Each year, the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment celebrates how local Hispanic and Latino Americans have contributed to the Johnson County community and its health and well-being. In this article, DHE is recognizing the many contributions of Pastor Sylvia Romero.

Originally from Bogota, Colombia, Romero has lived in the United States for over 40 years and resided in Olathe since 1993. When talking to folks about individuals who contribute to the health and well-being of community members, Romero’s name is often one of the first to come up.

Currently, Romero serves as the executive director of Center of Grace, a community outreach center in Olathe. Center of Grace has been a part of the Olathe community since 1999. It was developed from a vision of community building bringing together those with a variety of needs in the Olathe area and those wanting to make a difference in their community.

Center of Grace provides multiple services to the Olathe community, such as English classes for non-native English speakers, early childhood development programming for children whose parents are enrolled in English classes, and computer literacy classes.

To provide these services, Center of Grace partners with organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club Olathe, Johnson County Community College and Workforce Partnership. Center of Grace provides services that may not be provided elsewhere in Olathe such as free community dinners twice a week to individuals and families-where all are welcome.

Romero began working at Center of Grace in 2000, shortly after its founding, and has had the privilege of seeing the organization grow over the years. Working at Center of Grace allows Romero to live her passion – as she says, "helping people and building community."

While her role allows her to live out her passion, she's also faced difficulties. "It is challenging when an individual or family has needs beyond what we offer, particularly regarding affordable housing, [and] affordable health, dental and mental health care," said Romero.

Despite these challenges, Romero is committed to serving the community to the best of her ability, and advocating for the needs of those whose voices and concerns often go unheard.

In addition to her work at Center of Grace, Romero participates in the JCDHE Community Health Network, a collaborative group of local organizations and stakeholders committed to improving health outcomes across Johnson County.

As a dedicated member, Sylvia works closely with partners to address the community’s most pressing health challenges. Her experience and insight are invaluable in bringing together diverse perspectives, ensuring that initiatives align with the goals set out in the Community Health Improvement Plan.