Everyone’s heard the refrain: ‘Institutional change takes time. Be patient.’ This notion is perhaps one of the greatest sources of conflict and mistrust between organizations and seekers of change. While it is true that real, lasting change is time-consuming, there is no formula or model to quantify or predict the time required for an institutional change process. At the same, the issue of time and patience poses a challenge for volunteer boards that typically have a limited period of office and are anxious not to be dismissed as ineffectual or irrelevant.
Alok Mukherjee identifies and explores concrete ways in which a volunteer board committed to genuine institutional change can achieve significant results within its finite term of office.
Download a summary of the session
Alok Mukherjee
Chair, Toronto Police Services Board
Dr. Alok Mukherjee is the first South Asian to be elected chair of the Toronto Police Services Board. Alok has taught courses on Indian and South Asian culture and society at York University, is managing associate of an Ottawa-based consulting firm, and has many publications in a variety of areas including diversity, inclusivity and anti-racist education. He has held several public appointments including vice-chair and acting chief commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, has sat on many boards, and has received the Ontario Volunteer Service Award as well as a commendation from the mayor of Toronto.