Maya Berry
Maya Berry is the Executive Director of the Arab American Institute (AAI), a nonprofit, nonpartisan, national civil rights organization dedicated to encouraging direct participation in political and civic life and mobilizing a strong, educated, and empowered Arab American community. She previously served at AAI, where she established and led its first government relations department for five years before becoming Legislative Director for House Minority Whip David Bonior. In that role, she managed the Congressman's legislative strategy and developed policy on international relations, human rights, immigration, civil rights and liberties, and trade. Drawing on her deep expertise in public policymaking, Berry has expanded AAI's work in combating hate crimes, protecting the rights of securitized communities, strengthening democracy, and advancing data equity, including championing the creation of a new Middle East and North Africa (MENA) category. She serves as a board member and as co-chair of the Hate Crime Task Force at the Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights, sits on the board of Public Citizen, and serves on the National Advisory Council for More Perfect. Berry was also appointed to the Census Bureau's 2030 Census Advisory Committee.