Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Shelley Mayer Convene CSW70-Aligned Forum on Women and Sustainability

Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Shelley B. Mayer Convene CSW70-Aligned Forum on Women and Sustainability

Yonkers, New York — March 27, 2026

In alignment with the global momentum of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), a high-level Women’s History Month forum titled
“Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future”
was convened at the Beczak Environmental Education Center.

The event was hosted by Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Shelley B. Mayer, bringing together policymakers, environmental leaders, and community advocates to explore the critical role of women in advancing sustainability and environmental justice.

🌿 Women Driving Sustainable Transformation

The discussion closely reflected key priorities of CSW70, including:

Climate action and environmental justice
Community-driven sustainability models
Women’s leadership in policy and grassroots initiatives
Building inclusive and resilient communities

Featured speakers included:

Raya Salter, Founder and Executive Director of the Energy Justice Law & Policy Center
Courtney Williams, PhD, Westchester Alliance for Sustainable Solutions
Terry Joshi, Yonkers Green City Advisory Committee
Diana Williams, Executive Director of Environmental Leaders of Color
Nicola Armacost, former Mayor of Hastings-on-Hudson
Brianna Rodriguez, Groundwork Hudson Valley

They shared cross-sector insights spanning policy, advocacy, and grassroots engagement.

🌍 From Policy to Impact

A central message of the forum was the urgency of translating policy into tangible outcomes.

Andrea Stewart-Cousins emphasized the importance of transforming social justice into real opportunities, particularly for women and families at the community level.

Shelley B. Mayer highlighted that:

Education, community engagement, and policy must work in alignment
Women are not only beneficiaries, but key drivers of sustainable solutions

She further underscored the role of local government in expanding equitable access to education, resources, and community-based policy implementation—ensuring that sustainability efforts translate into long-term, inclusive impact.

This perspective strongly echoes the CSW70 theme of
“From Commitments to Implementation.”

🤝 Local Action, Global Impact

The forum fostered dynamic dialogue on:

Community-led solutions
Cross-sector collaboration
Scalable, women-led initiatives

It demonstrated how local leadership can meaningfully contribute to global sustainability agendas.

🌐 TSGL Perspective

Times Square Global Live (TSGL) continues to spotlight voices and initiatives that bridge:

United Nations priorities
Local policymaking
Global sustainable development efforts

Through on-the-ground coverage and international perspective, TSGL remains committed to advancing dialogue that connects community action with global impact.