We’ve loved celebrating Black History Month, but at Clean Water Action, we believe Black history should be honored every day of the year. For our final tribute, we proudly recognize Tolani Taylor, Zero Emissions/Warehouse Organizer, as a 2025 Black History Clean Water Champion for her outstanding leadership in environmental justice in New Jersey.
Tolani Taylor has been serving as the Zero Emissions and Warehouse Organizer for Clean Water Action since January 2023. Growing up in the small and historic town of Willingboro, NJ, Tolani developed a passion for Environmental Science, which was further pursued at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). In May 2021, Tolani graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science.
Tolani's journey with Clean Water Action began while conducting research for a journalism class at NJIT, which focused on the Newark Water Crisis. As part of this research, Tolani interviewed the Honorable Kim Gaddy, Clean Water Action’s former National Environmental Justice Director. This initial engagement led to deeper involvement with the organization, eventually leading to a role as a canvasser in Trenton, NJ, during the summer of 2019. In this position, Tolani had the opportunity to engage with residents about replacing lead pipelines that were contaminating their water supply.
For the past two years, Tolani has been leading a statewide campaign in New Jersey aimed at reducing air pollution caused by the state's ports and warehouse facilities. While these facilities play a critical role in freight and goods movement, they are also significant sources of pollution due to the high concentration of diesel-fueled trucks operating in these areas. These trucks contribute to poor air quality, leading to serious health effects such as asthma and lung cancer, particularly in port-adjacent, environmental justice, and overburdened communities.
As part of her role at Clean Water Action, Tolani has organized multiple community engagement events, collaborated with environmental justice groups at the local, state, and national levels, and engaged with government leaders to advance zero-emission infrastructure across New Jersey’s freight and goods movement system.
Beyond a professional commitment to environmental science, Tolani enjoys traveling, learning different languages and history, cooking new recipes, spending time with friends and family, reading various book genres, and helping those in need.
Additionally, Tolani serves as an active member of the Trenton Green Team and as Committee Chair for a special warehouse-related project conducted by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission.
Learn more about Tolani's work and check out media coverage highlighting her efforts.
Freight and Goods Movement Campaign
New Jersey Advance Media for NJ.com
NorthJersey.com
Yale Climate Connections
Discover more about Environmental Justice communities in NJ HERE.
Congratulations Tolani, YOU ARE A CLEAN WATER CHAMPION.
