Lighting the Way – wayne centrone

It has been a few weeks since my last post. There is no one reason for my lapse in communication – other than the demands of a full life.

Several things have happened over the past couple of months. HBI has officially taken over the legal responsibilities for the Casa Girasoles. In addition, all the Casa Girasoles Urubamba and Ica staff transferred to employment with HBI-Perú. Finally, we are under-contract to purchase the Casa Girasoles Urubamba property and home. We only have one payment remaining, and the property is HBI’s. We are under the same due diligence for the property in Ica. Whew. That’s a lot.

Yes, that is a lot. It is not, however, a full update on all that’s going on. The most significant change is not anything but a thousand little things. Let me explain.

The city of Lima – comprised of 43 districts or communities – recently shifted from the older sepia-tone streetlights of a bygone era to LED energy-efficient streetlights. The city of Los Angeles made a similar shift back in 2016. It is a bitter-sweet change – as the sepia-tone light of the old streetlights creates a very nostalgic feeling. Alas, progress.

One problem is that transitioning from old to new technology is more than a replacement phenomenon. The growth requires a massive infrastructure shift. This shift is not going smoothly. The new LED street lights are prone to glitching and, in some neighborhoods (ours included), essentially strobe all night. So much for more recent technology.

The change that the city of Lima is going through with its switch to newer technology is the same transition HBI is undergoing. Okay, maybe not the same per se – but there are some parallels.

We are shifting from an organization predominately led by a North American team to an organization with Peruvian leadership at every level. The growth is exciting; however, we are on the cusp of a transition that brings several challenges as we build our new infrastructure. Our focus right now is to make sure we are transitioning slowly and cautiously. This means focusing on the culture of our organization and making certain everyone has the resources they need to successfully transition.

This is an exciting time for HBI. It is a time of change – and a period that will truly light the way for a brighter future for our work.

Oh, by the way – we are having a fundraiser event on September 19th at Portland’s famous Andina Restaurant. This is our return to Andina after a three-year hiatus. We would love for you to join us. You can get tickets at: A Bridge to Change 2023