We recently connected with Valerio Zanoli and have shared our conversation below.
Valerio, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One of the most important things small businesses can do, in our view, is to serve underserved communities that are ignored by giant corporations who often are just creating mass-market, one-size-fits-all solutions. Talk to us about how you serve an underserved community.
“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” This well-known quote by the Dalai Lama beautifully emphasizes the idea that even seemingly insignificant individuals can have a substantial impact, much like how a tiny mosquito can disrupt one’s sleep. It encourages us to recognize the potential of our actions, no matter how small they may seem.
My name is Valerio Zanoli, and I am a social entrepreneur driven by a fervent desire to create positive change in the world. I’m thrilled to share my journey with you and shed light on the projects that have become my passion and purpose. I agreed to this interview not to promote myself or my business, but to inspire others to change their perspective and follow my example so that, together, we can have an impact and make a difference.
In 2007, I started producing and directing movies with the goal of raising awareness and funds for important social issues. My latest film is the documentary HOMELESS, which follows the stories of five people living on the street and features interviews with prominent housing advocates. The movie will premiere in 2024 and is the result of my ongoing commitment to providing affordable housing. Since 2014, I’ve given a place to call home to over 700 low-income individuals, mostly veterans and senior citizens.
With over half a million people living on the street on any given night, homelessness in the United States remains a pressing issue in urgent need for comprehensive solutions. For the documentary, I had the pleasure of interviewing National Coalition for the Homeless’ Donald Whitehead Jr., whose message is clear and needs to resonate in each of us: We are witnessing a severe humanitarian crisis, and we need to act promptly and decisively.
Another interviewee with a similar message is Kevin Schiller, County Manager of Clark County, Nevada, where I reside and provide housing to the underserved. Our state faces the most severe affordable housing shortage in the United States, with a deficit of 84,000 units for its low-income and homeless populations. To make things worse, the 2023 Southern Nevada Homeless Census indicates that the number of individuals actively sleeping on streets, in cars or in encampments in Clark County (home to the famed Las Vegas Strip and its casinos) rose by 43% from 2022 to 2023.
Luckily, Schiller and all the committed staff at Clark County Social Service constantly seek to offer the homeless and low-income populations the level of decency they deserve. As the county’s chief officer explains in the documentary, it’s essential that “they wake up in their own bed, they have four walls, and they are able to call a home a ‘home.’ There is still a long road ahead of us, and we need to walk it together.” Clark County has already served thousands of people who have experienced homelessness and, through partnerships with businesses like mine, continues to foster innovative solutions to best serve the underprivileged.
Homelessness is not only a personal struggle, but also a societal issue that magnifies the gaps in our safety nets and the inequalities that persist. The fight to end this ever more urgent issue is an imperative mission that transcends mere shelter, as it is about restoring dignity, humanity, and hope to individuals who find themselves without a place to call home. Every human deserves a fair shot at a dignified life, and each of us can be part of the solution.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Social entrepreneurship is a profit-oriented business approach that intends to generate positive outcomes for social issues. It involves individuals and companies crafting and financing solutions that directly confront important challenges that affect local communities, broader society, or the global arena. Social entrepreneurs like me set out on business ventures with the objective of catalyzing meaningful social transformations. We work for the greater social good, and not just for the pursuit of profits.
My foray into the realm of social entrepreneurship was fueled by a convergence of experiences, values, and the steadfast belief we should live a purposeful life. While attending the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, I witnessed the profound impact of cinema on societal perceptions and narratives. During those years, my mother became afflicted by cancer, and eventually passed away. She was a social worker, and, through her actions, she taught me that giving is better than receiving. Soon, I realized that filmmaking could – and should – be used to have a positive influence.
I created Let’s Make a Difference (www.letsmakeadifference.info) as a transformative project that harnesses the influential medium of cinema to shed light on critical social issues. Through thought-provoking films and documentaries, I’ve been striving to raise awareness, stimulate conversations, ignite empathy, and drive tangible change. Over the years, I have directed and produced movies about childhood cancer, bullying, eating disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, and homelessness.
During the last 10 years, my journey extended to the field of real estate. My father used to design buildings and, when I was a child, he showed me the importance of building a “home” rather than just a house. To follow in his footsteps, I gave life to Helping Vegas (www.helping.vegas) with the intention to welcome home those who cannot be housed anywhere else because of their income, bad credit, or previous evictions.
My team and I provide sustainable housing solutions, effectively tackling the multi-faceted issue of homelessness, by collaborating with stakeholders and advancing community integration. What sets us apart from others is our unwavering belief in the potential of collaborative efforts. We are proud to work alongside diverse allies – activists, charities, and community members – to amplify the impact of our initiatives. By fostering partnerships across sectors, we further a holistic approach that has a far-reaching ripple effect.
The best reward I can receive is witnessing the tangible difference I make in the lives of those I reach. From the profound impact of my cinematic projects on shaping perspectives to the heartening stories of individuals finding stability through my housing units, each success reaffirms the power of collective action.
My journey goes beyond individual achievements and, instead, attempts to inspire a movement. I invite everybody to join me in creating lasting change. Through my work, I aspire to leave a legacy of compassion, innovation, and empowerment. I believe that, together, we can turn challenges into opportunities and forge a brighter, more inclusive future for all.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
In 2013, I moved from Los Angeles to Las Vegas because the Southern Nevada real estate market had been particularly affected by the economic crisis and was offering lucrative deals. Driven by the prospect of easy money, I quickly learned how to buy, rehab, and sell properties for profit. I was determined to reinvest all the funds to acquire more units and expand my company’s portfolio. I was professionally satisfied, but I wasn’t truly happy – and I knew something was missing.
