SUCCESSFUL WEBINAR! See Highlights Below!
Introducing the New
FCWC Student Network Facebook Page!
FCWC Student Webinar -
Offshore Wind:
Our Clean Energy Future
October 16, 2020
6:00-7:30 PM
Attention:
High School & College Students, Teachers/Professors &
Young Professionals!
The Federated Conservationists of Westchester County (FCWC) Student Network presented a free webinar for college and high school students: Offshore Wind: Our Clean Energy Future on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020 at 6pm via Zoom. Students learned about New York State’s exciting project to construct offshore wind to provide clean energy for up to 6 million New York homes, creating approximately 10,000 temporary and permanent jobs in the NY Metropolitan area. Presenting in the video, Adrienne Downey, Principal Engineer, Offshore Wind for the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority, NYSERDA. NYSERDA promotes energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources. Collectively, NYSERDA's efforts aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, accelerate economic growth, and reduce customer energy bills. Students Caitlyn Carpenter and Bianca Jimenez explain why NYSERDA’s Offshore Wind Project and development of other renewable energy forms are so critical to the future of New York. FCWC Student Network Coordinator Paul Presendieu, host for the webinar, discusses the transition to a fossil fuel free economy. Peter McCartt, Westchester County Director of Energy Conservation & Sustainability, shares information on the County’s renewable energy initiatives, and a “green jobs fair” that will be held by the County in 2021.
Please watch highlights video above!
(full video can be found on our YouTube Channel!)
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Our Vision and Mission
FCWC, founded in 1965, envisions a county in which an environmental ethic defines and shapes all public and private decisions.
Our mission is to provide leadership that educates about environmental issues, advocates sound decision making, and unifies groups and individuals to protect and preserve Westchester's environment and address climate change.
Our motto is “Think Globally, Act Locally,” because we know the most effective change is from the grassroots – it comes from you.
FCWC Statement Regarding Current Events
The murder of George Floyd and the days of protest that have followed have made clear the racism and social injustice that exists in this country. We, as a nation, must change.
Non-profits have to be part of that change. Since its inception, Federated Conservationists of Westchester County has been bringing together voices from all over the County to protect our shared environment and natural resources. However, until last year, these voices were mainly white and middle class.
That started to change in 2019, when FCWC, in partnership with Pace University, organized a Conference on Environmental Justice in Westchester County. Presentations from four urban communities illustrated the inequalities that exists in this county, as well as the systemic connections between economic inequality and social and environmental injustice, particularly in our urban communities.
We at FCWC will continue our commitment to educate, advocate and bring together ALL voices throughout Westchester to address environmental issues. We will focus on the connection between environmental and social justice and especially on the environmental justice issues stemming from climate change in our County.
We also urge our County and State elected officials to examine current laws and conditions that may contribute to social and environmental injustice, and initiate legislative reforms that will address the systemic issues negatively impacting people of color in our County and in the State.
The Safer New York Act provides a starting framework for statewide reform of policing that deserves careful consideration.
A fantastic offer from Sustainable Westchester:
SAVE money on your energy bills,
with no solar installation, when you enroll in Community Solar!
FCWC will benefit with an automatic donation from Sustainable Westchester when you sign up to support locally generated, renewable energy!
Be sure to use the promo code "FCWC"
News from the FCWC Student Network!
On Tuesday; August 25th the Student Network Steering Committee of the Federated Conservationists of Westchester County (FCWC) held its first meeting for the 2020-21 academic year. At this meeting we commenced the coordination of a Renewable Energy Webinar in October (which happens to be national energy awareness month), support for Planting Westchester on our academic institutions, our overall infrastructure for the environmental advocacy amongst all students throughout the county, the transparency of internships within the environmental field for students, and early plans for Earth Month 2021.
