Meet our 2026 Emcee!
Erica Loewe
Recognized as one of The Root 100’s Most Influential Black Americans, Essence Magazine’s Power 40, ColorComm’s 28 Black Women in Communications Making History, the U.S. Black Chamber of Commerce’s 50 Under 40 and the Washington Association of Black Journalists Excellence in Communications recipients, Erica Loewe is a communications strategist and political commentator with over a decade of experience at the intersection of media, politics and entertainment.
Erica recently served as Special Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff in the White House Office of Public Engagement, where she was responsible for making the White House accessible to as many Americans as possible. She was previously Director of African American Media for President Biden and Vice President Harris.
Prior to joining the Biden-Harris Administration, she was Deputy Communications Director to House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-SC) and a key advisor to Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), serving as Deputy Communications Director on the House Financial Services Committee.
Before working in Congress, Erica served as Director at one of Washington’s top government and public relations firms where she worked closely with clients to develop and execute strategic messaging that advanced their priorities.
In 2024, she was featured in “The Sixth”, an Emmy-award winning documentary produced by A24 and Change Content that chronicled her experience during the January 6th terrorist attack on the United States Capitol.
Following the release of this award-winning documentary, the National Newspaper Publishers Association recognized Erica at their national convention with “The Future Goes Viral” Award.
She is a graduate of the University of Florida, a native of Miami, Florida and currently lives in Washington, DC.
Meet our 2026 Keynote Speaker!
Dr. Wendy Oliver-Pyatt
Wendy Oliver-Pyatt, MD is a world-leading expert in mental health and eating disorder treatment, and the founder of Galen Hope in South Florida and Within Health. A board-certified psychiatrist with over 25 years of experience, she is known for her innovative, humane, and dignity-enhancing approach to care.
Dr. Oliver-Pyatt’s treatment model addresses the underlying factors contributing to mental health conditions, empowering individuals with the skills, tools, and support to heal physically, mentally, and emotionally.
She completed her specialty training at NYU-Bellevue Hospital, where she served as Chief Resident, and has held faculty positions at NYU, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and the University of Nevada School of Medicine.
A Fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders and the American Psychiatric Association, she has received senatorial recognition for her leadership in advancing mental health care. Dr. Oliver-Pyatt is the author of Questions and Answers on Binge Eating Disorder: A Guide for Clinicians and was named by USA Today as a Top Healthcare Entrepreneur 2024 and Beyond.