Where every generation in my family belongs

Nadia Barrientos – An Intergenerational Journey at Centro

When Nadia Barrientos first walked into Centro Tyrone Guzmán, she was a young mother-to-be, seeking support for her growing family.

"Yo llegué a Centro tomando una clase de car seat para mi hijo JJ," Nadia recalls.
(“I first came to Centro for a car seat class for my son JJ.”)

It was 2021, and during that class, staff invited her to join workshops in the Infant & Maternal Health program. Nadia quickly realized she wasn’t just learning for herself—she was becoming a resource for others.

"Todos los talleres y la información que aprendía me gustaba compartirla con mis amigas, familia y conocidos," she says.
(“Every workshop and piece of information I learned, I wanted to share with my friends, family, and community.”)

Her dedication soon grew into leadership. By 2024, Nadia joined Centro’s staff as Infant Health Improvement Coordinator, guiding other parents through the same journey that had once shaped her own.

"Me gustó y me enamoré de Centro," Nadia explains,
(“I loved Centro and fell in love with this place.”)

But her story doesn’t stop with her. Today, Nadia’s youngest son is a student at Siembra Montessori, one of her daughters participates in the Raíces Youth Program, and her tío—who raised her as his own daughter—joins peers in the Wise Elders program at Centro’s Adult & Aging Department.

"El bebé que estaba en mi pancita, hoy es parte de Siembra Montessori," she smiles.
(“The baby that was in my belly then is now part of Siembra Montessori.”)

This is what makes Nadia’s journey so powerful: every generation of her family is connected through Centro.

Her tío’s presence in Wise Elders is especially meaningful. “Mi tío papá cuidó de mí y mi hermana cuando mis padres viajaron a los Estados Unidos. Hoy él también encuentra comunidad en Centro.”
(“My tío/papá cared for me and my sister when my parents immigrated to the U.S. Today, he too finds belonging at Centro.”)

For Nadia, this is more than work—it’s corazón:

"Me llena de emoción por la oportunidad que tengo de poder brindar información y recursos a mi comunidad Latine."
(“It fills me with joy to be able to provide information and resources to my Latine community.”)

Her journey embodies Centro’s mission of intergenerational care, equity, and dignity—from infants to elders, no one stands alone.

“From my youngest son in Siembra Montessori to my daughters in Raíces Youth, to my tío/papá in Wise Elders, Centro is where every generation in my family belongs.” – Nadia Barrientos, Infant Health Improvement Coordinator