The United Way Peterborough and District welcomed its new chief executive officer on Thursday (June 18) and, in the process, bid farewell to the longest-serving CEO in the organization’s 85-year history.
Jason Seguya officially assumes his new role on Monday, July 6 and, in doing so, becomes just the 10th CEO to head the local United Way. Meanwhile, outgoing CEO Jim Russell, who is retiring after close to 15 years at the helm, will stay on board until July 17 to help facilitate the transition.
Seguya, 27, a native of Uganda, comes to Peterborough via Ottawa, having previously served as executive director of The Fulcrum Publishing Society and of Ontario Student Voices. He has a bachelor of science in social sciences from the University of Ottawa.
Seguya’s hiring comes after an exhaustive search for Russell’s successor undertaken by the United Way board that started in December of last year.
In her introduction of Seguya, United Way board chair Karen Wilson noted he brings a strong background in organizational leadership, governance, human resources, communications and community engagement, with a focus on building inclusive, sustainable, people-centred organizations.
“In the short time that I’ve known Jason — we’ve had a few meetings since he was hired — he is a natural leader, a convener, a collaborator, and an advocate,” Wilson said.
“Along with his expertise, I know he’ll bring forth his thoughtfulness, his intelligence, and his positive energy required for the inclusive mission-driven work that the United Way is going to do, and for our community.”
With that, Seguya took to the podium, as his parents Phares and Sarah Sekalala and his sisters Fiona and Phillipa Sekalala watched on, their pride obvious.
“While today I’m filled with so much excitement — it might be the coffee or the Red Bull — I’m more met with humility,” said Seguya.
“While for this will be a new journey for myself, this is far from a new start for the United Way. For 85 years, this organization has been showing up for community. For 85 years, people have come together through this organization to strengthen lives, to support neighbours, to create opportunities, and to respond to the needs that show up in our community every single day.”
Seguya noted that what excites him most is “is knowing that I won’t be engaging with this work by myself,” adding “There’s a direct correlation between an organization’s success and the collective power of its people.”
“The people who volunteer, who donate, who advocate, and who partner. The people who show up every day because they believe that their community can become stronger every single day. People who come together with a shared belief that if we work together, we can accomplish anything.”
Praising Russell and his staff for their “professionalism, compassion, kindness and care,” Seguya said the “strength of this organization, and this community, lies in the ability to bring people together with shared beliefs. That our communities are strongest when we support one another and no one gets left behind.”
“Meaningful change does not happen with the action of one individual alone but through collective effort. I see an understanding in this room that community is not something you just inherit — it’s something you build. We will build that together, maintaining that momentum. ”
Seguya made it clear that he “has no intention of rewriting 85 years of history” when it comes to the organization’s legacy.
“My goal is to honour it, to learn from it, to build upon it, to listen before speaking, to understand before acting, and to work alongside the incredible people in this room and many more to carry that mission forward.”
Earlier, Russell bade a heartfelt farewell, at one point fighting back tears.
“As I stand here, I’m certainly filled with gratitude, I’m certainly filled with wonder at the work we did together,” he said.
“The mission, the charisma, the life force of the United Way isn’t about any one person. It’s about the work that can happen together in a community if you engage, if you go out, if you build together. If you want to go quick, go alone. If you want to go deep, go together. That’s been the model for us; that’s the model we hope is, and will be, maintained.”
“Though I’m filled with wonder and gratitude, having met Jason at his second interview and having just had a conversation with him a little while ago, I’m mostly filled with hope, I’m mostly filled with excitement, I’m mostly filled with curiosity, and I’m filled absolutely with a certainty. A certainty that his leadership will inspire, that his leadership will help people to come together, that his leadership is needed at this time in our development and our engagement in the community.”
“We didn’t, and I apologize for this, fix all the problems that are in our community, so there’s work still to be done. We’re really excited about the tenure and the experience and the passion that Jason will bring to this effort.”
After the formal part of the announcement, both Seguya and Russell met with the media, with Seguya addressing his plan to build on the work already underway.
“One of the key things is incorporating reconciliation, equity, accessibility, diversity and inclusion in our work,” said Seguya.
“What this looks like internally to the organization is boosting the capacity so that we’re able to speak on these items and support communities, whereas, externally, removing barriers so that folks can engage with the United Way Peterborough and District in different ways.”
“That really leans on the belief that if you support those who are most vulnerable, all will benefit from that. That’s one element of this work, but the other element is truly rooted in community. That will be an ongoing conversation which will pass discussion by discussion, issue by issue.”
Asked about the considerable challenge that lies in the United Way maintaining its share of the fundraising pie, Seguya said that will be rooted in “a collaborative effort, in particular with the incoming campaign chair, to be able to change and adapt our process and strategy to speak towards our current time.”
“The second thing is finding ways of framing our ask in ways that are beneficial towards potential partners. For instance, when it comes to corporations, finding ways to address direct return on investment involving themselves in this work. While that speaks one way in the boardroom, it translates differently in terms of supporting community.”
Before departing, Russell spoke to what retirement will look like for him.
“I’m not from Peterborough and I’m choosing to stay. I met the love of my life after I came here and I think she’s choosing for me to stay too,” Russell said.
“On a more serious note, it has motivated me to think about how I want to still continue to give back to the community — to have a role, not in leadership, but a role in still giving back to the community. I don’t know what that quite looks like yet. We’ll see what evolves.”
“In the very short term, the day after I retire, I’m going to the Haliburton School of Art to learn how to paint. It’s something that I’ve always wanted to try. I’m really looking forward to being still, and being quiet and not being in the spotlight. A cigar on the back deck with jazz playing. My time will fill. I’m not worried about it.”
