My name is Leticia Cazares.

I’ve always been curious about people: how we think, what shapes our decisions, and what becomes possible when we look at something differently.

My perspective has been shaped by more than 25 years working across public health, nonprofits, government and public policy, education, community engagement and organizing, organizational leadership, governance, and consulting. I hold a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Health Behavior & Promotion from San Diego State University and a bachelor's degree in psychology from San Francisco State University.

Nearly a decade of teaching and career advising has also shaped how I work. It taught me how to make complex ideas accessible and create environments where people can think, participate, learn from one another, and discover their own insights; lessons I bring to my work as a facilitator, coach, and guide today.

Social justice has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up with activist parents and began finding my own voice as a student at San Francisco State. That foundation has shaped both the work I've chosen and how I approach it; with respect for lived experience, an awareness of power and systems, and a belief that people affected by decisions should have a meaningful voice in shaping them.

For nearly two decades, I've worked as a consultant, helping organizations develop strategy, strengthen leaders and boards, rethink structures and systems, build partnerships and coalitions, engage communities, and navigate growth and change. My perspective on governance also comes from sitting on the other side of the table; as a community college trustee and through years of nonprofit board service and leadership.

I've also led through periods of significant uncertainty and high stakes including a global pandemic, politically charged environments, organizational conflict, public safety concerns, and major transitions. Those experiences taught me how to stay grounded under pressure, navigate competing interests and perspectives, find common ground, and bring people together around shared goals.

But one of the things I may be best at is getting people to engage.

I listen closely, notice what's being said and what isn't, and ask questions that help people think differently, make connections, and bring forward perspectives that might otherwise go unheard.

That's the work I love.

I don't come in with a predetermined answer or a one-size-fits-all process. I start by understanding where you are, what you're trying to accomplish, and who needs to be part of getting there.

Then I design the process around the people and the work. But I also know that the best conversations don't always go exactly as planned.

I pay attention to what's happening in the room; where there's energy, where people are getting stuck, what needs more attention, and when it's time to shift the conversation.

That might mean asking a different question, slowing something down, bringing another perspective in, naming a tension, or helping the group make a connection they hadn't seen before. The process is intentional, but never rigid.

My approach is practical, collaborative, and people-centered. I want people actively participating, not sitting through another meeting, training, or planning process. The goal is for people to contribute, make decisions together, and leave with something they can actually use.

Expect thoughtful questions, real talk, practical tools, and yes, probably some laughter along the way.