Federal Policy Building from the Ground Up: A Discussion with Erika Ninoyu
Date: January 22, 2026
Time: 7:00 pm (ET)
Location: Virtual
Registration: If you have questions about this event or would like to attend, please contact us at [email protected].
Join us for a conversation with Erika Ninoyu (ELP ’16) as she shares her journey building federal policy from the ground up, moving from the classroom to national advocacy. She’ll share how elevating community voices had led to meaningful improvements in healthcare and wellness systems. Erika serves as Co-Chair of USJC’s WDC Region, a member of the Government Relations Committee, and a proud ELP ’16 alumni.
Featured Speaker
Erika Ninoyu
Erika Ninoyu is a systems-level leader, policy advisor, musician, educator, and cultural ambassador dedicated to creating positive social change through inclusive policymaking. She serves as Director, Federal Advocacy with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. In her former role as Deputy Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, she led federal efforts promoting equity, justice, and opportunity for AA and NHPI communities.
Erika transitioned from a 10-year career as a public school teacher to advising powerful appropriators in Congress. She led Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s key initiatives, including LHHSED and Agriculture appropriations, the Democratic Caucus Poverty Task Force, the CAPAC Health Task Force, the Health Equity and Accountability Act, and the HIV/AIDS Caucus. As an Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies fellow under Congresswoman Grace Meng, Erika helped draft critical legislation, including H.Res.908, Condemning All Forms of Anti-Asian Sentiment as Related to COVID-19 and the Asian American Pacific American History is American History Act.
Erika holds an M.Ed. in Education Policy and Management from Harvard, and both an M.A.T. and Bachelor of Music from the University of Alaska. She is an active cultural and community leader, serving Alaska Women Ascend, the U.S.-Japan Council, Japanese American Citizens League, and as the founding president of the Japan Alaska Association. A musician at heart, you will find Erika performing taiko drumming with MHTX throughout the DMV area.