CAFÉ Secures a New Home to Expand Services for Our Community
We are excited to share an important milestone for our organization and the community we serve. After many years of planning, conversations, and dreaming, CAFÉ has officially purchased a new office building located at 620 Lewis Street in Wenatchee, formerly the Chelan-Douglas Community Action Council building. This move marks the beginning of a new chapter—one rooted in growth, inclusion, and deeper support for families across North Central Washington.
A Vision Years in the Making
A multicultural, multiservice community center has been part of CAFÉ’s vision since as early as 2010, when our co-founders, Dr. and Mrs. Chacón, first began conversations with the City of Wenatchee. Community surveys, including OVOF’s most recent 5-year plan, have consistently identified a central community hub as a top local need.
This new location is a meaningful step toward making that vision a reality.
Thanks to our Trusted Partners:
We are grateful to our longtime partners Self-Help and Community Foundation of NCW, who not only continue to support our work but also served as the lender that made this purchase possible. Their belief in our mission helped us secure this building and move forward with confidence.
This next chapter reflects the collective belief in a stronger, more connected, and more equitable Wenatchee Valley. Thank you to our leading funders whose investments are helping bring the vision of a Multicultural, Multiservice Community Center to life:
Chelan County
Confluence Health & Wenatchee Valley Medical Group
Molina Healthcare
INATAI Foundation
Self-Help Credit Union
Stemilt Growers
Expanding Our Services: NWFSI Joins the CAFÉ Family
CAFÉ is also proud to welcome our sister organization, Northwest Family Services Institute (NWFSI), under our umbrella. This integration allows us to bring behavioral health services directly into our programming, creating a more holistic support system for youth, adults, and families. Together, our teams will strengthen mental health access and improve outcomes for the families we serve.
Inviting Partners Into Our New Home
As we settle into our new space, we will also be inviting key community partners to join us in our new home. Our goal is to build a truly holistic community center, offering wrap-around services that meet families where they are and connect them with the support they need.
This collaborative approach will help us provide more seamless services across education, behavioral health, advocacy, and community engagement.
What This Means for Our Community
Our new space will allow us to:
Expand youth and adult education programs
Offer behavioral health services on-site
Provide more room for community gatherings, meetings, and workshops
Strengthen partnerships and co-located services
Move forward in developing a comprehensive multicultural community center
This is more than a building—it’s a foundation for long-term community impact.
Join Us for the Ribbon Cutting in March
We look forward to celebrating with our partners, supporters, and the broader community. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place in March, in collaboration with the Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce and JEFE, CAFÉ’s small business program. More details will be shared soon—we hope you’ll join us for this important moment.
CAFÉ Featured on Live It Up with Fletcher & Amy Ellingson
CAFÉ’s Executive Director, Tonantzintla “Tona” Chacón, recently joined Live It Up with Fletcher & Amy Ellingson to share about the important work CAFÉ is doing to strengthen and uplift our community.
During the interview, Tona discussed CAFÉ’s mission to empower families, advance education, and promote equity across the region. She also highlighted how community collaboration and partnerships continue to drive meaningful change in the lives of those we serve.
🎥 Watch the full interview here: https://bit.ly/3LxWBZF
Together, we are building a stronger, healthier, and more connected community. 💙
A New Chapter for Northwest Family Services Institute (NWFSI)
History
At CAFÉ, we believe that strong leadership and shared vision create lasting change. We’re excited to announce an inspiring new chapter for our Northwest Family Services Institute (NWFSI)—one that builds on a legacy of compassion, healing, and community.
Since September, we’ve been thoughtfully preparing for a smooth leadership transition. Dr. Jorge Chacón, PsyD, SUDPT, founder of NWFSI, will be passing the torch to Nicole Vela, BA, SUDP, who will now serve as Program Director.
Dr. Chacón’s vision and tireless commitment have shaped NWFSI into a trusted source of culturally responsive behavioral health and recovery support. His dedication to restoring hope and dignity in the lives of others has laid the groundwork for the program’s continued growth and impact.
Moving Forward
Nicole brings a deep passion for serving our community and a wealth of experience in behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment. Her leadership will guide NWFSI into its next phase—one rooted in collaboration, compassion, and connection.
As part of this evolution, our Recovery Navigator (RN) program will join NWFSI, allowing us to better align our services and strengthen the network of care that supports individuals and families on their path to recovery.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Chacón for his vision and leadership, and we warmly welcome Nicole as she continues this important work. Together, we move forward with renewed energy and a shared commitment to healing, equity, and hope.rence.
Congratulations to Our New Programs Manager, Angelica Garcia Macias!
CAFÉ is proud to announce Angelica Garcia Macias as our new Programs Manager! 🎉
Angelica has been an incredible part of our team, previously serving as our Community Equity Coordinator, where she worked extensively with Labor & Industries, immigration, and local community needs. Her passion and leadership have already made a lasting impact, and we’re thrilled to see her step into this new role.
