October marks four years for Centro de San Juan Diego in Lexington’s Cardinal Valley neighborhood.
In that time, the center has helped countless Latino immigrants adjust to life in Kentucky and the United States.
The center, which resembles a church you might see in Central or South America, sits at 1389 Alexandria Drive.
“When people walk by here, we want them to get a text message from their brain that says this looks like home,” said Deacon Jim Bennett, the director of the center. “This looks like where I went to church.”
This neighborhood is the hub of Hispanic culture in Fayette County, so it’s the perfect location for Centro de San Juan Diego. Here, Spanish-speaking immigrants have access to more than 50 services, all for free .
“I used to pass by and wonder, what is that church? And the day I came in I was overwhelmed with peace,” said Nadeen Gonzalez Andujar.
Gonzalez Andujar moved to Lexington four years ago. She was born and raised in New York, but she spent the majority of her adult life in Puerto Rico.