FROM SFLA NEWS

Meet Lydia Poe, One of National Leaders Collective’s January Leaders of the Month 

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Lydia Poe - 15 Jan 2025

Lydia Poe, one of the National Leaders Collective’s leaders of the month, is a Students for Life of America’s (SFLA) Standing With You (SWY) Fellow attending Saint Mary’s College in Indiana. Learn more about Poe’s activism below. 

When I first learned the truth about abortion, I had to act—every human life—no matter how small or vulnerable—has inherent value and dignity. But I hadn’t fully understood how deeply abortion impacts our society, our women, and especially our children. Standing up for the most vulnerable and offering compassion and practical support to those facing difficult situations is essential to building a culture of life. I’m determined to play my part in that change. 

So far, I’ve grown as a leader by learning the power of listening as much as speaking. Early on, I focused on action through social media and school events, but I realized that authentic leadership requires understanding the real needs of others. As a sidewalk advocate, I’ve seen firsthand that choosing life begins with genuine conversations—listening to concerns, building trust, and changing hearts and minds. These experiences have strengthened my skills in collaboration, empathy, and empowering others. For me, leadership now means balancing passion with patience while ensuring others feel supported and ready to make a difference in the movement. 

I’ve had the privilege of participating in several leadership programs and internships that have shaped my understanding of the movement and the work still ahead of us. I started leading my SFLA high school group in 2018, and now I’m honored to serve as Vice President of Belles for Life and as a Standing with You Fellow with SFLA. The National Leadership Collective (NLC) program has been particularly transformative, allowing me to lead projects, collaborate with like-minded peers, and create life-affirming resources for women. I applied for this fellowship because I’ve seen firsthand the lack of support for pregnant and parenting students. I aim to ensure no woman in my community faces these challenges alone. This experience has inspired me to take action and equip myself with the tools necessary to advocate for life and create lasting change that aligns with my college’s pro-life values. 

My top pro-life accomplishments this school year are:  

  • Hosting a Belles for Life Mother Mary Baby Shower before Christmas, collecting approximately $2,500 in donations, including seven car seats and essential baby items like diapers, pacifiers, books, lotion, bibs, wipes, and more to support mothers in need within the South Bend community.  
  • Inviting Saint Mary’s student mother, Taylor Phillips, to share her powerful story of choosing life for her unplanned baby, Eden, provided a firsthand testimony on how to support students facing similar challenges. 
  • Organizing a Remembrance of the Preborn Cemetery, a 1000+ Cross display on the main green to memorialize the daily loss of preborn lives, creating a poignant visual reminder of the importance of protecting life, easily reaching 500+ students passing by. 
  • Leading a Right to Life Week on campus, with activities like tabling, chalking, hosting speakers, and a Respect Life Mass to raise awareness and strengthen the pro-life culture at Saint Mary’s. 

Each of these initiatives has played a pivotal role in educating, inspiring, and mobilizing others to take meaningful action for life. 

My involvement with SFLA and the National Leaders Collective has sincerely strengthened my ability to lead with compassion and conviction. I have turned my passion for life into impactful and purposeful action, advocating for mothers and preborn children to ensure every life is valued and protected. 

READ NEXT: Meet Tiffany Blanco, One of National Leaders Collective’s January Leaders of the Month

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