Partners of the Month: Julie Gray and Vân Truong

November is here and we are recognizing two of our stellar Partners this month: Julie Gray and Vân Truong. Julie and Vân teamed up this summer to plan and implement our Partner learning opportunities for 2020. Additionally, they both are engaged with Community Partners—Julie with Latino Network and Vân with the Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization (IRCO). Their vision for 2020 is to engage the SVP Partnership in informative, relevant, and fun learning opportunities. The goal is to help Partners become more effective philanthropists and change-makers, and work toward more equitable outcomes in our community.

Julie recently retired from a twenty-year career in higher education. She is a residential property investor, landlord, and mother and stepmom to thriving boys. She lives in Hillsboro with her partner where they are involved in the community and obsessed with Pickleball.Vân has more than twenty years in educational leadership. She has depth and breadth of insight in education, from personal experiences as well as professional credentials. She recently retired as Interim Assistant Superintendent of the largest school district in Oregon and continues her equity work to close the opportunity gap through serving as a Director on the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO) and Scholastic Equity boards of directors. Vân enjoys her time with four wonderful children and four grandsons.We are excited to experience their vision for learning and engagement opportunities come to life!Julie and Vân care deeply what Partners want SVP Portland to provide in our learning workshops, so keep an eye out for an email request for input.

An Interview With Julie and Vân:

Why did you join SVP?

Julie: To collaborate with Partners and Fellows in heart-centered ventures with a focus on equity and inclusion.Vân: To continue my work in closing the racial opportunity gap in education. I chose to invest as a Partner because I believe in SVP Portland’s commitments to advance racial equity, diversity, and inclusion.

How does SVP’s capacity building model help solve community problems?

What one can do well, many can do exceptionally. Partners and Fellows have rich professional backgrounds and SVP provides a supportive and collaborative platform for each to be heard, recognized, and valued, which creates a fertile landscape to aide community nonprofits in adapting and thriving in a fast-changing world.

What has been most rewarding thus far and why?

The relationships and engagement with staff, Partners, and Fellows amazes us daily. Partnering with each other and Rose, SVP’s Director of Community Impact, to develop the learning workshops has been enjoyable and enlightening, and we look forward to continuing our work in meaningful ways.