A Conversation with United Way's New President

Michael K. Durkin, or Mike, as he's quickly becoming known around here, took a seat across from me yesterday and told me a bit about his first week and a half as president and CEO of our organization. I had met Mike for the first time in December, when he flew to Boston two weeks before his first day on the job to participate in the City's homeless census.  Last week, the results of that census were released and revealed a mixed picture: progress in some areas of the fight to end homelessness, but a 21 percent increase in the number of Boston children living without permanent homes. 

"It's troubling to me that in a city that has so much, there are still families, with little kids in them, who have no place to live," he said, when we got a chance to catch up yesterday. 

What I noticed about Mike is that he doesn't talk about homelessness as Boston's problem, or his problem as the head of a nonprofit. He talks about homelessness as OUR collective problem -- and our shared opportunity to overcome it. "United Way can help people be part of that solution," he explained.

It's clear to Mike that the ingredients are here. "I have been impressed with the commitment and passion of this [United Way] staff," he said.  "I also got to talk with some people from Bank of New York Mellon at their campaign wrap-up. In talking with donors and volunteers, you get a sense that they really believe in our mission, and our work. You also get sense that there is an anticipation to move --- to make some real progress."

Mike saw that same conviction, when he met with members of the Ten Point Coalition last week, which works to support the families of high-risk youth and improve the communities where they live and grow. He was encouraged by the commitment he found there to building to effective partnerships across sectors and communities and the focus on the challenges at hand.  

What are you most looking forward to? I asked him.

"Red Sox season ...?" he began hesitantly, then smiled and retracted, "No, that's going to take some time." The Boston Red Sox beat Mike's Colorado Rockies earlier this year in the World Series.  "I am looking forward to continuing to learn about this region, and gain insight into how United Way fits into the great work being done here."

Throughout my talk with Mike, what was evident to me about his nature was that he’s just a regular guy. A regular guy who answers my question about his new residence in Boston with:  “Well, I’ve got a chair,” and a grin that implies that unpacking may not have been his top priority this week.   A regular guy who leans back in his seat at the end of a long day and tells me about the Boston College basketball game he took his daughter to the other night. A genuine guy, who feels a responsibility to the people and community around him. And it occurs to me, in talking to him, that United Way is, and has always been, a movement of ordinary people.  Ordinary people who make a decision to see the region’s challenges as their own and in joining with others, become something much greater.

Mike Durkin and UW staff at Boston's Homeless Census in December