Zulayka Santiago, MPA

Bio

Zulayka Santiago is the Senior Program Director for Leadership and Philanthropy at MDC, Inc. a nonprofit that catalyzes and accelerates economic mobility across the thirteen Southern states in the US. In this role Zulayka focuses on the work of developing collaborative, human-focused solutions to achieve systemic equity and build community.

After over 25 years of working for institutions large and small, Zulayka has become well-versed at serving as liaison across culture, class, generation and political beliefs. She brings first-hand experience working in the public, private, philanthropic, nonprofit and cooperative sectors. Her commitment is to earth-rooted, heart-centered presence for the sake of her own freedom and our collective liberation.

Zulayka obtained a Master of Public Administration Degree from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Certificate in Nonprofit Management. Her undergraduate degree is in Pan-African Studies from Barnard College, Columbia University. She is a Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity. She was also part of the 06-08 William C. Friday Fellowship for Human Relations through the Wildacres Leadership Initiative.

Zulayka serves as co-chair of the Board of Directors for NC Environmental Justice Network and is a founding member of Earthseed Land Collective in Durham, NC where she is apprenticing with and stewarded by 48 acres of land and the countless species that call that place home. In 2018 Zulayka received her Level I Certification through the Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership. She spends her days nurturing her tendencies towards connection, awe and wonder.