This week marks the end of Arab American Heritage Month and the League of Women Voters of Berkeley, Albany and Emeryville would like to highlight journalist Ayman Mohyeldin.

Arab American Heritage Month offers an opportunity for us to honor the history, culture  and contributions of Arab Americans across the United States. Recognized nationally in recent years, the month serves not only to highlight the achievements of Arab Americans in fields from science to politics, but also to combat stereotypes and promote a deeper understanding of Arab American identity. Ayman Mohyeldin is a journalist whose work stands as a powerful reminder of the important role Arab Americans continue to play in shaping American society and media.

Mohyeldin was born in 1979 in Cairo, Egypt, to an Egyptian father and a Palestinian mother and emigrated to the United States at the age of five. He attended high school in Kennesaw, Georgia and went on to receive his Bachelor’s degree in international relations at American University in Washington D.C. He began his career working at NBC as a desk assistant for the Washington D.C bureau. Shortly after, in 2003,  he moved to Iraq for two years to work as a foreign news producer for CNN. His work in the CNN documentary “Iraq: Progress Report” led to an Emmy Award nomination. Mohyeldin currently works as a political anchor and commentator for NBC News and MSNBC. In addition, he runs a TV show titled “Ayman” on MSNBC.

As we celebrate Arab American Heritage Month, we recognize people like Mohyeldin. His work as a journalist not only amplifies underrepresented voices, but also reminds us of the important perspectives and achievements of Arab Americans, as we strive to build a healthy inclusive democracy.

–Tasya Xiao