Emily Sunez, disability advocate, educator, artist, and nonprofit leader, has been selected as a member of the prestigious Junior League’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2026, an honor presented by The Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI). This national recognition celebrates outstanding leaders across the Junior League movement who are creating meaningful community impact through service, leadership, and innovation.

A member of the Junior League of Pasadena (JLP), Sunez currently serves on the League’s Operations Committee, where she contributes to strengthening the organization’s internal systems to better support its mission-driven work in the community.

Sunez is widely recognized for her advocacy for individuals living with chronic and invisible illnesses. After being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and autonomic nervous system disorder, she transitioned from her career as a classroom ESL teacher and transformed her personal health journey into a mission to serve others. In 2018, she founded the Pasadena POTS support group, a grassroots effort that grew into the nonprofit Los Angeles Dysautonomia Network (LADN), which she co-founded.

Under her leadership as Co-Executive Director, LADN expanded to offer adult, teen, and caregiver support groups; patient education programs; community-building events; and a grant program assisting low-income patients with medical expenses. In 2024, she received the Robert Gorski Access Award from the City of Pasadena in recognition of her work to improve accessibility and quality of life for people with disabilities.

Now serving as LADN’s Outreach Director, Sunez has returned to education as a K–8 reading interventionist, where she specializes in supporting students with dyslexia and other learning disabilities. She also advocates for the therapeutic power of creativity — her award-winning oil paintings have been exhibited in galleries across California, including a recent solo exhibition at San Marino’s Crowell Public Library. She is also the author and illustrator of The Healing Journal: Guided Prompts & Inspiration for Life with Illness (2022), a guided journal for individuals living with chronic illnesses and disabilities.

Her long-standing commitment to service includes volunteering as a literacy tutor at Pasadena’s Longfellow Elementary School through Reading Partners and helping plan and execute “SheCounts: Women Owning Their Financial Future,” a financial literacy conference hosted by her Junior League of Pasadena new member class.

Sunez’s recognition as a 40 Under 40 honoree highlights her dedication to building inclusive communities, advancing disability advocacy, and empowering others through education, creativity, and service.