Axé UPROSE Familia,

Have you heard of Black August? If not, this month will be your introduction. Black August emerged out of a pivotal moment in Black resistance, honoring fallen revolutionaries and incarcerated freedom fighters. It is especially important for us to observe this tradition now, as we confront the ongoing rise in unjust killings of Black people by the state, most recently seen in the death of Sonya Massey. In a time when the political landscape is fraught with challenges, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to disproportionately affect Black communities, there is immense power in honoring our history. By reflecting on the lives of radical ancestors, we draw strength from their legacies, which continue to shape this era of Black resistance.

Its origins trace back to the California prison system in 1971 after the death of George Jackson, a Black Panther and author who was imprisoned for a minor crime but became a radical thinker and revolutionary while incarcerated. His writings, particularly "Soledad Brother," inspired many within and outside the prison system. Jackson was assassinated in jail by San Quentin Prison Guards on August 21, 1971, making this a significant date in Black August. The month of August was also chosen because it marks significant dates in Black history, including the birth of figures like Marcus Garvey, the beginning of the Haitian Revolution, and the deaths of many other revolutionary figures.

The tradition of Black August is rooted in reflection, education, and action. Participants often engage in fasting, studying, and commemorating the lives of Black freedom fighters who have struggled against oppression. It is a time to focus on the history of Black resistance, both in the United States and globally, and to draw inspiration from the past to continue the fight for justice and equality today. 

In addition to commemorating the fallen freedom fighters of the Black Liberation Movement, Black August is a time to call for the release of political prisoners in the U.S., to condemn the oppressive conditions of U.S. prisons, and to emphasize the continued importance of the struggle for Black liberation. The United States wields its extensive prison system as a tool of repression against organized political movements that challenge power. This includes imprisonment of individuals for their political ideas, involvement in organized movements, and actions that involve armed confrontation with the state, labeling them as Political Prisoners or Prisoners of War. Additionally, some are jailed for social crimes but become politicized and engage in political activities while incarcerated, facing harsh repression. The fight to free these individuals affirms the right of exploited and colonized peoples to resist systems of oppression by any means necessary.

Black August is a living tradition that continues to inspire activism and unity within the Black community and among allies committed to the fight for freedom and equality. It is our duty to honor the stories of political prisoners who have recently passed, such as Baba Sekou Odinga and Dylcia Pagan, and to support those still fighting behind bars, like Mumia Abu Jamal, Kamau Sadiki, Imam Jamil Al Amin, Joy Powell, and Leonard Peltier. We must return to a time when our children knew the names and stories of our freedom fighters through the songs they sang. We must bring our political prisoners home, and to do that, we must continue to say their names. 

Let us embody the spirit of Black August!

Nyiesha Mallett and the UPROSE team

RECENT EVENT

Gender Justice

On Tuesday August 14th, the UPROSE Staff participated in a very powerful workshop on Feminist economy as a solution to the climate crisis, facilitated by former UPROSE staff member Ana Orozco. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

PLANNING ENVIRONMENTAL & CLIMATE JUSTICE:

A Future You Can Build

DATE/TIME: Thursday, 08/22, 6 - 7:30pm

LOCATION: BK Public Library, Grand Army Plaza

Hosted in partnership between UPROSE and Pratt Institute’s Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment (GCPE) in collaboration with the Brooklyn Public Library as part of the lecture series organized by Commissioner Leah Goodridge demystifying urban planning talk.

Join grassroots leaders from UPROSE, Nyiesha Mallett (Climate Justice Hub Organizer) and Nebraska Hernandez (Climate Justice Hub Advocate) in conversation with Pratt Institute Professor and New York City Planning Commissioner Juan Camilo Osorio as they discuss the most pressing opportunities and challenges to achieving environmental & climate justice in Brooklyn. Structured as an informal cafe-style conversation, presenters will define key concepts and showcase concrete examples to mobilize and take climate action. The discussion will explore the urban planning proposals put forth by UPROSE’s GREEN RESILIENT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT and engage the audience in preparation for the upcoming “CLIMATE JUSTICE LIVES HERE!” community festival taking place on September 28th, 2024, in Sunset Park.

