Carletta Davis, President of the We Matter Community Association, is celebrated as a Hydro20 honoree for exposing the failing water system in Prichard, Alabama, and leading a fight for environmental justice.

Facing a crumbling water infrastructure that loses 66% of its supply to leaks and spills millions of gallons of sewage into streets and yards during rain, Davis galvanized her community to demand accountability. Her leadership transformed town hall meetings into powerful gatherings, drawing 700–800 residents.

When a chemical spill further threatened Prichard’s groundwater, Davis rejected divisive private settlements and nondisclosure agreements, choosing instead to unite her community. As a lead litigant, she refused payouts to focus on collective action, organically rising to leadership due to her outspoken advocacy.

This experience turned her into an environmental justice leader by necessity, not choice. In the end, she was able to hold a multi-billion-dollar company accountable, securing millions in remediation efforts to clean contaminated groundwater. Davis and her organization pursued certifications, including as health workers, and trained through the Water Justice Institute to better protect the community.

Now running for mayor, Davis aims to leverage her platform to secure federal and state funding to repair Prichard’s water infrastructure, prioritizing this critical issue. Her relentless fight for clean water and community empowerment continues to inspire change.

Carletta Davis’s transformative leadership in water justice and community advocacy has earned her a well-deserved place among the Hydro20 honorees.