Benjamin Suarato

Benjamin Suarato has almost 20 years of communications, legislative, and advocacy experience with Capitol Hill, the Biden Administration, and the nonprofit sector. Prior to rejoining JCPA as the Director of Advocacy and Public Affairs, Benjamin was the Spokesperson and Press Director at the U.S. Agency for International Development where he worked with Administrator Samantha Power to advance America’s development and diplomacy goals around the world. He also brings almost a decade of experience on Capitol Hill, first with Rep. Michael McNulty (D-NY) and then for eight years as the Communications Director for Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) where he built an award-winning social media presence, worked extensively with the Congressional Black and Hispanic Caucuses through the Tri-Caucus, and helped lead communications around movements like #StopAsianHate. He also served as the legislative and policy advisor for foreign affairs. In addition to experience in government, Benjamin also has years of organizing and advocacy experience through his time leading communications at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC), Dream.Org, and his work with the JCPA from 2010-2014, when he helped create the communications department and organized efforts around foreign aid, poverty, climate change, and gun violence.  Benjamin is a native of upstate New York who graduated from Colgate University.