# Ari Mittleman

Ari Mittleman is an American public relations professional and author. He founded Keystone Strategy & Advocacy, a public affairs and strategic communications firm, and serves as the executive director of Keep Our Republic, a bipartisan nonprofit focused on election integrity.

## Early life and education

Mittleman grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and attended a local Jewish day school. He formally studied the Hebrew language and traditional Jewish texts beginning in kindergarten. Mittleman earned a B.A. from the Department of American Studies at George Washington University and an M.P.A. from the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania. He resides in Pikesville, Maryland, with his wife and daughter.

## Career

Mittleman worked as a senior advisor to Senator Bob Casey for eight years. During his time with Senator Casey, Mittleman traveled extensively to all 67 counties in Pennsylvania.
After leaving government service, he founded Keystone Strategy & Advocacy, advising on political organizing, coalition building, crisis communications, and social media advocacy.
The Algemeiner recognized Mittleman as one of 100 individuals who have influenced Jewish life.

### Keep Our Republic

Mittleman is the executive director of Keep Our Republic, a nonpartisan civic organization founded in 2020 to shore up confidence in US elections. The group focuses on potential threats to the election system. It educates the public about election procedures, from the closing of polls to the certification of electoral votes.
The group aims to clarify the election process and address questions about issues like the security of voting machines, the transfer of ballots from polling stations to county elections offices, the eligibility of undocumented immigrants to vote, and concerns about votes cast under deceased individuals’ names.
Under Mittleman's supervision, the organization has hosted legal education classes in Pennsylvania. It has also organized events with election officials in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
Keep Our Republic received the inaugural Unsung Hero of Democracy Award from the American Bar Association in August 2024.

### Work in the Balkans

Mittleman spent time in Osijek, Croatia, working as a grant writer for a local NGO. His experiences in the region have included observing Balkan reconstruction and reconciliation efforts.

## Publications

Mittleman is a columnist for The Times of Israel and has contributed articles to the USA Today Network, Baltimore Jewish Times, The Morning Call, The Jerusalem Post, Washington Examiner, The Patriot-News, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, NorthJersey.com, Modern Diplomacy, and The Jewish Exponent.
In 2022, Gefen Publishing House in Jerusalem launched his book, Paths of the Righteous: Stories of Heroism, Humanity and Hope. Mittleman highlights the stories of eight non-Jewish individuals who have stood up and spoken out for Israel and the Jewish community. He began writing the book in the aftermath of the Tree of Life Synagogue attack in Pittsburgh.

## Philanthropy

Mittleman served as the founding board chairman of the St. Bernard Project, a post-Katrina-Rita disaster recovery nonprofit organization that provides relief and support in the United States. It assists communities affected by major disasters in rebuilding homes and navigating the recovery process.