Her father, Clifford Berrien, was a veteran of World War II who later worked for the Department of State to pay his college tuition.

[3] While at Oberlin, Berrien would become close friends with future Representative Yvette Clarke, who spoke on her behalf during her Senate nomination.

[6] From 2001 to 2004, Berrien was a program officer for the Ford Foundation, overseeing grants to often under-represented groups in the area of peace and justice.

The talent, dedication, and humility with which she carried out her efforts to enforce our country’s equal employment, voting rights, and access to education laws should serve as beacons for all who do this work".

[7]Following her death, President Obama released a public statement praising Berrien's life of advocacy, stating "she fought hard every day to make real our nation’s promise of equal opportunity for all".

[21] According to the New York Daily News, "hundreds of mourners packed Brooklyn's Emmanuel Baptist Church" to mourn Berrien, including Representative Yvette Clarke, her college friend.