Broadway Stages would like to introduce you to a fellow resident of Brooklyn, Sophie Li. A Chinese-American multimedia journalist, film director, and environmental advocate, she uses her platform to make climate and racial justice issues more inclusive.

Sophia Li was born in Minnesota but spent her formative years in Shandong, China. As a child, she grew up with family members who practice the Buddhist ideology of existing in a symbiotic relationship with all living things. It was here, in the midst of this ethos, that her climate journey began.

After graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, Li moved to New York, where she splits her time between Brooklyn and a small sustainable home in Upstate. This is where she actively cultivates her passion for a healthier, more just world.  

On social media, you will find Li represented by her ‘global spirit,’ sophfei. This handle combines her American nickname (soph) and her Chinese nickname (fei). You can follow sophfei on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Here you will find a refreshing, common sense, science-based perspective that encourages engagement and enables understanding of this broad, complicated and often disinformed topic. And, take a look at her IG post about being "an unlikely environmentalist" where she provides a new perspective and reality on who is actually an environmentalist. SPOILER ALERT… it’s not who you may think they are.  And be sure to listen to her comments on the outside-the-box idea of gamifying climate. You heard that right.  While Li was moderating a climate conference, one of the speakers said that “this approach would be one of the more effective ways to get people on-board with the movement.” Brilliant! Imagine our children (and grown partners) playing video games that help to save the earth.

Li’s passion to share knowledge, and activate change with regard to the link between climate, racial, and social justice is evident in her work, including  All of the Above, a video series she created and hosts with Céline Semaan. The show is described as “A thought-provoking show with a sense of humor answering today’s most pressing questions around climate change and social justice.” Episodes can be viewed on the website or on YouTube. Best of all, every episode plants 1,000 trees with Ecosia, divest from fossil fuel, and invests in sustainability literacy with Slow Factory. Find our blog about Slow Factory here.

Another channel of her expression is the 6-episode podcast series Climate Talks that Li hosts. Each episode takes on sustainability from multiple perspectives and reframes how we communicate about the climate. The series is produced in collaboration with Facebook’s parent company, Meta.

And beyond these projects, Li’s reporting has appeared on CNN, in the Washington Post, New York Magazine, Vogue, and more. In addition, Li was named a climate influencer to watch for her efforts in 2022 by Harvard Medical School Center for Health and the Global Environment in partnership with Pique Action. She also received the Sustainable Innovator Award from Refinery29 and was named an official United Nations Human Rights Champion.

Li said, “I am excited about this radical period of transition we’re going through, hopefully ushering in a future that is rewired with humanity at its core.” She encourages us to join the effort. “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.”

Influencer is a term that has become common in conversations today. But Broadway Stages knows our Brooklyn neighbor is far more than just an influencer. She is an inspiration! We are privileged to have people like Sophia Li leading our shared journey toward a better world.