On Sunday; September 20th @ 3:00 pm the Student Network will be partnering with Sunrise Westchester, New York Youth Climate Leaders, New York Communities for Change, and the Food & Water Watch on a webinar to educate students on the fossil fuel industry and how to get involved in the advocacy for divestment. This event will occur a day before the start of Climate Week on Monday; September 21st; which will allow participants to share their newly found information throughout the weeklong observance.
As of right now the Steering Committee Consists of:
· Jazmin K. Morales Cisneros - SUNY Westchester Community College
· Marissa Glaze: Nellie A. Thornton High School
· Chelsea Green: SUNY Westchester Community College
· Bianca Jimenez - Mercy College
· Dylan Klein - SUNY Albany
· George Scott - Sarah Lawrence College
· Cyril Peter Singh - SUNY Westchester Community College
Please email students@fcwc.org if you know of any student who is interested in serving as a member of the Student Network Steering Committee. This committee is open to all students, and is charged with helping organize our environmental education to middle school, high school and college students throughout Westchester County.
Paul A. Presendieu
FCWC Student Network Coordinator
Students@fcwc.org
Happening in Westchester!
Most of the projects that are done in Westchester that relate to remediation of flooding and stormwater are funded through grants received by the Soil and Water District.
Current projects include an artificial reef project on LIS to protect the shoreline, and work along the Bronx River Parkway, as well as numerous other sites.
Video of Webinar, July 7, 2020 Below!
FCWC Student Network -
How to Help in Westchester- There is Hunger Amid Plenty!
Speakers from ASAP Scraps, County Harvest & HOPE Community
About this Event
Speakers:
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Paul Presendieu, FCWC Student Intern & Student Network Founder
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Peter McCartt, Westchester County Director of Energy Conservation & Sustainability
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ASAP Scraps Composting - Jonathan Marcuse, Dylan Spencer
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County Harvest - Missy Palmisciano, Founder & President of County Harvest and Alex Tan, Student Volunteer
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HOPE Community Services - Delvy Abreu, New Rochelle Student Volunteer
Speakers followed by Q & A and discussion.
PLEASE NOTE: EVEN THOUGH MAY IS OVER,
YOU CAN STILL DONATE VIA THE BAG PROGRAM!
In this uncertain time due to COVID-19, supporting non-profits has never been more important. Please do what you can to support us!!
If you shop at ANY Stop & Shop location, you can redeem the $1 for FCWC by using the "gift tag" on the bag, and redeeming it at this website:
https://stopandshop.bags4mycause.com/non-profit-resources/
Just click on the "Redeem Giving Tag" tab and follow instructions to scratch off the giving tag and type in the code.
Westchester Resilience:
How Communities are Responding to COVID-19
#WestchesterResilience
As we together face the challenges of Covid-19, FCWC is collecting ideas for building community strength and resilience. Please share what's going on in your community as people seek to connect and support each other through this time. E-mail a brief description of your community's action and a photo we can share (if you have one) to fcwc@fcwc.org. Please use the subject line: "community action", and include a contact name, e-mail/phone --in case we have questions before sharing.
We will post your community's news on a special page on our website, as well as on FCWC's Facebook.
Here's our first inspiring post:
Teens and other volunteers in Larchmont and Mamaroneck are working with County Harvest to ensure that people in need do not go hungry during this difficult time. County Harvest is in need of support and volunteers! Check it out at: https://www.countyharvest.org/. To volunteer, e-mail: volunteer@countyharvest.org
We look forward to hearing from you about the good things going on in your community!
Thank you all for your efforts to keep your communities---and Westchester---safe, healthy and connected!
Other events can be found on our calendar!
We've always worked hard to provide leadership that educates about environmental issues, advocates sound decision making, and unifies groups and individuals to protect and preserve Westchester's environment and address climate change.
Make your mark today with a 100% tax-deductible donation to FCWC, so that we can continue to protect and preserve Westchester's environment in 2018.
Sign up at the link below for:
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Action alerts on important environmental issues
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Local sustainability news and events
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Tips on green living
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Invites to local networking opportunities
And much more!
