Fall 2024 Insight Newsletter

As both a parent and an employee of CentroNía, I have witnessed firsthand the profound impact our organization has on children, their families, and the wider community. Each time I pick up my daughter and hear her enthusiastically recount her day, I am filled with pride and joy, reaffirming our commitment to making a meaningful difference. 

In particular, CentroNía’s Food and Wellness program is dedicated to providing resources and opportunities for low-income, working families to adopt the healthy lifestyle needed for academic and social success. This all starts with our teachers as they play an essential role in helping young children develop lifelong habits that promote healthy eating and wellness. Making sure teachers are well-compensated, amplified and equipped with the best resources is a key factor in sustaining families who may need support. 

In recent years, we have engaged in vital discussions aimed at better recognizing the tireless efforts of our workforce. While we have made strides, I believe there is still more to be done. The DC Pay Equity Fund (PEF), an initiative that aims to increase early educators’ salaries has faced potential elimination for the 2025 fiscal year, jeopardizing the livelihoods of many dedicated teachers and their families. Without our teachers, we lose a fundamental piece in making sure our students are prepared for school and more. Ensuring that they grow with the necessary tools such as healthy eating habits and knowledge only sets them up to flourish beyond societal challenges. 

Now, we must continue advocating not only for support from our city leaders but also from generous donors and supporters who understand that investing in education is crucial for a healthy, thriving society. The ongoing dialogue about equity in pay reflects a broader commitment to recognizing the invaluable work our teachers do each day, often going above and beyond their roles. This support not only empowers our teachers but also enhances the quality of education we provide, creating a ripple effect that benefits our children, families, and society. 

Your support enables us to advocate for essential programs that benefit our children, families, and communities. Together, CentroNía is positioned to influence significant decisions and drive positive change in our communities, at the municipal, state, national, and even global levels. With your contributions, we can champion the cause of equitable pay for our teachers and solidify the health and wellness of the children and families we serve day-to-day. 

Thank you for your unwavering commitment to our mission!

Sincerely,

André Lackenbacher

Director of Human Resources and Projects

At CentroNía, we believe that a healthy meal is more than food—it’s a foundation for learning and growth; nourishing futures starts with nourishing our children.

Many families in our communities struggle to access healthy, nutritious meals and essential resources. The 2024 Hunger Report released by the Capital Area Food Bank has found that food insecurity impacts 37% of households in the DMV area, affecting children’s health, focus in school, and overall well-being.

CentroNía has a fully functional commercial kitchen where scratch-cooked meals are prepared, which in turn not only provides meals to our children in our centers but to other providers across the district as well. We also provide family resources and community support to embed healthy eating habits with parents, teachers, and early learners. Our programs are designed to ensure children are well-fed and prepared to succeed in school.

But we can’t do it alone. Your support will help us nourish even more futures. Visit www.centronia.org to donate this end of year season and be part of the change. Together, we can ensure every child has the nutrition they need for academic and social success.

We recently had the opportunity to interview CentroNía Bunker Hill teacher, Ada Castillo. Ada had the pleasure to participate in a few food & wellness workshops this year! We wanted to ask her about her experience and the positive impact that learning about healthy food habits has in the classroom. 

CentroNía: As a teacher at CentroNía Bunker Hill, what class do you teach?

Ada: I teach the Toddler 1 class.

CentroNía: Do you think it is important to educate families about healthy eating? If yes, why?

Ada: I think it is very important to educate families about nutrition and wellness because our state of mind depends on a good diet and that way we can provide our children with better nutrition. 

CentroNía: Have you participated in any food and wellness workshops? If so, what have you learned from those workshops?

Ada: What I have liked the most about CentroNía is the implementation of educational workshops for teachers, such as "My Plate". This workshop influenced a lot in my life because through it I learned to read the labels of the purchases I make for my food and I also learned to eat more healthy.

CentroNía: As a CentroNía teacher, how important is it to teach our educators about healthy eating/living?

Ada: It is very important to educate our teachers as they are the main pillar in the classrooms and we need to be healthy by living a healthy lifestyle. 

CentroNía: What have been the positive changes you have experienced in your approach to healthy living/healthy eating in the classroom and personally?

Ada: Some of the changes I have experienced since participating in the workshops are that I learned to eat better. I took the knowledge home and that way my family has also benefited. In terms of my health and mood, I am more active since I have continued reading and educating myself about good nutrition. I learned to make my own soy almond milk and since then I no longer buy milk at the super market. I feel very happy to have taken the health and wellness workshops since through them I have been encouraged to follow a healthier lifestyle and it has improved my health and emotional well being. 

To ensure school readiness for our early learners we make sure they all have access to healthy and delicious meals!

Every day our Food and Wellness department create a menu that follows USDA regulations and the Healthy Tots Act guidelines. This includes a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins from local products when possible.

Take a look at some meals our students enjoy during their time at CentroNía. 

Ready to celebrate the holiday season with CentroNía?

This fall and winter help us bring joy to the CentroNía community by participating in our Thanksgiving food drive and our Wish Upon a Star Toy Drive! Donate this giving season to make sure CentroNía families and early learners have a joyful holiday.

Support our families with food items or a toy from our wish lists below! 

1. Amazon Wish List

2. Target Wish List

Enrollment for CentroNía at Stevens Early Learning Center is now open for infants & toddlers!

CentroNía, Stevens ELC

1050 21st Street, NW

Washington DC, 20036

If you have children or know someone with children aged 0-3 years old for our early childhood education program at our Stevens ELC location, visit our enrollment page at www.centronia.org to fill out our waitlist application!

Chelsey Christensen  

Sara Anne Daines

Mr. Jorge A Felix  

Michael Foley  

Timothy E Foley  

Ms. Diane Kuhla  

Timothy Logan  

Rebecca Mimnall  

Ms. Lisa K Rosenstein  

Rhiannon Thompson  

Mr. Stephen Wege 

Child Care Aware of America

Giant Food (Landover)

Peale Foundation  

PNC Bank, Westview Branch

Small Things Matter