Blog - Page 17 of 21 - Health Bridges International

A Sliver of Light

December 20, 2020/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne Centrone

The staff and boys at the Casa Girasoles preparing food baskets to distribute in their local community.

Holidays are a time for celebrating and reflection – and depending upon your culture, customs, and beliefs – they are filled with many different practices and observations.

The common theme of the Holiday Season seems to be generosity and connection. It is a time of year when we intentionally give of ourselves in a way that allows another to feel seen, heard, and honored. At least that is my perfect sense of the Holiday Season.

The practices of giving and generosity will look very different this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. That doesn’t mean we can’t bring a sliver of light into the lives of others through our actions. Read more

The Circle of Giving

December 14, 2020/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne Centrone

It’s amazing what happens when we give from a place of pure service.

A couple of years back, we decided to institute a community service project for the Casa Girasoles during the Holiday Season. The goal was simple – develop a budget, identify a community, and collaborate with people from the community to create a project you can work on together. This year has made it very hard to plan a project where the staff and boys are out in the community. That did not, however, deter them from coming up with something.

Integrity Matters

December 4, 2020/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne Centrone

The Ines Project team met mask-to-mask for the first time in over 8-months.

At the core of who we are as an organization is a commitment to integrity. Our commitment to integrity means we strive to make our work and lives a seamless integration between what we say and what we do.

Demonstrating our integrity is particularly important as it relates to the support we receive from donors. We are committed to a partnership with the people and foundations that graciously fund our work. For us, a partnership means taking time to plan budgets carefully, define the intended impact, and transparently report to our stakeholders. It means paying attention to our work’s details – all the while remaining focused on our bigger picture goals.

Thankfulness

November 23, 2020/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne Centrone

It’s Thanksgiving and the biggest holiday week in the U.S. This year feels a bit different. This year has been unlike any other. Sorry to overstate the obvious, but it feels like I need to be a little overstating.

The challenges of this year have had a powerful impact on HBI. From our team and the way we work to the shift in programs and projects – things have changed. The changes have brought a profound sense of “new order” and renewed focus. The changes have, in many ways, been extremely beneficial to our work. Read more

Forming a Movement

November 17, 2020/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne Centrone

My phone has been buzzing with texts, WhatsApp messages, and calls. So many of you are reaching out to say you are thinking about Perú.

In case you missed it – over the past week Perú has been through a topsy turvy time . . . with a presidential impeachment, political demonstrations and riots (including clashes with police that led to two deaths), an interim presidential government, resignation of the interim president, congressional stalemate and finally a majority vote for a new interim president and administration. Talk about a hectic week.

We’re Stronger Together

November 7, 2020/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne Centrone

Whenever things feel overwhelming, I remember the boys at the Casa Girasoles. They ground me. They call me to do more. They remind me we can do more. And, we must!

It has been a rough couple of weeks.

I don’t think it matters where a person finds themself on the long continuum that is life, the past couple of weeks have been stressful.

This morning brought the sort of closure the U.S. and the world needs. The U.S. presidential election winner has been announced and a new government will take shape over the coming months. There is a palpable exuberance in many places – including our household.

Seeking Safety

October 31, 2020/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne Centrone

It is Halloween 2020. This is the year we celebrate a Halloween of all treat and no trick. My goodness, nothing feels normal. Nothing feels safe any more.

This morning the two Casa Girasoles homes are preparing for unique celebrations. Neither house celebrates Halloween – the ghosts and ghouls Halloween. Instead, they prepare unique celebrations of the culture and heritage of the local regions. This includes All Saints and All Souls day observations – but more than anything, it includes fun activities for the kids.

Living in Hope

October 26, 2020/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne Centrone

I spoke at First Presbyterian Church of Vancouver yesterday. It was the first time I’ve been in a building, other than an occasional trip to the grocery store, in months.

There were only 10 or so people in the entire sanctuary, but it still felt a bit strange. Every precaution was fastidiously orchestrated and applied. My talk was taped and broadcast to the congregation (if you’re interested, you can watch the talk at [starts at 47:10]: https://youtu.be/zFFvLrS_Kns). The whole production was first class.

I’ve spoke at many churches, civic groups, organizations, and clubs over the years. My talks are usually the same – the who, what, and why of Health Bridges. I talk about the origins of our work and the shift to becoming a 501(c)(3) registered organization. I generally speak about the projects and programs that punctuate our work. I talk about the vision we have for creating better collaboration and partnerships. It’s a pretty standard talk.

Creating Alignment

October 17, 2020/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne Centrone

My wife and I voted last night. It was invigorating. Now, perhaps more than ever before – voting feels like the most important civic responsibility we have.

I don’t usually disclose personal information on this Blog; and I very rarely broach politics. This is, however, not a normal time. Everything has changed. The world as we know it (thanks, R.E.M.) is just not the same. We need an alignment. We need a commitment from the highest political offices and most powerful and influential leaders to chart a path to a future grounded in integrity, honesty, and humility. Too much is on the line, and too many people depend on such leadership to survive.

We’re taking alignment very seriously at HBI. Over the past couple of months, we’ve been digging into conversations at many levels of our organization. Deeply considering our vision, mission, and programmatic focus. We’ve asked important and timely questions like, “who will Health Bridges be in the future?” and “what values will we need to demonstrate that commitment?” We’ve reviewed our programs and projects and considered how we’ve demonstrated objective outcomes.

Learning from and Leading with Nico

October 11, 2020/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne Centrone

Nico (not his real name) was ten years old when he realized he could no longer take care of his little brother. At four years old, his little brother was more than he could handle.

For as long as Nico could recall, he was the sole parent for his little brother. Taking care of him was like taking care of his own son. And, for most of that time – Nico knew what to do. Now, at four years old – Nico didn’t know what to do.

A kind neighbor had always been there for Nico and his brother. She would feed them when his mother left for long periods and did not provide any money for food. She would check-in on them, making sure they were safe and warm in the cold rainy months. Now, she noticed something very different – and she went to the local judiciary to file a report of child endangerment.

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