Asena Lillywater Tui’one is a community-rooted legal advocate, policy strategist, and lifelong organizer committed to building equity and power alongside historically marginalized communities across Harlem, the Bronx, and Brooklyn. The daughter of Tongan immigrants, she was raised in Southern California in a home shaped by collective values, cultural resilience, and a deep belief in service.
Asena currently serves as the Director of the Training Institute at the Center for Justice Innovation, where she leads a dynamic training program that centers people and organizational values. Her work supports skill-building, collaboration, and cross-portfolio learning, fostering a culture of growth and shared leadership.
With academic grounding in Sociology, Education & the Law, Asena began her career in education justice—designing and leading youth-centered reforms at the Harlem Children’s Zone and DREAM! in the Bronx. There, she helped reimagine school discipline through restorative practices, reduce suspension rates, and strengthen partnerships between communities, schools, and city leadership. Recently in Central Harlem, she served on Community Board 10, facilitating public safety forums and hosting intergenerational community circles on housing, education, and placemaking.
Her theory of change is rooted in healing justice, community voice, and systems transformation. She has led statewide policy initiatives, including education funding reform litigation in California, and worked closely with families and coalitions to advance justice through legal and policy advocacy. Whether in neighborhood spaces or institutional settings, Asena brings bold vision, relational leadership, and a “whatever it takes” spirit to the fight for equity and justice.