I have not submitted a new Blog post in quite some time. Travel, full "to do" lists and a heavy workload have made it a bit difficult. I did, however, want to write about an experience I had last night on a business trip to Boston.
As many of you know, I travel to Boston on a fairly regular basis. I go there for my "day job" with the Center for Social Innovation. Since my body clock is completely thrown off with the 3-hour time difference and because of the heavy workload I undertake while at the office, I often go to dinner rather late. On one of my trips I found this fantastic neighborhood restaurant not far from the hotel where I stay.
The restaurant, 51 Lincoln, is a great mix of foodie pleasure and small town sensibility. I almost always go to the restaurant once or twice during my stays in the Boston area. This week I went by myself for my usual late night dinner at the bar. I ended up striking a fantastic conversation with the sommelier/assistant general manager and the lead bar tender. Miguel and Anthony are great guys with a broad knowledge of food, wine, and restaurant service. The type of people you really enjoy getting to know.
I had so much fun talking with Anthony and Miguel that I decided to take our team to 51 Lincoln on the following night. My goodness - what a night we had. We were honored with a great table in the wine room, Miguel recommended a really phenomenal bottle of wine, and the Executive Chef/owner brought a complimentary charceutrie plate with a special thank you from the kitchen. It was really an evening to remember.
Why, you may be asking yourself, am I Blogging about a dinner I had in Boston when HBI focuses on bridging resource with need for communities living in extreme poverty. Well, the answer is this - what I found in my experience at 51 Lincoln was a community. A set of new friends and new relationships that will be a part of my on-going work/life in the Boston area.
This is exactly what HBI is doing. We are working to create the sort of "impact" relationships that connect people, resources, and communities together around a common goal of sustainable change. I know it seems a bit absurd for me to compare an evening at a restaurant to the needs of connecting resources around advancing healthcare delivery to impoverished people; but, it really is grounded in the same thing.
Change, lasting change, comes from people working with people. This is based on relationships. Imagine what the world could be like with we embraced everyone in a warm, friendly manner. Imagine what would happen if everyone were invited to the table. Imagine what will happen when we are no longer strangers - but become friends.
Thank you 51 Lincoln. You rock!
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