https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/
Plastic Pollution Coalition developed its Plastic-Free Visionaries: Leaders in the Movement to End Plastic Pollution Award in 2024, to recognize leaders at the forefront of the movement to end plastic pollution.
Nina Raj, Founder of the Altadena Seed Library
Before the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, Altadena Seed Library set up free seed libraries to help residents share and grow endemic plants. Now, they are rebuilding and reestablishing their seed libraries, testing local soil, and educating the community to expand equitable access to shade and green spaces, increase food sovereignty, connect neighbors, and restore local ecosystems. Nina Raj founded the Altadena Seed Library with the intention of building a community resource to promote seed equity, education, and distribution.
“Altadena Seed Library is honored to receive the 2025 Plastic-Free Visionaries Award. Our mission is to expand access to shade and green space, increase food sovereignty, connect neighbors, and restore local ecosystems through the distribution of free seeds and seed education. Following the Eaton Fire, we are providing phytoremediator seed mixes to affected residents and working to establish conservation seed banks throughout the region.” — Nina Raj, Founder of Altadena Seed Library
“We are delighted to recognize Nina Raj and the Altadena Seed Library in their efforts to build seed sovereignty and boost regeneration. By growing access to seeds and ecological education, they are helping residents in and around Altadena regrow a stronger landscape together.” — Dianna Cohen, Co-Founder and CEO of Plastic Pollution Coalition
Reverend Lennox Yearwood, Jr., Founder of Hip Hop Caucus
Rev. Yearwood was recognized for his groundbreaking leadership at the intersection of racial justice, climate action, and economic equity. Through his work as President and CEO of Hip Hop Caucus, Rev. Yearwood has consistently advanced frontline-led solutions that protect our communities, challenge environmental racism, and shift culture toward collective liberation and sustainability. Recently, Rev. Yearwood co-founded with Antonique Smith Climate Revival, a faith-based organization and movement to unite communities through faith, music, and storytelling to protect people and the planet.
“It is an honor to be recognized by Plastic Pollution Coalition. This movement requires all of us—artists, organizers, and advocates—to stand together against systems of pollution that threaten our health, our planet, and our future. We will continue to build power through culture to protect people and the planet.” — Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., President & CEO of Hip Hop Caucus, and Co-Founder of Climate Revival
“We cherish the opportunity to celebrate Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., a leader in the movement to end fossil fuels and plastic pollution. He is a solutionary whose work with Hip Hop Caucus and Climate Revival helps create the just, equitable world we need.” — Dianna Cohen, Co-Founder and CEO Plastic Pollution Coalition
The work of these visionaries in delivering real solutions continuously inspires us to keep moving together to build and grow the more just, equitable, and regenerative world we need. As our honorees Nina Raj and Rev. Yearwood show us, we are each capable of setting forth systemic change, which sends positive ripple effects out of our communities through all of society.
About Plastic Pollution Coalition:
Plastic Pollution Coalition is a non-profit communications and advocacy organization that collaborates with an extensive global alliance of organizations, businesses, and individuals to create a more just, equitable, regenerative world free of plastic pollution and its toxic impacts. Plastic Pollution Coalition is a project of Earth Island Institute. http://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org
