Nicole Li

Focus Areas

Nicole Li is a lead organizer of Collierville Community Justice (CCJ), a grassroots coalition working to challenge systems of institutional racism in Collierville, Tennessee. Since its inception in 2020, CCJ has spearheaded several campaigns to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in a predominantly white and conservative town. Such efforts include advocating for the removal of Confederate monuments from public spaces, uplifting Black history through inclusive storytelling, and distributing mutual aid for marginalized community members. As CCJ’s youngest steering committee member, Li is particularly passionate about civic education and youth leadership, as exemplified by her role as Founder and Director of CCJ’s Youth Organizing Fellowship program, which invests in the change-making potential of Collierville high school students through civic training and popular education.

As a progressive organizer based in Tennessee, Li strongly believes that contrary to popular belief, the South is not a lost cause. Since high school, she has demonstrated her commitment to building a more equitable South through her experience conducting criminal justice research for the ACLU of Tennessee, volunteering for campaigns to elect pro-choice Tennessee legislators, and interning for Memphis Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-9). Nicole recently completed a Bachelor of Arts in Ethics, Politics, & Economics from Yale University. For her service to her home and campus communities, she has been recognized as a Newman Civic Fellow, Youth to the Front Fund Frontliner, Invisalign ChangeMaker, Mississippi Delta Scholar, and Davis Projects for Peace Awardee.