Mariah “Beyond Your Definition” Barber is a multidisciplinary storyteller, spoken word artist, international host and activist that has been creating social justice oriented art for the last 15 years. Barber holds a masters in public health, DEAI certification from Cornell, a BA in international studies, and certifications in cultural anthropology and global understanding.

Their motto is “some people do, some people never do, some people over do, how do you do?” She has performed at 2020 George Floyd uprisings, climate justice rallies and is passionate about being a teaching artist helping the youth to craft their opinions about the world's most pressing issues. Barber was the 2014 national haiku world champion for college union poetry slam international and a four time DC commission on arts and humanities fellow granted funds to be a culture worker within the city of DC. In 2022 BYD ranked 20th in the women of the world poetry slam and 19th in the stonewall international queer poetry slam. They have participated in World Pride as a feature at the Pride night at Busboys And Poets and host a monthly Black queer open mic, the White House as a world aids day keynote speaker and for the LGBT museum. 

Currently ranked as the 17th womxn in the world poet and the 2014 international haiku slam champion, they leave audiences feeling seen and thinking about how they too can fight for human rights! Most recently performed in the Biden White House and for the national LBGT museum!