Sophia Li

looking for a sexy dress? looking for a cute top? looking for great denim? looking for something? Meet Sophia Li, multimedia journalist and director rejecting climate apathy on All of the Above. Sophia: I’m an old soul with a youthful spirit–this dichotomy is the foundation for how I see the world. I grew up between four states (Minnesota, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia) and two countries (the US and China). I’ve been a storyteller since I was able to talk, having to relearn my ABCs at four years old after moving back to the States from China. I was also able to gain the skills of a good listener. To tell the most moving stories, one must first be a good and present listener. S: Climate justice which equates to racial justice which equates to social justice. R: In what ways have you seen the sustainability conversation change throughout your career? S: When sustainability first came into the vernacular, the conversation revolved around the individual and what the individual could do, i.e. being zero-waste. Then it evolved into pointing the finger at companies and fossil fuels. Now with AOTA and our increased knowledge of this space, the conversation needs to revolve around all-of-the-above solutions with both individual and collective action working simultaneously. R: Intersectionality affects the way people experience climate change. Do you think it also affects the way people respond to it? S: 100%. Communities of color have been talking about the impacts of the climate crisis for a decade now because they were the first to experience it. Also, those on the climate frontlines don’t have room or time to believe the climate crisis is a far off catastrophe–they are experiencing it now. S: Revolution starts internally. The influx of nontypical politicians from AOC to India Walton, who just won the Buffalo primary, shifts the institution to become more intersectional. The more we influence from within, the greater the shift is towards intersectionality. R: What advice would you give to people who want to get involved in the climate conversation? S: Simply start participating! It doesn’t have to be at a grand scale–it’s even more powerful and impactful having these conversations with your immediate circle. One of the biggest myths is that there are a lot of climate change deniers–the more we talk about the climate, the more we understand everyone is also on the same page, and the faster we can all unify to move forward. R: What’s the coolest thing you’ve learned on All of the Above? S: Basketball shorts and those little cardigans that just wrap around the armpit combo worn in middle school.