Until, one day, I received an unexpected phone call that made me pivot from my original plan. It was from a local charity’s case manager, who was begging me to rent an apartment to one of her clients because nobody else wanted to house a homeless person. Those words not only shocked me, but also profoundly shook me, as they forced me to question myself and make a choice about the kind of person I aspired to be. What were my values and priorities? What did I want from life? What would make me feel fulfilled?
That phone call led me to hold on to the real estate properties I was renovating so I could use them to help the underserved by housing low-income and homeless families. Since then, I’ve never turned down any of the over 700 people from charities such as The Salvation Army, Southern Nevada CHIPs, and U.S. Vets. My life has changed forever, as is now enriched by a priceless sense of purpose and satisfaction. Every time I welcome somebody home, I feel I have meaning. I feel inspired. I feel whole.
For the past decade, I have merged business strategies with social impact. I have progressively found myself less interested in defining my successes through high profit margins. Instead, I am guided by how my operations benefit society and especially my community. I am a social entrepreneur, willing to take on the risk and effort to create positive changes through my initiatives. I am testament that purpose-driven enterprises can offer solutions and have a wide-scale social impact.
This philanthropic movement owes its popularity to Bill Drayton, a U.S. businessman who explained its concept in the following terms: “Social entrepreneurship aims to revolutionize the fish industry, not just give fish or teach how to fish.” Drayton is the founder of Ashoka, an organization dedicated to supporting and connecting social entrepreneurs around the globe. His vision is rooted in the belief that individuals armed with innovative ideas can transform systems and create positive social change. His influence has paved the way for a new paradigm, where profit and purpose can coalesce in unprecedented ways.
Muhammad Yunus is another visionary, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for founding the Grameen Bank and pioneering the concepts of microcredit and microfinance. Traditional banks are reluctant to lend money to anyone unable to give some form of security. Grameen Bank, on the other hand, works on the assumption that, given suitable conditions, even the poorest can manage their financial affairs and develop. Thanks to Yunus, millions of borrowers have been granted small long-term loans on easy terms. The average amount borrowed is 100 dollars; the repayment percentage is very high; over 95% of the loans go to women or groups of women.
These innovators laid the foundation for today’s thriving field of social entrepreneurship, inspiring renowned figures such as Blake Mycoskie of TOMS, Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, and Jacqueline Novogratz of Acumen, who continue to drive positive change through their business endeavors. I believe that each of us can have a positive impact on society, and I encourage everyone to be brave and promote social entrepreneurship. As Nelson Mandela famously said, “We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in our hands to make a difference.”
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Since 2016, I’ve utilized 2 rooming houses in downtown Las Vegas to provide stable accommodation to approximately 20 low-income individuals and families every night (www.roominghouses.info). The residents were mainly veterans and people with disabilities, who could enjoy the privacy of their bedrooms while keeping the cost of rent down by sharing common areas, bathrooms, and kitchens. They had bonded with each other, formed a small community, and even became family to me. Until, one day, the City of Las Vegas vacated the premises and displaced everyone living there. It was during that time that my father passed away and I found myself helpless, facing what appeared to be insurmountable obstacles.
One step at a time, I managed to find the strength and resources to stand up for myself and all those individuals who were counting on me. I faced hardships and adversities, but I never gave up. I found courage. I mastered my emotions. I learned that it is in our lowest moments that we grow, change, and blossom. As explained by Mayo Clinic, resilience is vital to the success not only of every entrepreneur, but also of every human being. It empowers us to accept, adapt and move forward in difficult situations, and is the core strength that makes bearing the load of life possible.
Since they were vacated, the 2 buildings underwent major renovations, and now have new electrical wiring and panels, AC and heating units, plumbing and sewer systems, floors, windows, doors, bathrooms, kitchens, stairs, drywall, stucco, paint, etc. Thanks to Kevin Schiller (County Manager of Clark County) and Teresa Etcheberry and Randy Reinoso (Deputy Directors of Clark County Social Service), they will soon be used to house some of the neediest people of Southern Nevada.
All of this wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the companies and organizations that believed in my vision, including The Home Depot Foundation (www.homedepotfoundation.org), Renewal by Andersen (www.renewalbyandersen.com), and Harvison House (www.harvisonhouse.org). While I was undertaking the renovations of the rooming houses, I also worked on the documentary HOMELESS and met some wonderful people who inspired me and showed me how to be resilient. Donald Whitehead Jr. and Catrina Grigsby-Thedford are the executive directors of National Coalition for the Homeless (www.nationalhomeless.org) and Nevada Homeless Alliance (www.nevadahomelessalliance.org), respectively. They both experienced the asperities of living on the street, but turned their lives around and created a positive impact on society.
I’d like to express heartfelt gratitude to Lions Clubs International (www.lionsclubs.org) and its local chapter Las Vegas Host Lions Club, of which I’m a proud member. Moved to action by the motto “We Serve,” the Lions are the world’s largest service club organization with more than 1.4 million members in approximately 48,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the globe. At the beginning of every meeting, all Lions make a toast: “Not above you. Not below you. But with you.” We are all in this together, and, together, we can make a difference. From the bottom of my heart, I am thankful to charities such as Southern Nevada CHIPs, U.S. Vets, and The Salvation Army. Their case managers and social workers not only share my values, but also remind me of my purpose and help me improve myself.
As we work to end homelessness, we redefine the way we care for each other. We demonstrate our commitment to inclusivity, empathy, and solidarity. We shape a world in which all members of society can thrive, regardless of their circumstances. We need to remember and embrace the message from National Coalition for the Homeless: “We fight for the homeless because our nation can’t build a strong house without investing in the human foundation. We believe that homelessness is unacceptable for any citizen of the United States of America. We fight for those who are homeless because others can’t, won’t or don’t.”
Contact Info:
- Website: www.valeriozanoli.com
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/valeriozanoli