Before I was a nonprofit CEO or someone who spoke at the Statehouse with any regularity, I was just a woman sitting at a conference with a notebook and a thousand questions. That’s where I met my best friend Crystal Lett—and that’s where this story begins.
At the time, I identified as a Republican. Crystal, a Democrat. We were strangers drawn to the same women’s leadership conference, both curious about how we could use our voices to lead. We weren’t speakers that day. We weren’t elected officials. We just cared. We wanted to do more.
So we did. What started as a simple idea—a book club without the books—grew into Salon Lab, a gathering of women committed to talking about policy and politics from different perspectives after the 2016 election. We opened it up on Facebook, hoping to find a few others who felt the way we did: frustrated, curious, and hungry for clarity and community. For nearly four years, dozens of women from all walks of life gathered around my living room coffee table to talk about the issues shaping our country and our lives.
Years later, Crystal and I were invited by the Women’s Fund of Central Ohio to speak about what we created through Salon Lab and grassroots advocacy at their annual Advocacy Day. That’s when we met the keynote speaker: Lilly Ledbetter.
The Story We All Needed to Hear
I’ll be honest—I knew Lilly’s name. I was working on Capitol Hill in 2009 when President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law. But I didn’t know her story. Not really.
That changed when I interviewed the filmmakers behind LILLY, a new feature film opening in theaters nationwide on May 9. I had the privilege of hosting Rachel Feldman (writer/director) and Simone Pero (producer) for a special edition of The Advocate Next Door. You can watch the full interview here.
The film shares Lilly’s journey—how an anonymous note revealing her lower pay sparked a years-long battle through the legal system, the Supreme Court, and ultimately Congress. She lost in court, but Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s dissent gave her new direction: “You need to bring this to Congress.” Lilly did just that. And she didn’t stop.
When I asked Rachel what drew her to the story, her answer was simple and powerful:
“Lilly stuck with it, she didn’t give up and eventually her fight was not for herself, but for others. She is a model for all of us.”
That’s what makes LILLY more than a movie. It’s a mirror. A call to reflect on how we show up—not with perfection, but with persistence.
Advocacy Isn’t a Moment. It’s a Lifetime.
What struck me most was this: Lilly began her fight in her 60s. In her 60s!!! She spent the next two decades pushing forward. And she did it without a formal title, a team of strategists, or media training. What she did know, is that it wasn’t right to do the same work and get paid less, and that fire in her belly never went out.
When I asked the film’s producer, Simone, about funding the project, I shared what I already suspected: less than 2% of philanthropic dollars go toward women and girls—and I had a feeling the film industry wasn’t much better. She nodded in agreement. LILLY wasn’t easy to fund. Stories about women—especially older women, or women advocating for policy change—don’t exactly top the list for major Hollywood investors.
The result? A bold, beautiful film that blends narrative storytelling and archival footage. When I asked Rachel why they took that creative approach, she said it best:
“History repeats. We have good times and bad. I hope the lesson of this film is to remember that—and offer hope and inspiration.”
Your Voice, Your Turn
Watching LILLY, I couldn’t help but think about how many women are waiting. Waiting for a title. Waiting for experience. Waiting to feel powerful enough to make a difference.
But here’s the truth: You don’t have to wait for a podium. You can start in your living room.
That’s what Crystal and I did. Today, she’s a State Representative in the Ohio House. I lead weekly civic conversations with community leaders, elected officials, and neighbors. We didn’t know where our early questions would lead. But we knew enough to begin.
And now, I want to invite you to begin, too.
Five Things You Can Do This Week
Watch the film. Find a screening of LILLY, opening May 9. Bring your friends. Your coworkers. Your daughters. Your dad. Your advocacy can start in a movie theater.
Host a conversation. Don’t stop at watching—talk about it. Around your table. In your group chat. In your office. Advocacy begins with awareness.
Read the research. The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio just released Making Women Wealthy and Free, a bold report about the gender wealth gap. Spoiler: it’s not just about income. It’s about power and possibility.
Support women-focused organizations. Only 1.9% of all philanthropic giving goes toward women and girls. That’s not just a funding issue—it’s a values issue. If you're in Central Ohio, Keyholder is May 8. Be there. If you’re not, make a donation. 😉
Tell your story. Whether you’ve spoken at the Statehouse or just spoken up at a PTA meeting, your voice matters. Share your truth. Someone is waiting to hear it.
Love + Light,
Sophia
Thanks for reading. If this resonates, forward it to a friend, bring someone to the film, or leave a comment about your own “Lilly moment.” Let’s keep showing up—together.
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