Growing, Learning, Leading – Together
CentroNía was founded on a simple belief: every child deserves equal access to high-quality early childhood education. Today, with 6 locations and growing CentroNía is serving and supporting the next generation of leaders, advocates, and community builders.
Our Mission
To educate children and youth and strengthen families in a bilingual, multicultural environment.
Who We Are
CentroNía is a community-based organization nationally recognized for its award-winning early childhood education programs, professional development for educators, and comprehensive family support services delivered in a bilingual, multicultural environment. Since our founding in 1986, we have grown from a single center serving just 15 children to six locations – four in Washington, D.C., two in Montgomery County, Maryland, and another in development – reaching more than 3,700 beneficiaries across the region. Over 90% of the families we serve are low-income, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to improving access to early learning for working families.
For 40 years, our work in early childhood education has shaped us into advocates, thought leaders, and champions for high-quality education. Our experience and impact continue to guide our efforts as we elevate standards and expand opportunity for children, families, and communities.
Want to learn more about our annual impact and the communities we serve?
We invite you to explore our Annual Reports which highlight the stories, achievements, and outcomes made possible through a shared commitment to children and families.
Our Vision
We envision a world where every child from birth to school age and their families have equal access to affordable, comprehensive, high-quality care and education.
The Need
Access to quality education continues to be the single most important challenge facing families in the Greater Metropolitan Region. Affordable early care and education are critical to keep families working and children on the path to school readiness.
The Approach
Our holistic approach and wraparound services ensure that the children and families we serve receive the support they need to succeed academically, develop a strong sense of community, and live healthy and active lives.
Our Values
Equality
Diversity
Inclusion
Excellence
Community
Collaboration
Our Beginnings
Beatriz “BB” Otero opened the Calvary Bilingual Multicultural Learning Center (later rebranded as CentroNía) in the basement of a church in Columbia Heights, DC, to provide affordable childcare for 15 children. The center quickly became a greener pasture for immigrant families and families from the district’s historic Black community, providing resources and support to ease immigrants’ transitions and offer opportunities to all families.
Our Timeline
Calvary Bilingual Multicultural Learning Center
Founded on April 6, 1986, at 1459 Columbia Road NW
Programs Expand
Programs expanded to include before and after-school services, as well as educational programming for adults, to address growing community needs.
New Building
Thanks to a generous donation by Verizon, Inc. (then Bell Atlantic Telephone Company), we acquired our primary campus at 1420 Columbia Road, NW. Enrollment grew to 100% after renovations.
CDA program was established
Our CDA program was designed through consultation with child development centers to collaboratively identify major challenges that educators face, such as understanding content related to brain development, atypical child development, and language acquisition; connecting child development theory to best educational practices, particularly for culturally and linguistically diverse families; and much more. To respond to these challenges, we structured the program into 7 modules and enhanced it with extra coursework for a total of 130 instructional hours.
Early Childhood Education Program
We launched our Early Childhood Education Program for infants and toddlers aged 0-3.
DC Bilingual Public Charter School
We launched the DC Bilingual Public Charter School.
A Rebranding
Calvary Bilingual Multicultural Learning Center rebrands as CentroNía. Our name comes from a combination of Spanish, Swahili, and Esperanto. “Centro” means “center” in Spanish, and “Nía” means “our” in Esperanto and “purpose” in Swahili.
A New Center in Takoma Park, Maryland
As families were increasingly pushed out of the District due to the rising costs of living, we opened a new center in Takoma Park, Maryland, to serve the growing immigrant community in Montgomery County and Prince George’s County.
Food & Wellness
Our Food & Wellness Program begins by preparing nutritious meals on-site, designed to support the optimal learning and development of young children.
First Lady Michelle Obama Visits
First Lady Michelle Obama launched her Let’s Move! childcare campaign at CentroNía’s Columbia Rd. center, recognizing our Food & Wellness program as a national wellness leader for early learners and their families.
A New Center on Upshur Street NW in DC
We opened a new early childhood center on Upshur Street, serving infants and toddlers, housing our D.C. Early Head Start program.
A New Center at Cardozo Education Campus in DC
In partnership with DC Public Schools, we opened a center at Cardozo Education Campus to provide education and support services to teenage parents enrolled at the high school.
NíaCentral is Established
NíaCentral, a subsidiary of CentroNía, was established to provide catering services to early childhood education centers and schools throughout D.C.
CDA Gold Standard Training Certification
Our Child Development Associate (CDA) training program is one of only seven nationwide to receive the Council for Professional Recognition’s CDA Gold Standard Training Certification.
Theatrical Journey Playbook
We published the Theatrical Journey Playbook: Introducing Science to Early Learners through Guided Pretend Play.
Martha Gudelsky Child Development Center
Montgomery County approves a joint proposal from CentroNía and the Gudelsky Family Foundation for the redevelopment of the historic Silver Spring library on Colesville Road as the Martha Gudelsky Child Development Center.
High-Quality Designations
Our Columbia Road and Upshur Street centers are awarded high-quality designations under Capital Quality, D.C.’s newly unveiled Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS).
CentroNía's CDA program developed the nation’s first fully Amharic CDA course
CentroNía’s Amharic initiative was conceived due to a rising number of prospective or current educators whose educational backgrounds testified to their potential, but whose language proficiency precluded them from benefiting fully from CentroNía’s intentional and comprehensive CDA training. The program then decided to pilot the nation’s first cohort in Amharic.
In 2021, in collaboration with the Council of Recognition, CentroNía produced an official Amharic-language credentialing exam.
COVID-19 Response
In response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, we dramatically ramped up community relief and temporarily adjusted our service delivery model to include distance learning and full-day extended care services for students enrolled at DC public schools.
A New Center in DC
We partner with DC Public Schools (DCPS) to provide services for primarily high-risk infants and toddlers at the new Stevens Early Learning Center.
CentroNía at Bunker Hill Elementary Opens
In the first half of the year, we opened the doors at Bunker Hill Elementary for infants and toddlers!
CentroNía @ Martha Gudelsky Child Development Center (MGCDC) opens its doors to families
In November 2024, in partnership with the Gudelsky Family Foundation, CentroNía welcomed its first families for the school year! The center offers services for infants, toddlers, and Pre-K, with community rooms available for neighboring organizations to use for meets or small events.
CentroNia at Cardozo Education Campus closes its doors
CentroNía @ MGCDC receives Maryland Excels 4, after 6 months of operating.
April 2026 Marks 40 years of CentroNia!
CentroNia celebrates 4 decades of community impact, resiliency, and connection – having served thousands of children and families across the DC Metropolitan Region.
A New Center in Wheaton, Maryland
In partnership with The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, we will be operating a new in Wheaton, Maryland for toddlers and preschoolers by Winter 2026.
