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The foundation of Haya Washington

Founded in 2017 as an independent and objective media organization that focuses on credibility, Haya Washington began with a mission to amplify Arab voices and empower women in journalism, media,and entrepreneurship.Over time, and especially amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, we felt a moral responsibility to expand our mission beyond storytelling to direct action and relief. Today, Haya Washington is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 88-4044992) based in Washington, D.C. Our team on the ground in Gaza consists of a specialized media team that volunteers to deliver food, water, shelter, and hope to displaced families. With plans to expand our humanitarian programs across the region, Haya Washington is working diligently to ensure our promise to provide aid is fulfilled no matter the circumstances.

Meet our team

Our philosophy is simple — hire a team of diverse, passionate people and foster a culture that empowers you to do your best work.
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Olivia Rhye

Founder & CEO

Former co-founder of Opendoor. Early staff at Spotify and Clearbit.

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Phoenix Baker

Engineering Manager

Lead engineering teams at Figma, Pitch, and Protocol Labs.

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Lana Steiner

Product Manager

Former PM for Linear, Lambda School, and On
Deck.

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Demi Wilkinson

Frontend Developer

Former frontend dev for
Linear, Coinbase, and Postscript.

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Candice Wu

Backend Developer

Lead backend dev at Clearbit. Former Clearbit and
Loom.

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Natali Craig

Product Designer

Founding design team at Figma. Former Pleo, Stripe, and Tile.

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Drew Cano

UX Researcher

Lead user research for Slack. Contractor for Netflix and Udacity.

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Orlando Diggs

Customer Success

Lead CX at Wealthsimple. Former PagerDuty and
Sqreen.

Our Mission

 To empower, support, and uplift communities in crisis by combining the power of media, advocacy, and humanitarian action. We strive to ensure that every voice is heard and every life is valued, with special attention to the inclusion and empowerment of Arab women and youth as catalysts for change.

Our Vision

A Middle East where compassion drives action —where stories inspire aid, and aid restores dignity. We envision a future in which media and humanitarian work unite to create sustainable impact, resilience, and peace across communities affected by conflict.

Our Core Values

1

Humanity First
Every project begins with compassion, dignity, and service.

2

Empowerment
Enabling individuals, especially women and youth, to rebuild their futures.

3

Integrity
Upholding transparency and accountability in every act of giving.

4

Collaboration
Partnering with local communities, charities, and global organizations for greater reach and impact

5

Storytelling for Change
Using media to shed light, raise awareness, and mobilize support.

6

Cultural Connection
Building bridges between Arab and American communities through understanding and shared values.