Maya Berry is Executive Director of the Arab American Institute (AAI), a non-profit, nonpartisan, national civil rights organization founded in 1985 to nurture and encourage direct participation in our political and civic life to mobilize a strong, educated, and empowered Arab American community. In 1996, she established AAI’s first government relations department, which she led for 5 years before becoming Legislative Director for House Minority Whip David Bonior, where she managed the Congressman's legislative strategy and developed policies on international relations, human rights, immigration, civil rights and liberties, and trade. With a deep knowledge of public policy making, Berry has helped expand AAI’s work on combatting hate crime, protecting the rights of securitized communities, and strengthening our democracy.