The Power of Rodarte Community Center

D'Lana Chairez, and Fabiola Padilla-Vega are two Recreation Coordinators for the Rodarte Community Center. Below are their experience and thoughts on the Power of Parks and Recreation.

"My name is D’Lana Chairez, and I have been with the City of Greeley for seven years. I started as a Youth Services Specialist, then advanced to Recreation Lead, followed by Customer Service Representative, and now serve as a Recreation Coordinator.

One of the moments that really showed me the impact of what we do was during our Fun in the Sun summer program. When we take our participants to the pool, parents and guardians often ask us what our program is. They are genuinely surprised to learn that our program provides opportunities like swimming, field trips, and other enriching activities throughout the summer. Many people assume Rodarte is only a resource center because of our name, but once they learn that we offer an after-school program, Fun in the Sun camp, boxing, and a variety of other youth programs, they are excited to learn everything we provide. It reminds me that many people don't realize everything we have to offer until they see our programs in action.

I believe families come to Rodarte looking for a safe, welcoming place where their children can learn, grow, and feel like they belong. We strive to be more than just a community center—we want to be a second home for the kids and a trusted support system for their families. If a place like Rodarte didn't exist, many children and families would lose access to a positive environment where kids can express themselves, build friendships, and participate in meaningful activities. Our programs provide opportunities that many youth may not have elsewhere and help create lasting memories, build confidence, and create positive experiences that can have a lifelong impact.

What keeps me motivated every day is knowing that we are providing that safe place for our families. Hearing the kids say, "I missed you, Miss D!" always puts a smile on my face. One of my favorite moments is when they ask, "Are you driving us today?" and light up with excitement when I tell them yes. Seeing how excited they are to spend time with me fills me with happiness and reminds me that the relationships we build with these kids truly matter. Hearing parents thank us for everything we do is another reminder of the impact our programs have on their families. Knowing that we provide children with a place where they can learn, grow, have fun, build friendships, and simply be kids makes all the hard work worthwhile. I am proud to be part of the City of Greeley and the Rodarte Community Center, where we have the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of children and families every day."

- D'Lana Chairez, Recreation Coordinator

"My name is Fabiola Padilla-Vega, and I am a Recreation Coordinator at the Rodarte Community Center. As of this May, I have officially been with the City of Greeley for 15 years!

A moment during my time here that I’ll never forget is the first time we took kids in our After School Program to the Cinemark. One of the kids could not stop smiling or saying thank you. It made me realize that even small things we sometimes take for granted can make a difference. This moment definitely gave me a different perspective on how important the work we do is and allowed me to have a better idea of what activities to plan for our programs.  

If a place like the Rodarte Community Center didn’t exist, our community would be missing a safe haven for many youth in the community. The walls of our facility have become second homes to many children who participate in our programs. We have the privilege of seeing many of them grow from elementary school kiddos figuring out their personalities, to middle school teens figuring out their emotions, to high school students becoming young adults, and to young adults pursuing secondary education or the workforce full time. Our programs, such as our After School Program, Fun in the Sun Camp, Summer Teen Employment Program, 21st Century, STEAM, Boxing, Play on the Way, and our Community Garden/Micro Forest have helped keep the kids of our community busy in a safe, fun, and secure environment and helped them cultivate a sense of belonging!

The sense of community that we have created at our facility is what keeps me doing the work I’m doing. I’m fortunate to work at a place where I’ve had the opportunity to see the kids, families, and staff in our programs foster positive relationships. Our young kids will ask us if they can work as a staff in our programs when they get older. We do have many of the kids apply, and they always mention how they would like to be a positive role model for the younger generations, just like their staff did for them when they were in our programs. When you walk into our facility, you can just sense life. When you walk into our offices, they’re plastered with crafts and cards from the families and staff we’ve had the privilege to work with and for. The Rodarte Community Center is known as the “Home of Youth Enrichment,” and I’m sure the work all our staff does helps create positive outcomes for the families in our community. After all, it does take a village!"4

- Fabiola Padilla-Vega, Recreation Coordinator