Beirut Abafogi is a public policy and community engagement leader with deep experience in philanthropy, political strategy, and international development. She currently leads the $8 million Lake Street Lift initiative at the JD Graves Foundation, advancing business support, real estate consulting, marketing, arts, and safety to revitalize one of Minnesota’s most vibrant corridors.
Alongside her philanthropic work, Beirut has built a strong foundation in political leadership and public service. She served in the U.S. Senate through Senator Amy Klobuchar’s office, advocating for constituents and resolving complex federal issues. She later became Operations Director for Senator Klobuchar’s Senate campaign, leading statewide civic engagement, and played a key role as Lead Organizer for East African communities during the Senator’s Presidential campaign.
As Founder and Managing Director of Aspire Impact Consulting, Beirut drives economic empowerment and global partnerships. Her leadership extends across both local and global service: she served as a Senior Policy Aide for the City of Minneapolis, advancing equity-focused policies and strengthening community-government relationships, and worked with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), supporting humanitarian and refugee initiatives internationally.
Beirut holds a Law Degree from Addis Ababa University and a Master’s Degree in Advocacy and Political Leadership from Metropolitan State University. She is also pursuing Project Management certification through Cornell University, further strengthening her expertise in leading complex initiatives.