{"id":12492,"date":"2010-07-02T09:16:29","date_gmt":"2010-07-02T13:16:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/researchimpact.ydsinc.ca\/united-way-of-york-region-changing-the-game-again\/"},"modified":"2021-11-23T15:04:05","modified_gmt":"2021-11-23T20:04:05","slug":"united-way-of-york-region-changing-the-game-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/researchimpact.ca\/fr\/archive\/united-way-of-york-region-changing-the-game-again\/","title":{"rendered":"United Way of York Region \u2013 Changing the Game, Again!"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/strong>
\n\"\"<\/a>Mobilize This! readers, below is the text of a speech made by Daniele Zanotti, CEO, United Way of York Region, at their 34th<\/sup> Annual General Meeting held June 24, 2010 at Oakview Terrace in Richmond Hill (York Region).\u00a0 You can also find this speech<\/a> on the UWYR website.<\/em> <\/strong>
\nDaniele is a strong advocate and supporter of York\u2019s KMb Unit. He is also a strong supporter of York University having sat on the President\u2019s Task Force for Community Engagement.\u00a0 You can see him speak<\/a> in his own words about knowledge mobilization on one of our \"\"<\/a>ResearchImpact videos<\/a>.\u00a0 And below, you can read his words as delivered at their AGM.\u00a0 Always engaging.\u00a0 Always telling a story not just giving a speech.
\nAnd towards the end, a teaser.\u00a0 Stay tuned for some exciting, disruptive and transformative actions UWYR will be announcing in United Way week in October 2010.
\nTo turn Daniele\u2019s words back on himself, for knowledge mobilization, Daniele Zanotti and the United Way of York Region are priceless.
\nGame-Change<\/strong><\/p>\n

It does not happen often. I get up to speak, start telling a story about my nonna of all people, rest her soul, my Nonna, and in the thick of it, when the story is coming to a thematic and comedic climax\u2026<\/p>\n

disrupted\u2026<\/p>\n

last year, during United Way Week, at a congregation located in Vaughan Mills, that is right, in the mall area, speaking on issues of poverty in York Region to a group of over 150 residents and community leaders, I am, using examples from my Nonna\u2019s favourite food, Kentucky Fried Chicken \u2013long story but we think she had a crush on Colonel Saunders who resembled my Nonno somewhat had a little soul patch going … anyway… weaving this and her favourite soap opera, the Young and the Restless\u2026 though she could not understand a word of English she caught all the storylines and convoluted love triangles and swore she had a lot in common with Mrs Chancellor\u2026 and I am slowly making my way to define poverty in York Region\u2026 because it is all connected\u2026<\/p>\n

He stands up. Long white beard, white pressed shirt, with suspenders:
\n <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cpukh, thup, chup.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Everyone starts laughing and clapping.
\n\u201cSo simple, \u201che says, \u201c\u2026 old Punjabi definition for poverty:
\nPukh, thup, chup. <\/strong>
\n <\/strong>No food, no roof, no voice.
\nWe should spend less time trying to define it and more trying to solve it.\u201d
\nHe is correct. I am loving this guy, even though he did disrupt my Nonna story, rest her soul.
\nI compose myself, swoop back in, seamlessly, speaking to the social service infrastructure United Way supports, from programs to public education to system change\u2026
\ndisrupted\u2026 again <\/strong>
\n\u201cnavaa<\/strong>\u2026\u201d he says.
\nTension in the room; the crowd is engaged\u2026.looking for the knockout punch\u2026
\n\u201c\u2026navaa<\/strong>, not only the same old.\u201d
\nI\u2026 (gesture Italian what is up?)\u2026
\nHe obviously understands Italian too\u2026.because he responds\u2026
\nHe says: \u201cnavaa <\/strong>means \u2018New\u2019\u2026
\nMr Zanotti, you represent a leading change organization. Do you have the courage to lead? Do you have the courage to disrupt?\u201d
\nSo I told them our story, one that I have waxed poetic on at our AGMs: of our 2007 roar year \u2013giving voice to the defining issues of our region; of our 2008 listen year \u2013where we committed to hearing the lived realities of residents across the sprawling amalgam of nine municipalities; then 2009 our Meeting House year \u2013in faith groups and town halls and meetings like this, convening people on issues.
\nAnd as I am in the middle of a profound\u2026 I will pause for dramatic effect\u2026 statement, I hear his friggin chair moving again.
\n\u201cChar pair o pair<\/strong>\u2026 four steps, says a Punjabi saying\u2026
\nHe says, \u201cThe first is easy, the second is necessary, the third is affirming and the fourth changes the game – it transform you.
\nFew take the fourth step Mr Zanotti.\u201d
\nThe rest of my speech was a blur, focused only on getting the hell through it to go sit with this disruptive genius.
\nBy the end of the night, three coffees later, I had a mentor. And as we chatted, all I kept saying was – HANJI <\/strong>– the Punjabi word for \u201cyes\u201d.
\nSince then, and this morning, especially, my friends, I have been and am in a disruptive mood, and I am asking you to join me.
\nHere is what I said verbatim, at last year\u2019s AGM:
\nIf 2007 was our roar year, 2008 our listen year, let 2009 be our meeting house year.
\nAnd here is how we will map this out over 2009:
\nDuring UW Week, we will release a follow up to what the Star dubbed a most provocative \u201c\u2026 if addressed\u201d report; and we did: Addressing our Strength, called \u2018a landmark follow\u2019 up by YRMG.
\nIn October, I said, our board will approve our new community priorities with outcomes and target populations and evaluative indicators; and they did.
\nIn December we will approve our new strategic directions, 2010-2013, setting seemingly unachievable targets on revenue growth, community impact and convening positive change\u2013 and we did.
\nAnd let us never forget, our sine qua non, another record campaign and strong investment for local services. And we did.
\nI said: And when we meet next year, at this same meeting, at some other symbolic and tough to find location- I have delivered on that- we will speak of our successes:<\/p>\n