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Join us at the People's Hearing in Pittsburgh, PA

Being held at the Omni William Penn in downtown Pittsburgh

The Speak Easy, Speak Free People's Hearing is a two-day public expression of testimonies, solutions and cultural celebration. This event encourages communities to come forward to keep their aspirations alive, setting in motion what comes next even in the midst of the chaos, harm, and silence of the year 2025. Building on the success of the People’s Hearings in Greensboro, NC, and Tucson, AZ we are excited to be in community with you all in Pittsburgh, PA

Our communities have fought for the right to breathe clean air, drink clean water and eat healthy food in the places we live, play, learn, work and pray together. In the past, we have found the heart to endure rough times because of the presence of each other in unison - knowing we are not alone. Yet, from the start of 2025, our right to come together collectively in public has been systematically attacked. We have been stripped of local and national platforms for expressing and investing in the challenges affecting our communities' well-being and the solutions for ending harm and promoting quality of life.

The People's Hearing in Pittsburgh, PA will:

• Convene representatives of communities from the state and surrounding regions to testify to the threats to their health, land and work. 
• Create space for dialogue where community representatives and their partners will together lay the groundwork for policies and movements that will secure a cleaner, healthier, and economically and culturally vibrant future. 
• Those invited include the community change-makers of Pennsylvania whose stories and solutions are ripe; leaders from across the country to bear witness and lift up the stories and solutions: and, all who are called to center the plight and promise of our communities in their work.

People’s Environmental Justice Advisory Council (PEJAC)

President Biden established the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council (WHEJAC) at the start of his term. The WHEJAC marked the first time that a Presidential advisory body was tasked with providing recommendations on environmental justice. The Council released a 92-page report advancing Justice40 commitments, the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool, and Executive Order 12898 through a robust set of recommendations. Through 2024, the Council provided important reports on key climate, energy, and environmental justice issues, such as carbon management and disaster relief, along with its sharing of critical input for federal agencies such as FEMA, DOE, DOT, USDA and others. Thousands of people from across the Nation and its Territories shared public comments with the WHEJAC to express their most pressing environmental problems and solutions, putting their experiences and knowledge on the public record. 

In 2025, the Trump Administration shut down the Council. But in June 2025, the inaugural People's Hearing was hosted in Greensboro North Carolina, creating a spark for a new public accounting of environmental justice that can inspire new coalitions, supercharge movements, and stoke policy change locally and nationally. At the hearing, a set of movement leaders who served on the WHEJAC acted as formal witnesses and vowed to write national recommendations in support of the testimonies they heard. Due to the former WHEJAC members' role in the hearing process, attendees and organizers alike dubbed the witnesses as the People’s Environmental Justice Advisory Council, or PEJAC. Honoring the hard work of the organizers in North Carolina, the PEJAC has fully committed to working to continue to receive testimony from attendees during the nationwide People’s Hearings. In doing so, the PEJAC aims to keep the public record on what is happening to our communities and to elevate environmental justice solutions back onto the national stage.

LOCATION

The People's Hearing will be held at the Omni William Penn, Pittsburgh, PA
UBICACIÓN: La Audiencia Popular se llevará a cabo en el Omni William Penn, Pittsburgh, PA

IMPORTANT DATES

November 7, 2025:     Book your lodging at the Omni William Penn at this link. Our group rate is $169/night excluding taxes. See below on how to apply for financial aid for travel and lodging. Lodging is only for Friday, November 21, 2025. There are a few rooms available for Thursday November 20, 2025 if needed.

November 15, 2025:     Deadline to register to attend and book your lodging.

Friday, November 21, 2025:     People's Hearing Day 1:   1PM Start

Saturday, November 22, 2025:    People's Hearing Day 2:   8AM start with breakfast; 12noon lunch; 3PM conclusion

FECHAS IMPORTANTES:

7 de noviembre 2025:  Reserva tu alojamiento en el Omni William Penn en este nlace.  Nuestra tarifa grupal es de $169/noche sin impuestos. Vea a continuación cómo solicitar ayuda financiera para viajes y alojamiento. 

15 de noviembre de 2025: Fecha límite para registrarse para asistir y reservar su alojamiento

Viernes 21 de noviembre de 2025: Audiencia popular Día 1: inicio a la 1 p.m.

Sábado 22 de noviembre de 2025: Audiencia Popular Día 2:    

Las 8 a.m. comienzan con el desayuno; almuerzo a las 12 del mediodía; Conclusión de las 3 p.m. 

LODGING

The Hearing has a block of rooms reserved the Omni William Penn, in downtown Pittsburgh, PA at a group rate of $169/night excluding taxes. The majority of the rooms are for arrival on Friday, November 21, 2025 with a few rooms available for Thursday, November 20, 2025.  If you require lodging book at THIS LINK. Be prepared with your arrival and departure dates. You will be asked for a credit card. If you are approved for financial assistance, your credit card will be used for incidental charges only. If you have any problems booking, contact [email protected].

Alojamiento: La Audiencia tiene reservado un bloque de habitaciones en el Omni William Penn, en el centro de Pittsburgh, PA, a una tarifa grupal de $169/noche sin impuestos. La mayoría de las habitaciones son para llegada el viernes 21 de noviembre de 2025 con algunas habitaciones disponibles para el jueves 20 de noviembre de 2025. Si necesita alojamiento, comuníquese con ESTE ENLACE para reservar antes del 31de octubre de 2025. Esté preparado con sus fechas de llegada y salida. Se le pedirá una tarjeta de crédito. Si se le aprueba la asistencia financiera, su tarjeta de crédito se utilizará únicamente para cargos incidentales. Si tiene algún problema para reservar, comuníquese con [email protected].

Supporting the engagement of community-based organizations

We value and are committed to the engagement of community-based leaders and organizations, and have a limited pool of funds available to support accommodation and travel associated with this event. All requests for travel and/or lodging sponsorship must be submitted by November 14th, 2025 in the registration form below. We will follow up confirming receipt of requests and communicate if requests are approved on November 15th, 2025.

Apoyo a la participación de las organizaciones comunitarias

Valoramos y estamos comprometidos con la participación de líderes y organizaciones comunitarias, y tenemos un fondo limitado de fondos disponibles para financiar el alojamiento y los viajes asociados con este evento. Todas las solicitudes de patrocinio de viaje y/o alojamiento deben enviarse antes del 3 de noviembre de 2025 en el formulario de registro a continuación. Haremos un seguimiento confirmando la recepción de las solicitudes y comunicaremos si las solicitudes se aprueban el 4 de noviembre de 2025.