New Nazlini Senior Center Opens, Strengthens Services for Elders
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren joined elders, chapter leaders, students, and families for the grand opening of the Nazlini Senior Center, a roughly four million dollar project intended to expand meals, transportation, recreation, and supportive services for local elders. The new facility brings updated accessible infrastructure and represents years of tribal budgeting, chapter contributions, and construction management that together aim to improve quality of life for Nazlini residents.
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Nazlini celebrated the completion and grand opening of a new senior center on Saturday, drawing elders, chapter officials, families, and students who opened the ceremony by performing the National Anthem. The completed 3,915 square feet facility includes a cafeteria and kitchen, office space, a wellness and fitness room, and a paved ADA accessible parking lot. The center will continue and expand congregate meals, home delivered meals, recreation, socialization, transportation, and supportive elder services for Nazlini and surrounding communities.
The center is the product of a multi year effort to secure funding and manage construction amid rising costs during the pandemic era. Initial funding of 1.95 million dollars originated in 2018 through CAP 32 18, a measure signed by Speaker LoRenzo Bates and approved by then President Russell Begaye. The Nazlini Chapter later contributed 750,000 dollars, and in August 2022 a resolution identified as CJY 30 22, approved by former President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer, added 2 million dollars in Síhasin funding. Taken together the investments brought the project to approximately 4 million dollars.
Local officials and project staff played direct roles in keeping the project on track. Construction management was led by CPMD staff members Andy Thomas and Marcus Murphy, while Arviso Construction served as general contractor. Groundbreaking took place on September 15, 2022. Former Delegate Kee Allen Begay, chapter officials, community advocates, and Nazlini Chapter Secretary Johnson Claw all participated in securing resources and support. Senior Center Supervisor Fannie Mann maintained essential services for elders throughout construction, ensuring meal and support continuity.
From a governance perspective the project highlights how tribal legislative action, chapter level contributions, and executive allocations combine to fund community infrastructure. The use of Síhasin funding and the chapter contribution underscore the role of tribal budget priorities and local matching in delivering services. Pandemic related cost increases tested timelines and budgets, making the project management role of CPMD and contractors central to delivering the facility without interrupting core services.
For local residents the new center provides improved physical accessibility and a centralized hub for elder services that can reduce social isolation and transportation barriers. President Nygren reported broader efforts across the Navajo Nation to reopen senior centers, build new facilities, improve ADA access, and deploy 25 new Jeep Wagoneers to strengthen transportation for elders. The Nazlini center serves as a visible example of sustained community advocacy and intergovernmental coordination, and it will be a focal point for elder care, social programming, and civic engagement in the area moving forward.
