not while the clock is ticking toward devastating federal healthcare cuts. Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers stand to lose their healthcare coverage, hospitals and health centers are in danger of closing, and...
Harms of Fast Fashion
We are so grateful to our presenters Melinda Huff of Segundo Beso in Cold Spring and Megan Roe of Rivertown Thrift in Hastings!Segundo Beso’s websiteMelinda’s swimwear Mirame’s website and on Instagram @miramenycHighlands Current article about...
Building Community at the Lower Hudson Valley Social Forum
A wonderful short documentary film from Wilder Nicholson that captures the essence of the 2025 Lower Hudson Valley Social Forum. This footage gives us hope and joy in these dark and challenging times. We need to continue building community as we navigate our way to...
Zero Waste Task Force – Virtual Field Trip
We took a virtual field trip through different ways we can gather and compost food scraps. We heard presentations from Westchester Legislator Emiljana Ulaj, who is working to get compostable bags in grocery stores, Greystone Apartments in Yonkers, which collects food...
Help Save the Bee Lab!
Action Alert! A Vital Bee Research Lab is Facing Imminent Closure Due to Federal Budget Cuts Here's a Quick and Easy Way You Can Help Today The US Geological Survey Bee Lab, led by eminent wildlife biologist Sam Droege, is facing imminent closure due to federal budget...
WESPAC on Facebook
Friday, October 9th at 6pm at the Barn at Vassar College! RSVPs required at [email protected]. Contributions for the farm collective can be made ahead of time. We can also arrange car pools.The WEBATUCK VALLEY FARM COLLABORATIVE (WVFC), established in 2023, is a regional food sovereignty and farm cooperative development initiative rooted in a larger movement for cultural reclamation, economic & racial justice, and community healing. Rock Steady Farm, Sweet Freedom Farm, and WILDSEED Community Farm & Healing Village leveraged a ten-year partnership to transform local farming, economic opportunity, and food access. They aim to remove barriers to entry for Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) and LGBTQ+ beginning farmers in ways that support the prosperity of our communities and the future of our planet.The current food system is built on exploited labor and land, leaving many hungry and malnourished despite excess and waste. WVFC works with communities within, against, and beyond this broken system to build resilient local economies. Their organizations collaboratively support New York State farmers through land access, training and apprenticeships, shared infrastructure, equipment and product aggregation, advocacy, community events, and employment. They advance land-based liberation by training young land stewards, supporting beginning farmers with land access, growing nutrient-dense and culturally relevant food and medicine, and distributing their harvests to families impacted by food scarcity or state violence.This year, that vision takes physical form. They are renovating two barns—one at Rock Steady which will winterize the barns, expand the cold storage three fold for aggregation, build much larger wash-pack space with new equipment, a retail store and new CSA pick-up, Rock Steady staff space and workplace kitchen, short term housing for all the trainees and facilitators and so much more. The barn at Wildseed will be home to a gorgeous event space, and an added value commercial kitchen. Sweet Freedom Farm will be stewarding grain processes equipment and grain processing space that has been a significant need of small to mid-sized grain producers in the area.This shared processing infrastructure will expand the capacity of over a dozen BIPOC- and LGBTQ+-led farms to wash, store, and process food year-round. It's an investment in a more resilient future where farmers across the region can enter a food system designed for their success.The Elias Foundation is kindly subsidizing the cost of the dinner so that more of the proceeds can support the farmers' fund! @followers
Friday, October 9th at 6pm at the Barn at Vassar College! RSVPs required at [email protected]. Contributions for the farm collective can be made ahead of time. We can also arrange car pools.The WEBATUCK VALLEY FARM COLLABORATIVE (WVFC), established in 2023, is a regional food sovereignty and farm cooperative development initiative rooted in a larger movement for cultural reclamation, economic & racial justice, and community healing. Rock Steady Farm, Sweet Freedom Farm, and WILDSEED Community Farm & Healing Village leveraged a ten-year partnership to transform local farming, economic opportunity, and food access. They aim to remove barriers to entry for Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) and LGBTQ+ beginning farmers in ways that support the prosperity of our communities and the future of our planet.The current food system is built on exploited labor and land, leaving many hungry and malnourished despite excess and waste. WVFC works with communities within, against, and beyond this broken system to build resilient local economies. Their organizations collaboratively support New York State farmers through land access, training and apprenticeships, shared infrastructure, equipment and product aggregation, advocacy, community events, and employment. They advance land-based liberation by training young land stewards, supporting beginning farmers with land access, growing nutrient-dense and culturally relevant food and medicine, and distributing their harvests to families impacted by food scarcity or state violence.
All are welcome and please share widely. We have several new people to WESPAC this summer. This gathering on September 16th would be a lovely introduction to the broader social justice community: @followers