Casa Familiar

Established in 1973, Casa Familiar is a 501(c)(3), community-based organization dedicated to serving residents in South San Diego County. Originally organized in 1968 under the name Trabajadores de la Raza, Casa Familiar has grown from existing solely to serve Spanish-speaking clients in the community of San Ysidro, to include services and programs for all of South San Diego’s residents. Programs range from Environmental Justice, Civic Engagement, Health & Social Services, Arts & Culture, and Education.
The mission of Casa Familiar is to enhance the quality of life for people living in underserved and underrepresented communities. Casa Familiar envisions healthy, just, and sustainable communities that reach our full potential.

Research Collaboration Guidelines

Casa Familiar has Research Collaboration Guidelines, a Research Interest Form, and a process for submitting research interest requests.

Please review the Research Guidelines located Here.
Please download and fill out the Research Interest Form located Here.
Return the Research Interest Form to the Casa Familiar email: development@casafamiliar.org.

Current Projects

Casa Familiar and SDSU HLINK Center are currently collaborating on the following research projects.

  • Assessment of Microbial and Chemical Pollution in Community Air and Indoor Environments in US Border Communities near the Tijuana River (page coming soon)

To learn more about our Partner Organization, click HERE.

Meet our partners

Nicole Barber, M.A. ENV SP
Environmental Justice Director

Nicole Barber is the Environmental Justice Director at Casa Familiar, where she combines her scientific expertise and passion for environmental justice to address the unique needs of underserved communities in San Diego. With a Master’s in Environmental Science and a strong foundation in sustainability and conservation, Nicole brings a science-driven approach to her work in creating sustainable solutions for the community.

Previously, Nicole worked on diverse ecological projects, including wetland restoration, natural resource conservation, and biodiversity research, where she gained hands-on experience in environmental science. Today, she channels that expertise into advancing environmental programs that empower local communities, protect natural resources, and ensure equitable access to sustainability.

Through her leadership, Nicole advocates for policies that prioritize environmental equity and works directly with community members to drive change from the ground up. Her commitment to integrating science with social impact continues to guide her efforts to create a more resilient and sustainable future for all. 

Alejandro Amador, BS

Environmental Programs Manager, Casa Familiar

Mr. Amador is currently the Environmental Programs Manager at Casa Familiar. As the Environmental Programs Manager, Amador oversees Casa Familiar’s efforts to address social and environmental inequities within San Diego, and the unique and specific needs of the San Ysidro community. Being a life-long resident of the San Diego-Tijuana region and after joining Casa Familiar as a Community Air Monitoring Technician, Amador grew a deep understanding of the dynamic of binational air pollution. Through the key data collected by Casa Familiar’s air monitoring efforts, Amador has led and participated in different air mitigation intervention projects in the community of San Ysidro such as advocacy for accessible transportation system, educational greening workshops, advocating for the creation of a community emission reduction plan, tree planting campaigns in schools, and enhancement of public parks design.

Amador has also been involved in policy advocacy efforts such as San Diego’s Parks Master Plan and the Climate Action Plan. Through this work, Amador has worked directly with the community to elevate San Ysidro’s voice and collaborated with city staff in projects and policy feedback.