I am Dr. Pierre Berastain, a gay Peruvian man who immigrated to the United States with my family in 1998 and lived as undocumented for over 14 years. That experience—of living between systems, often excluded from their protections—has profoundly shaped my professional calling.
My career has been dedicated to transforming how institutions respond to marginalized people, especially at the intersection of gender-based violence, equity, immigration, LGBTQ+ rights, and social justice. I have worked in domestic and sexual violence shelters including human trafficking, national resource centers, universities, and systemic change projects.
Currently, I am the Regional Director for North America at the Centre for Public Impact, a global organization founded by Boston Consulting Group that seeks to reimagine government to work for all people. I am also co-founder of Caminar Latino – Latinos United for Peace and Equity, where I helped establish the National Center to Advance Peace for Children, Youth, and Families.
Previously, I directed the Office of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response at Harvard University, served as Deputy CEO of the District Alliance for Safe Housing, and worked at Esperanza United, leading federal programs on gender-based violence and public policy.
I hold a bachelor's degree in anthropology from Harvard College, a master's in divinity from Harvard Divinity School, and a doctorate in public health from the University of North Carolina. I have published over 40 articles and book chapters, and have given lectures across the United States, Latin America, and Europe.
I live in Washington, DC, with my husband. My work—including the podcast Lo Que No Me Dijeron—is a way of remembering, healing, and building more humane systems from the margins.