About

As a community of elders taking *action*, we work on two immense objectives: to uplift democracy and to advance the rapid buildout of clean, renewable energy.

• SIGN UP HERE to join the UPSTATE SOLAR ADVOCATES
• SIGN UP HERE to join the UPSTATE DEMOCRACY TEAM
• Check out all our Third Act Upstate teams below …

Mobilizing around Third Act’s national campaigns, TA Upstate NY focuses on regional and local actions in three important ways:

• Advocacy:
  • on New York climate policy and legislation
  • on the rapid build out of solar, wind and battery storage
  • on data center moratoria
  • on uplifting democracy and voting
• Educating-for-Action:
  • by speaking up in local, statewide and online venues
  • by telling our stories
  • through one-on-one coaching and Learning Events
  • through creating/sharing media, writing, arts, and info
    • see: Resource Library
    • see: The Clarion Archive
• Building a bigger grassroots movement of elders throughout the state

Get Involved …

Our ALL-IN member meetings are a great way to connect face-to-face. Our welcomers team would love to set up a call with you; just drop us an email.

We know that everyone has a role. That is what a movement means, and that is how a movement works. We are ALL IN.

Join an Action Team …

Email upstateny@thirdact.org to find the right spot to match your passion.

1. Advocates for NY Climate Policy: A feisty group of elders from TA-NYC and TA-UNY working in coalition to influence policymakers and NY state agencies. Advocates meet via zoom every other Monday at 4:00.
2. Democracy & Climate: The democracy group takes action to mobilize voters around key races and issues, especially to help elect climate champions. Democracy meets approximately monthly on Wednesdays.
3. Programs & Presentations: P&P supports educating-for-action programs through public speaking, facilitated dialogues, storytelling, social media, digital resources, and press. P&P teams meet approximately monthly.
4. Movement Building / Welcomers: Through relational organizing and one-on-one conversations, the welcomers team takes action by listening, sharing, and making personal connections that boost member engagement.

Here is a visual look at how we’re organized.

Partnerships:

Our biggest impacts come through coalition-building. We partner with climate and democracy groups throughout New York State on local actions and events… and we make ‘good trouble’ of our own.

Third Act Upstate New York is on the steering committee of the NY Renews coalition – the force behind enacting the NYS Climate Law. Now we push to implement the law.

We are active members of the Public Power NY coalition – the force behind the Build Public Renewable Act in 2023 which enabled the New York Power Authority to build and own renewable energy projects.

We partner with the New York Solar Energy Industries Association (NYSEIA) to promote the rapid expansion of rooftop and community solar, particularly the NY-Sun program.

We partner with the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) to advance climate legislation and New Yorkers for Clean Power to promote renewable energy programs.

We are active members of the Renewable Heat Now coalition – the force behind the NY HEAT Act.

And, we are an affiliate of Beyond Plastics  and members of the Bottle Bill 40 Coalition – the lead coalitions to enact the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act and New York Bigger Better Bottle Bill.

Guiding Principles:

MAKING THE CHANGE – take action to influence politicians, regulators, agencies and enact climate bills, policies, regulations

Clean Energy & Climate Action: Engage in actions directed at the NYS government to fund and implement our landmark NYS Climate Act; collaborate with Beyond Plastics on real solutions to plastics; engage in climate advocacy before State regulatory agencies; and, disseminate information on incentives for transitioning to renewable energy.

Uplift Democracy & Climate: Engage in actions that connect with community and civic groups to promote climate justice and protect the integrity of democratic processes.

LIVING THE CHANGE – build the climate movement, educate for action, pair knowledge with stories, promote renewable energy adoption, engage at all levels

Educating for Action: As elders, stories are our superpower. Learn how to link issues and programs to our personal and family stories to effectively reach both policymakers and people in our communities… this amplifies our voices and builds the climate movement.

Movement Building: Engage in activities that build the climate movement… anything goes: art builds, social gatherings, tabling at the farmers market.