Prevent and Detect Cervical Cancer in Guatemala

In the past few weeks at the helm of WINGS, I have had the opportunity to reflect on the incredible work that we have been doing for the past 20 years. As we look to finish up this year, I have specifically been reflecting on WINGS’ goals and practices around diversity, equity and inclusion, something that has always been central to our mission and vision and is only that much more relevant and necessary as we embark on our next 20 years of organizational growth and success.

Knowing that the content of our work pulls on diverse and complex cultural contexts, taboos, and values and requires that patients feel trust and deep respect from our staff, WINGS makes a point of hiring staff from the communities we serve. In 2021, we launched our first Community Advisory Board, ensuring that the voices of our patients, community partners, and program participants are meaningfully reflected in our program design and evaluation. To ensure transparency and accountability, this advisory board has direct communication with staff leadership as well as with our Board of Directors. The person-centered work culture of trust, care, and open dialogue that we have established at WINGS has laid the groundwork for us to now dig into more complex DEI work as a team. This must include both inward and outward focused needs - working, for example, to make our services more accessible to marginalized groups including indigenous communities, the LGBTQIA+ community, and individuals with disabilities, but also looking at how, as a team, we might better listen and understand the diverse representation that exists on our staff, and create hiring and staff development practices that hold space for increased diversity, equity, and inclusion over time.

While the implications of the global COVID-19 pandemic continue to guide our daily routines at WINGS, I am excited to look toward the future, knowing that we are always striving to make our service delivery and our workplace even more inclusive.

We are so grateful to our supporters for making the past 20 years possible and we look forward to sharing with you as we embark on the next 20 years together.

It is with feelings of both gratitude and sadness that I write to inform you that as of August 31, Rodrigo Barillas will step down as Executive Director of WINGS Guatemala. Rodrigo leaves WINGS to assume the position of Executive Director at the newly established Luis von Ahn Foundation, which plans to support community-based organizations working in Guatemala.

We are tremendously grateful for Rodrigo’s leadership, dedication, and service to our mission over the past seven years, and appreciate the strong position in which he leaves our beloved organization. During his tenure, WINGS has experienced significant growth, expanding its presence to over half the country. From pioneering a single mobile clinical unit, WINGS now operates three mobile units, thus becoming the second largest private provider of sexual and reproductive health services in Guatemala. 
 
Looking ahead, the Board has formed a Transition Task Force to oversee the search and transition process for our next Executive Director. We are partnering with an executive search firm to ensure we find the best possible person to lead WINGS into the future. As the search is underway, the Board has selected Eleanor Unsworth, WINGS Program Director, as Interim Executive Director. Eleanor joined WINGS in 2016. As Program Director she is responsible for the administrative supervision of the WINGS field teams, including for our youth programs, promoter network, and clinical services. She has close to 15 years of experience working in reproductive health in both the US and Guatemala. Eleanor graduated from Tufts University with a degree in Community Health and Women’s Studies, and completed a Master’s in Non-Profit Management from Northeastern University. Fully bilingual and with strong ties to Guatemala, we feel she is fully capable of leading us through this transition period. (To learn more about Eleanor, please check out this recent conversation she had with Rodrigo.)
 
Having seen WINGS flourish over the past few years, serving clients in mostly rural areas of Guatemala with efficiency and compassion, and providing excellent clinical services, I hope you feel as confident as the Board does about our future. We are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and will keep you informed of our progress.

With appreciation on behalf of WINGS Board of Directors.