[3] Toles was an undergraduate student at the City University of New York, where she majored in political science.

[5] As a City College student, she interned at the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and the Environmental Protection Agency.

[8][9] During her tenure, she held several positions, including Vice President of Professional Development, during which she produced the organization's signature salon and monthly educational forum, Eco Hour.

[15] In the year of 2019, Toles joined 350.org as its North America Director, making her the first African-American woman to hold this position in an environment or climate organization.

[22] She is a contributor to Politico‘s Long Game Forum[23] on issues[24] of environment, equity, energy access and climate justice.