PERSON: Alaina Beverly

Black Economic Alliance Foundation

Executive Vice President

Alaina Beverly is an expert in urban policy, civil rights, and racial equity.

Alaina is the Executive Vice President of the Black Economic Alliance (BEA) Foundation, the nation’s leading organization harnessing the collective expertise and influence of Black business leaders and to advance work, wages, and wealth across the Black community.

Before joining BEA Foundation, she served as the Assistant Vice President for Urban Affairs in the Office of Federal Relations at the University of Chicago, where she was responsible for driving action on the University’s research, scholarship, and models of urban investment through engagement with policymakers and national partners. She is the founding director of Urban America Forward, an annual program that convenes practitioners from across the country who are committed to advancing racial equity and economic inclusion in America’s cities.

Previously, Alaina served the Obama Administration as Associate Director for the White House Office of Urban Affairs. In that role, she laid the foundation for President Obama’s urban office by identifying models to make cities more sustainable, competitive, and inclusive. She was also a Principal at The Raben Group, a prestigious public policy and advocacy firm in Washington D.C..

Alaina began her career as a voting rights attorney for the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund and Advancement Project. She went on to serve on the 2008 Obama for America Campaign as the National Deputy Director for African-American Outreach. In that role she developed the national campaign strategy for engaging African-American voters and grass-top leaders.

Alaina is a graduate of Stanford University and University of Michigan Law School.

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