KeShaun Pearson is a Memphis-based leader at the forefront of the fight for environmental justice, known for making complex issues accessible to the communities most affected by them. As Executive Director of Memphis Community Against Pollution (MCAP), he leads campaigns to protect South Memphis residents from toxic air pollution and safeguard community health from corporate overreach.

KeShaun’s advocacy began in 2020 during the Byhalia Connection Pipeline fight, where he helped mobilize grassroots resistance against two multi-billion-dollar oil companies attempting to build through predominantly Black neighborhoods. His work drew national attention, earning the support of public figures like Bishop William Barber, Al Gore, and Justin Timberlake.

Before leading MCAP, KeShaun served as Project Director for the Poor People’s Campaign Moral Mass Assembly and March on Washington, where he led logistical planning and media to bring 200 organizations and thousands of the under resourced and their advocates together for equity and justice.

Since then, KeShaun has expanded his leadership to other high-stakes battles, including organizing against Elon Musk’s xAI “Colossus” data center project in Memphis—a fight to protect vulnerable communities from environmental harm under the guise of technological progress. With a professional background in information technology, business administration, and project management, he brings a rare blend of technical expertise and grassroots strategy to the environmental justice movement.

He also serves as Vice Chair of Protect Our Aquifer, working to ensure clean, safe water for future generations.

A graduate of Old Dominion University with dual degrees in Information Technology and Business Administration, and a Project Management certificate from the University of Virginia, KeShaun’s work sits at the crux of tech and environmental justice. Whether on the ground in Memphis or on national stages, he is committed to one thing above all: putting people first.