5 Ways Centro De La Familia De Utah Is Revolutionizing Community Support In 2025
Centro de la Familia de Utah stands as a pivotal non-profit organization, continually evolving its mission to champion educational success and family self-reliance across the Mountain West. As of December 2025, the organization is not only maintaining its foundational commitment to underserved communities but is also expanding its reach and modernizing its service delivery, ensuring its decades-long legacy remains vibrant and relevant for the next generation.
Founded by Latino leaders in 1975, the Centro has become a multi-state powerhouse, recognized for its comprehensive, full-year, and bilingual programs designed to close the achievement gap for at-risk and rural populations. This deep dive explores the organization’s current structure, its key programs, and the measurable impact it is making today.
Organizational Profile: History, Mission, and Current Leadership
The history of Centro de la Familia de Utah (CDLFU) is one of sustained advocacy and community responsiveness. Established in Salt Lake City, the organization was created to provide essential programs and social services that were directly responsive to the needs of the Latino community in Utah.
Its core mission is to promote lifelong educational success for children and families, fostering healthy communities through a focus on individual and family self-reliance. This mission is executed through services built on three core competencies: parent engagement, standardized service delivery, and expert program management in isolated and difficult environments.
Key Leadership and Executive Team (2025)
The organization’s strategic direction is guided by a dedicated executive and management team, ensuring program fidelity and fiscal health across multiple states.
- Chief Executive Officer & Head Start Director: Gonzalo Palza. As a visible and passionate advocate for educational equity, Mr. Palza oversees the entire operation and the critical Head Start program.
- Chief Operating Officer (COO): Benjamin E. Wynn. The COO manages the daily operations and system improvements across all centers and programs.
- Chief Financial Officer (CFO): David Stump.
- Chair of the Board: Josh Lakin.
The Centro's operational footprint is substantial, managing a portfolio of outcomes-driven programs across Utah, Colorado, Nevada, and Montana. The 2022-2023 Annual Report highlighted the operation of 23 Head Start centers and four childcare partnerships, with expansion continuing into new communities as noted in the 2024 Annual Report.
The Core Programs: A Holistic Approach to Family Self-Reliance
Centro de la Familia’s success lies in its comprehensive, multi-faceted program structure that addresses not just the child’s education but the entire family’s well-being. These programs are delivered in a bilingual (English/Spanish) format, ensuring accessibility for the communities they serve.
1. Early Childhood Education and Head Start Programs
The cornerstone of the CDLFU's work is its federally funded Head Start initiative, which the organization was selected to implement for Utah in 1991. This program provides comprehensive services to low-income children from six weeks to five years old, focusing on school readiness. Key components include:
- Migrant Head Start Program: Specifically tailored to support children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers, offering full-day, center-based care with high-quality, bilingual classrooms and nutritious meals.
- Center-Based Care: Providing full-year, standardized services that focus on developmental milestones, speech, and vision screenings.
- Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP): Ensuring children receive balanced, nutritious meals and snacks, which is critical for health and learning.
2. Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute (HYLI)
To foster future community leaders, Centro initiated the Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute (HYLI). This program is designed to cultivate leadership skills and educational ambition among Hispanic youth, incorporating them into a broader network of community programs and services.
3. Family and Community Wellness Services
Recognizing that a child’s success is tied to the stability of their family, the Centro offers extensive support services to promote family self-reliance. These services include:
- Health and Safety Assistance: Direct assistance for families to locate local health services, including medical, dental, and mental health resources.
- Maternal and Infant Health Program: Targeted assistance for Latino families to ensure healthy pregnancies and infant development.
- Parent Engagement: A critical core competency that actively involves parents in their child's education and the broader community, empowering them as their child’s first and most important teacher.
Measuring the Impact: Expansion, Innovation, and Future Outlook
Centro de la Familia de Utah is not static; its commitment to closing the achievement gap for underserved populations drives continuous innovation and expansion. The organization’s impact is measurable through its expanding reach and its adoption of cutting-edge technology.
Expansion and System Improvements (2024-2025)
The 2024 Annual Report highlights a significant period of growth, with the organization expanding its services into new communities and improving its internal systems to better manage its multi-state operations. This expansion allows the Centro to serve more children and families in both urban centers and isolated, rural areas across the Mountain West region.
Technological Innovation for Service Delivery
In a unique move for a non-profit of its size, Centro de la Familia has embraced modern technology to streamline its processes and enhance service delivery. The organization uses tools like Microsoft Power Apps and Copilot Studio to manage data and improve operational efficiency. This integration of technology ensures that services are delivered consistently, meeting high standardized service requirements across all its Head Start centers and partnerships.
A Focus on Educational Equity
Ultimately, the Centro’s work is focused on educational equity—providing all children, regardless of their socio-economic background or location, with the resources needed for a successful start in life. By focusing on parent engagement and providing comprehensive, full-year educational and wellness programs, the organization creates a powerful ecosystem for self-reliance. The partnerships with organizations like the Sorenson Impact Institute further solidify their commitment to data-driven, measurable community service.
The continued success of Centro de la Familia de Utah, led by figures like CEO Gonzalo Palza, demonstrates the profound effect a dedicated, community-focused non-profit can have on closing the opportunity gap. By expanding its network, investing in technology, and maintaining its core focus on the family unit, the Centro is set to continue its vital work well into the future, ensuring thousands of children and families have the tools necessary for lifelong success.
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