Born in Wenatchee and raised in Rock Island, Angelica is an Eastmont High School alumna who brings both local roots and global perspective to her work. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Pre-Law with a minor in Chicanx Studies from Eastern Washington University, and went on to complete a master’s degree in Political Science with an emphasis in Latino Studies at the University of California, Irvine.
Coming from an immigrant background, Angelica grew up helping her family with farm labor and their small business—experiences that shaped her deep commitment to labor rights, immigrant rights, and cultural empowerment. Before joining CAFÉ, she also dedicated her time to higher education, teaching at UC Irvine and Cal Poly Pomona.
Now, as CAFÉ’s Programs Manager, Angelica will oversee the development and coordination of our growing initiatives that support families, equity, and empowerment across North Central Washington.
Please join us in congratulating Angelica on this well-deserved achievement! We are so excited to see the vision and dedication she continues to bring to our community. 💛
Meet Our Amazing New CAFÉ Team Members!
CAFÉ is thrilled to welcome and celebrate the incredible contributions of several new team members who are making a real difference in our community!
Jazmine Benitez – Community Equity Coordinator
Jazmine brings a strong commitment to equity, advocacy, and meaningful connections. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law and Justice with a minor in Sociology from Central Washington University and an MBA in General Business from Eastern Washington University. With a background in healthcare and experience working with diverse families, Jazmine is dedicated to creating opportunities that uplift and empower our communities.
Andrea Guillen Agaton – Education Coordinator
Born in Los Angeles and raised in Wenatchee, Andrea is passionate about educational access and civic engagement. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Comparative Ethnic Studies, with a minor in Latin American Studies, from Washington State University in 2025. As a first-generation Latina from an agricultural background, Andrea’s role allows her to give back to the community that raised her and help ensure that others have the support and opportunities to succeed.
Tina Mackay – Recovery Navigator Specialist
Tina brings both professional training and personal experience to her role as a Recovery Navigator Specialist. As a certified recovery coach, she helps individuals and families find a way out of addiction, reminding them that “If I can do it, so can they.” Tina is passionate about healing, hope, and supporting families, helping community members access the care and resources they need to recover and thrive.
Marissa Gilsamaniego – Front Desk Executive & AmeriCorps Member
Marissa is the welcoming face of CAFÉ, ready to guide community members toward the resources they need. With extensive volunteer experience throughout the Wenatchee Valley, she brings a passion for helping others and a deep appreciation for our diverse and supportive community. Marissa ensures that everyone who visits CAFÉ feels informed, empowered, and connected.
We are beyond grateful to have Jazmine, Andrea, Tina, and Marissa on our team! Their dedication, expertise, and passion help CAFÉ continue its mission of empowering, supporting, and uplifting our community every day.
CAFÉ Welcomes New Executive Director and Programs Manager
CAFÉ is pleased to announce the appointment of Tonantzintla Chacón as the new Executive Director. Tona has been an integral part of our non-profit organization for the past 6 years, previously serving as our Programs Director. Her dedication, leadership, and passion for our mission have been evident throughout her tenure, making her the ideal candidate to lead CAFÉ into its next chapter.
Tona Chacón has played a crucial role in advancing our organization's mission of providing leadership in CAFÉ’s educational and social services to the community. Her extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of our organization's goals make her well-suited to take on the responsibilities of Executive Director.
Tonantzintla Chacón
as the new Executive Director
“I am truly honored to step into the role of Executive Director at CAFÉ,” said Tona Chacón. "Having been part of this incredible organization for the past 6 years, I am excited to continue working towards our mission of empowering our community through education. With our dedicated team, I look forward to making a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve.”
In addition to the appointment of Tona Chacón, CAFE is thrilled to welcome Dr. María Morales as the new Programs Manager. Dr. Morales Sanchez brings a wealth of experience and expertise in education and community development. Her commitment to creating positive change aligns seamlessly with our organization's values.
Dr. Maria Morales-Sánchez, Programs Manager
"We are beyond excited to have Dr. María Morales join our team as the Programs Manager," said Tona Chacón, Executive Director. "Her impressive background and passion for education will undoubtedly contribute to the continued success of our programs, furthering our mission to provide quality educational services to the community."
Mrs. Alma Chacón, Executive Advisor
As CAFÉ embarks on this new chapter, we express our gratitude to our outgoing Executive Director, Alma Chacón, for her invaluable contributions and leadership. However, we are not saying goodbye to Alma just yet, as she will continue to play a role in the organization as CAFÉ’s Executive Advisor. “As co-founder of CAFÉ this is a bittersweet moment as I take a step back from the day-to-day operations, however, CAFÉ is in great hands with our new leadership team, who I know will lead our organization and community to new heights, “Si Se Puede,” said Alma. “While continuing to serve as the primary grant writer, this new change will allow me to focus on kick-starting our Capital Campaign which will help us secure a new facility to serve our community better.” Alma will stay on board during this transition year at CAFÉ.