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¡Buenos dias queridos amigos, seguidores y miembros de la comunidad!
We send you wishes for good health and much happiness and look forward to seeing you soon.
The new year represents a new beginning here at La Clínica del Pueblo, one that reminds us there is only one constant in our lives—change. Change impacts the lives of all peoples and organizations everywhere. It too can sometimes create anxiety and uncertainty for many of us. Yet change also offers an important opportunity for self-reflection and renewal. And that can help us find our way forward in the world.
Clearly the path for navigating any organizational change begins with an aspirational yet achievable strategic plan. In celebration and recognition of La Clínica del Pueblo’s 40th anniversary in 2023, we created such a strategic plan to guide our next decade of community service. Fundamentally, the strategic plan seeks to raise visibility, promote vitality, and strengthen voice in all aspects of our mission-critical work. And once fully implemented, the plan will reaffirm La Clínica del Pueblo as the community leader for immigrant health and wellness in the metropolitan Washington region.
Yet having a strategic plan does not guarantee safe passage to our final destination. Our organization also needs leaders who are well-versed in today’s realities and who can successfully implement the strategic plan consistent with our core values.
To that end, we recently established a search committee to oversee the recruitment process for La Clínica del Pueblo’s next leader. We plan to engage an executive leadership search firm to support this important process which will be deeply rooted in our unwavering commitment to providing accessible, high-quality health care and support services to the immigrant community.
But there is much more work to do in 2024 than just finding our next leader. Being responsive and relevant to Latin American immigrants and their families requires us to get better at the fundamentals of our work right now. It will also require us to think differently about access to care and hours of operations, overall customer service, and other key operational elements that directly impact one’s experience here at La Clínica del Pueblo. Candidly, it is time to re-imagine our post-pandemic service delivery model considering the many lessons learned from COVID-19.
Lastly, to advance this mission-critical work while the search for the next leader is ongoing, the Board of Directors named Don Blanchon to serve as interim Executive Director, effective January 1, 2024. A resident of Washington, DC for 35 years, Don brings significant healthcare and leadership experience and a deep commitment to improving the health and well-being of communities in the metropolitan Washington region. We welcome Don and look forward to collaborating with him to advance La Clínica del Pueblo’s mission in community.
As always, please send your questions and comments to executiveoffice1@lcdp.org about this message or any other aspect of our community service to immigrants and their families. We welcome your thoughts here.
Thank you for your continued support of La Clínica del Pueblo.
Un saludo y adelante!
The Board of Directors
Edgar Jimenez, President
Lyz Ortiz, Vice President
Gerardo Portillo Molina, Treasurer
Salome Martinez, Secretary
Paula Vasquez
Florentino Duarte
Stephanye Haylin
Luis Angelo Gomez
Carolyn McCoy Zugaldia
Veronica Vela
Brizeida Santos