Juan Camilo Osorio

Assistant Professor at Pratt Institute’s Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment, and Commissioner, NYC Planning Commission

Juan Camilo Osorio Botero is an Assistant Professor at Pratt Institute’s Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment. He was appointed to the City Planning Commission by the Brooklyn Borough President, Antonio Reynoso, to leverage 16 years of professional experience working as an architect and urban planner in collaboration with grassroots leaders across New York City. His work explores the tension between cities and the political economy of climate action and disaster recovery, where socio-economic and environmental inequality exacerbate each other at all stages of the planning process. This includes research, policy design, technical assistance and advocacy campaigns on community-based planning, environmental justice and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Nyiesha

Mallett

Climate Justice

Organizer

Nyiesha Mallett (she/her) is a 23-year-old artist and arts educator for the DOE who embarked on her journey as an organizer at UPROSE in 2015, diving into community engagement at the age of fourteen. She is a recent graduate of the Cooper Union School of Art, Class of 2023. Her passion for social, political, and environmental justice is deeply ingrained, finding expression not only through her voice but also through her artistic practice. Nyiesha is passionate about empowering communities through inclusive engagement, leading workshops and forums that position resident voices at the forefront of climate action discussions. Her work has significantly influenced environmental policy changes, strengthened community solidarity, and inspired her team with her commitment and innovative approaches. Nyiesha has also been named a 2021 Grist 50 Fixer as well as a Yale Public Voices Fellow on the Climate Crisis.

Nebraska Hernández

Climate Justice Hub Advocate

Nebraska (he/him/él) is a Puerto Rican environmental justice advocate and political ecologist. He is a graduate from the Pennsylvania State University where he obtained both his B.S. and M.S. in Geography. He is passionate about environmental justice, writing two theses on the topic, and served on the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Environmental Justice Advisory Board. As part of his work, Nebraska leverages GIS and critical cartographic methods to create maps that analyze the disproportionate impacts of environmental pollutants on environmental justice communities. In his free time, he enjoys reading, spending time with friends, listening to music, and making maps.

EMERGENT CITY Screening

DATE/TIME: Monday September 23rd, 2024

LOCATION: UPROSE 462 36th St, Brooklyn, NY 11232

In the wake of deindustrialization and on the cusp of climate catastrophe, a Brooklyn community grapples with the future of New York City’s last working waterfront. Over a decade, Emergent City explores power and process in a working class neighborhood facing gentrification, development and the need for jobs that will allow people to stay in the place they call home. The film is a 360° observational portrait that leans into the complexity of issues often framed in black and white. Emergent City asks viewers to consider how change might emerge from dialogue and collective action in a world where too many outcomes are constrained by money, politics and business as usual.

A Film By

Director/ Producer Kelly Anderson

Director/ Editor Jay Arthur Sterrenberg

Executive Producer Carrie Lozano

Producer. Brenda Ávila-Hanna

Producer Stephen Maing

Featuring UPROSE

Latiné Luminaries with Rhina Valentin and Elizabeth Yeampierre

Lincoln Center Presents

David Rubenstein Atrium

Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at 7:30 pm

Now in its third year, "Latiné Luminaries" aims to celebrate the vibrant culture of our Urban Latiné community leaders through music, dance, and interactive conversations in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. ”La Reina Del Barrio” Rhina Valentin brings together talented artists and leaders to showcase artistic expressions and cultural contributions. This year’s installment highlights internationally recognized Puerto Rican attorney and environmental and climate justice leader Elizabeth Yeampierre.

Climate Justice Lives Here Festival: A Day Of Action September 28th 2024

Join UPROSE for the “Climate Justice Lives Here!” march and community festival on September 28th, 2024, in Sunset Park. This significant event caps off NYC Climate Week and coincides with the 10th anniversary of the People’s Climate March, celebrating the critical role of frontline communities in driving climate justice. The march will traverse Sunset Park, culminating at the Brooklyn Army Terminal waterfront where a vibrant climate justice festival will unfold. Expect an array of activities including cultural performances, poetry readings, learning circles, and art activities, all centered around raising awareness for climate justice. A multicultural food bazaar featuring local vendors will provide sustenance, while a robust multi-media communications strategy will amplify the voices and stories often overlooked during Climate Week, ensuring that the message—Solutions Are Local—resonates far and wide.

Art by Sylvia Riveros

UPROSE in the News

The 2024 Brooklyn Power 100

Exciting news! City & State called our Executive Director, Elizabeth Yeampierre, Brooklyn’s most prominent climate activist on the 2024 Brooklyn Power 100 list! Check out the full list to see the leaders making a difference in Brooklyn this year.

July 1, 2024 | Article Link

UPROSE is an intergenerational, multi-racial, nationally-recognized, women of color-led, grassroots organization that promotes sustainability and resiliency through community organizing, education, leadership development and cultural/artistic expression in Brooklyn, New York.

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