Meet Erika Nnaji of Pomona

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Nnaji.

Hi Erika, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My name is Erika Nnaji, and at the heart of everything I do is a deep commitment to people — particularly those who have faced some of life’s most profound challenges.
I came to social work not just as a career choice, but as a calling. I earned my Bachelor of Social Work from California State University, Los Angeles, and went on to complete my Master of Social Work with a specialization in Community Leadership and Program Administration from Azusa Pacific University. My academic training gave me a strong foundation, but it was my own lived experience with adversity and resilience that truly shaped the kind of practitioner — and the kind of leader — I was growing into.
Early in my career, I had the privilege of working as a Clinical Therapist, providing direct services to adults, youth, and children. Sitting with people in some of their hardest moments taught me so much about the human spirit — its capacity to endure, to heal, and to rise. That experience also made clear to me that real change requires more than individual care. It requires addressing the systems that shape people’s lives in the first place.
That conviction brought me to Every ONE Free in 2016, and from the moment I arrived, I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be. Every ONE Free is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) dedicated to supporting, empowering, and advocating for survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Our vision is to be a survivor-centered movement of hope, freedom, and transformation — one where the voices, experiences, and needs of survivors are at the center of everything we do. Every piece of our work is rooted in dignity and trauma-informed care, because we believe survivors deserve nothing less.
Over the years, I grew deeply alongside the organization — co-authoring the majority of our program curriculum, helping shape our nationally delivered services, and taking on increasing leadership responsibility. That journey has led me to where I stand today, as Executive Director of Every ONE Free — a role I hold with tremendous gratitude and purpose. And I want to be clear: I could not be here without my team. The people who show up every day alongside me, who pour their hearts into this mission — they are the backbone of everything we have built together.
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with advanced certifications across multiple therapeutic modalities and evidence-based practices, I bring both clinical grounding and a systems-level perspective to my leadership. But more than any credential, what guides me every day is the belief that every survivor deserves to be seen, supported, and empowered to reclaim their story.
This work is personal. It is purposeful. And I am honored to do it.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Building Every ONE Free from a grassroots effort into the organization it is today has been one of the most rewarding and demanding experiences of my life. The foundation was always there — the mission, the heart, the commitment — but growing that foundation into something more formalized, more structured, and built to scale is its own kind of challenge. Strengthening processes, expanding capacity, and ensuring that the systems guiding our work could meet the growing demands of the people we serve required constant learning, adapting, and perseverance.
There were moments of uncertainty and moments of exhaustion — but also moments of tremendous breakthrough. Every challenge pushed us to grow stronger and more intentional in how we show up for survivors.
The road has not always been easy. But every obstacle has only deepened my purpose — and reminded me exactly why this work matters.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the Executive Director of Every ONE Free, my work lives at the intersection of direct clinical care and systems-level change. I specialize in trauma-informed services, program development, and advocacy for survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Over the years I have built a comprehensive background that spans direct clinical practice, curriculum development, and organizational leadership — and I believe that combination is what allows me to lead with both heart and strategy.

What I am most proud of is the impact of our programs. I have had the privilege of co-authoring the majority of Every ONE Free’s program curriculum — services that are now delivered nationally and designed to meet survivors exactly where they are. Knowing that the work we have built is reaching people across the country is so inspiring.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
One of my favorite childhood memories is playing sports. I was a student athlete in both softball and volleyball, and those years hold such a special place in my heart. There is something about being part of a team — the camaraderie, the competition, the way you push each other to be better — that stays with you long after the games are over.
Looking back, I think being a student athlete shaped me in ways I didn’t fully appreciate at the time. It taught me discipline, resilience, and the power of showing up — for your teammates and for yourself. Those lessons have followed me into every chapter of my life, including the work I do today. Leading a team, building toward a shared mission, and believing that every person has a role to play — that all feels very familiar to the athlete in me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://everyonefree.org