- Dr. C.J. Correa Bernier
Executive Director
The Daniel F. Romero Center for Contextual Change

“At Centro Romero, we have come to the firm conclusion that leadership and community development, as understood and practiced from a holistic perspective, offer much more hope and have a better chance of success than fellowship or ‘education,’ alone, which tend to compartmentalize the physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual realities of life, creating a false sense of separation between them.

In our holistic approach to mission, we seek to be inclusive and integrative, aiming to address the person in their wholeness. Such an approach encompasses every dimension of human experience. A holistic approach to executing our mission means providing support that considers the whole person. In our context, we also believe that each person will have a different experience of trauma and a path to recovery influenced by their age, gender, culture, heritage, language, dialect, faith, sexual and gender identity, relationship status, life experience, and beliefs.

At Centro Romero, we recognize that our interpretation of each situation may not always align with the person we are supporting. In the face of such diversity, our critical skill is active listening. Instead of imposing our views, we ask and check, enabling us to provide a holistic approach that helps the person feel valued and heard.