CRS Leader Sees Her Family’s Story in Those She Serves

Haydee Diaz, a program director for Catholic Relief Services, shared her personal history as a Cuban refugee during a keynote address at the annual Archbishop’s Reception for Catholic Relief Services on Sept. 28 in Milwaukee.

Diaz described how her family sought political asylum at the Peruvian embassy in Havana after being repeatedly denied exit visas. She recounted how her family traveled to Key West on a boat named the Sun Hippie during a severe storm. Diaz said these experiences help her connect with the people she serves, specifically noting the sacrifices made by mothers and parents to provide food and education for their children.

Diaz currently directs a Catholic Relief Services program that supports 13,000 farmers and their families in Guatemala. She holds an undergraduate degree from Santa Clara University and a master’s degree from Harvard.