Haydée Adelita Cuza, EdD (first name pronounced I-day, she/her) is an experienced executive leader, strategy advisor, and collaborative partner specializing in race and class conscious organizational strategy and implementation with nonprofit, philanthropic, and government organizations.
Using 30+ years of professional experiences, she consults in various capacities that include equity-centered data analysis, organizational restructuring, qualitative research, training and support on implementing systems-level advocacy, full cost budgets, and finance practices. She has led small and large organizational restructures, training, technical assistance, and evaluations, including policy analysis and semi-structured interviews and focus groups with youth, displaced workers, and community-based groups implementing workforce, education, and justice-focused federal grants to better service the needs of Black and Brown communities.
Haydée has contributed to national publications on youth perspective and recommendations on transitions in foster care, healing-centered practices for young people in foster care, and senior-centered workforce development programs. She also advised Japan’s Children and Family Agency on best practices for youth engagement and family placement practices.
Her approach is responsive to the client’s needs in coexistence with critical reflections on the interconnection and contradictions of social impact frameworks and the practical day-to-day realities of inequitable systems.
Haydée holds an Associate of Arts, a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies and African American Studies, and a Doctorate in Education Leadership with a Critical Race Theory focus.
It’s within the intersections of my experiences and identities where my analysis and strategy are guided; the fundamental worthiness of all of us being fed, housed, clothed, loved, and joyful.
My experiences being Cuban-American, mixed race, fem queer womyn, child of revolutionaries, mommy, lita, wife, daughter, sister, tia, titi, cousin, dr., friend, and a grain of sand in our vast universe are fully present as I walk through this life, including when I consult and write.
I am deeply grateful to partnerships and collaborations that are committed to learning through the transformative power of co-creation, stumbling blocks, and celebrations.
What People Are Saying
“Haydée has been one of the most incredible collaborative partners I have worked with. She brings not just knowledge and expertise, but an incredible passion and empathy for those she is working with as well as those she is working for. In the years that I worked with her, she provided valuable and intentional insight into how projects could be developed, implemented, and managed long term to provide sustainability and impact. She believes wholly in the empowerment of those most impacted by systems and decisions and was instrumental in discussions regarding how entities and agencies could better partner together even when their perspectives were not in alignment or when power dynamics were at play. I would recommend Haydée as a colleague, a thought partner, a collaborator, and a leader. She is a wonderful asset to any team.” - State Funder
“Thank you for always bringing your authentic self and making our work better through your on the ground experience as an NPO leader” - VP, Community Engagement
“I feel comforted knowing that there are people like you in the world who hold space with love, care, fierce intelligence, and an unwavering commitment to pursue a world that we can feel proud that we are leaving to future generations.” - Consultant, Finance and Executive Coaching
“Haydée is a wonderful facilitator and guide. I recently worked with her on fiscal trainings for our staff and board. She was responsive and took the time to get to know our team and our needs. She helped us design clear and efficient internal budgeting processes that we launched with great results. Her insights at our board training have inspired action and a renewed enthusiasm for fundraising. I look forward to working with her more in the future.” - Development Director
“The perspective and experience you bring is a gift to us all and I feel privileged to have worked along side you” - Director, Client Services
Click on any image below to read my collection of writings…
