Beatriz Otero,
Executive Director
Beatriz “BB” Otero is Founder and Executive Director of CentroNía (formerly Calvary Bilingual Multicultural Learning Center) in Washington, DC.
Ms. Otero founded CentroNía a children, youth and family services organization in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Washington DC, in 1986. As its executive director, BB presently oversees a multi-million dollar budget, and a staff of over 150 teachers, counselors, administrators and youth who serve some 600 families and their children each year. In 2004 CentroNía received a charter to operate the DC Bilingual Public Charter School, was awarded the prestigious Families Count award from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and recognized as one of the top 21 child development centers in the country by the Doris Duke Charitable Trust.
A highly recognized community leader, BB has received a number of awards including Honorary Doctor of Humanities, Southeastern University, Leadership Washington’s Betty Whaley Leadership Award, the Association of Hispanic Employees 1994 Leadership Award as well as Washingtonian of the Year in 2000. In 2003 BB was appointed to serve on the Child Welfare Panel of the State of New Jersey responsible for oversight of its Child Welfare Reform Plan. Additionally, BB serves on numerous boards including AppleSeed, Health Services for Children with Special Needs, Inc. Columbia Heights / Shaw Family Support Collaborative, the Mayor’s Committee on Early Childhood Development and is a past member of the DC Public Charter Board.
Beatriz Otero, a native of Bolivia, South America is a 40 year resident of the District of Columbia and the mother of three children. A graduate of the University of Maryland, Ms. Otero has over 25 years of experience in designing, implementing and directing community-based bilingual multicultural educational programs.
Joanne Williams
Chair of the Board
Joanne Williams earns her respected place in the communications field by designing award-winning programs and developing cutting-edge strategies. Her inter-disciplinary approach has served a client base representing the corporate, public, and nonprofit sectors.
Williams formed Barrington Associates in 1991. Since the company’s beginning, Williams has managed the multifaceted communications needs for a client base that includes: Energy Association of Pennsylvania; Corporate Council on Africa; PECO Energy’s Large Account Services; Sunoco Welcome America!; DC Department of Banking and Financial Institutions; GMAC Mortgage, Emerging Markets Division; Rite Aid Corporation; Philadelphia Safe and Sound; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA); International Dragon Boat Race Championship Organizing Committee for the Schuylkill River; City of Chester, PA, and First State Health Plan, DE.
Her memberships, board and advisory committee service include: Philadelphia Dragon Boat Team, Advisory Committee; The Painted Bride Arts Center, board and advisory committee member; North Philadelphia Business Chamber of Commerce; Wider Opportunities for Women (WOW), elected board chair for five of her six-year tenure; the DC Private Industry Council; and Leadership Washington (Class of 88) Advisory Committee. She is a founding member of the Coalition of 100 Black Women of DC, Inc. and served as president. In Philadelphia, she was appointed by Mayor of Philadelphia to serve on the Mayor's Executive Commission on Drug and Alcohol Abuse.
Williams attended Rhode Island College and earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA.
