NICOLE LI

UNITED STATES, 20

Project: Collierville Community Justice
Pronouns: She/Her

Collierville Community Justice was founded to address systemic injustices in Collierville, Tennessee by addressing overt symbols of racism, discriminatory election laws, and housing injustice. The organization was formed in August 2020 amid growing calls to remove the Confederate monument in Collierville Town Square. Through grassroots advocacy, civic education, cultural preservation, and mutual aid, they advance racial and economic equity, amplify the voices of BIPOC, and spark critical conversations in their predominantly white and conservative town. 

—

What social and cultural factors contributed to the founding of Collierville Community Justice? 

A Confederate stronghold during the Civil War and a sundown town thereafter, Collierville’s long history of racial violence and Jim Crow segregation leaves a legacy of systemic racism that continues to permeate its political atmosphere today. Remnants of this history are visible in our town’s unjust electoral system, which is structured in a way that dilutes minority votes and makes it nearly impossible for residents of color to gain representation on the town board. 

“Our intergenerational and intercultural approach to community organizing is not only reflected in the diversity of residents represented on CCJ’s steering committee, but also in the diverse communities that our advocacy serves.”

<< Back to Main