Partner Highlight: Jodi Hummer
Jodi Hummer has a knack for adapting to new environments and cultures. She was born in Pittsburgh, PA and, because her father's job with Westinghouse was like a military job, she went to five schools around Western PA before graduating high school. She attended two colleges, finishing at NC State, and then spent the next 30 years in three parts of the Carolinas. Jodi and her husband, Chris, love to explore Portland’s vast food and wine scene. When they moved to Portland in late 2019, they went to 60 restaurants in the first 90 days they were here!
Jodi was a Partner at SVP Charlotte from 2015 to 2019 before moving to Portland. As a life and career-transition coach and consultant, she brings valuable insights in coaching and leadership development to the SVP Portland partnership.
Q: What was compelling about SVP, and why did you join?
A: I was attracted to SVP for the unique opportunity to collaborate with generous, kind people who can collectively make a big impact in their community by investing time and money, instead of just writing a check. I love being part of the SVP community and getting to interact directly with Community Partners. It is a different way of volunteering, and it's a unique way of giving. We truly feel we are building valuable relationships and it is great to know that we’re helping organizations add to the tools they need to be successful.
Q: Are there ways that SVP has influenced you?
A: I knew I would learn more about the needs of our community at a deeper level with SVP Portland, but I've also been personally changed through my involvement. My participation on the Equity Team has greatly shifted my perspective around my white privilege and truly opened my eyes to some of the benefits I have experienced in my life that others may not. This has influenced my thinking and allowed me to see the world quite differently, affected how I engage with the community, and motivated me to help advance SVP’s work toward greater equity.
Q: What was the difference between your experience at SVP Charlotte and SVP Portland?
A: I've been fortunate to experience two different models of SVP and see the wide variety of ways I could get involved, use my greatest strengths, and contribute. SVP Charlotte is not focused on a single issue, so it was easier to recruit Partners as there was a wider variety of nonprofits to engage with that might more directly align with their personal interests. However, everything we did in Charlotte seemed to have less of a measurable impact because we didn’t have a specific focus. At SVP Portland, new Partners can create a personal connection with our goal to ensure that all children have access to high-quality, culturally-relevant early learning experiences. Partners see that their collective efforts help pave the way for dramatic impact toward a shared equity goal.
Q: What have been your engagements with SVP, and what expertise do you bring?
A: My work with SVP has ranged from supporting Community Partners and their staff to coaching nonprofit executives. As a professional coach, I've most recently been able to offer internal training to SVP Partners through a Coaching Skills training and a continuing Coaching Community of Practice that allows their work to be even more impactful with our Community Partners. I love being able to volunteer in a way that has ripple effects into multiple organizations and allows me to use my strongest skill set.