Blog
Multnomah County Preschool for All Initiative: An Update
The COVID-19 pandemic has made clear the critical need for a quality preschool system. As the economic crisis deepens and closures have threatened the supply of child care and preschool providers, our families, community, and economy need Preschool for All now more than ever. SVP Partner and Preschool for All Co-Chair Mark Holloway offers an update on Multnomah County's Preschool for All initiative.
Latino Network Creatively Serves Community Through COVID-19
For so many organizations across the country, coronavirus has shifted business as usual. But “business as usual” takes on a different meaning when you’re serving the families and communities in which you belong. That was the case for SVP Portland’s (SVP) Community Partner, Latino Network, which works to positively transform the lives of Latinx youth, families, and communities.
The Remarkable Story of Adelante Mujeres’ Growth
Almost five years after our investment with Adelante Mujeres ended, we are thrilled to announce the opening of their new Early Childhood Education classrooms in Forest Grove! Their early childhood education program has more than doubled in size and the organization itself has grown significantly. Adelante is providing direct services to more than 9,000 people, serving close to 10% of the Latinx population in Washington County.
My Personal Equity Journey
We are living in a time of outrage and unrest, as George Floyd’s murder reminds us of the deep and systemic racial inequities in our country. As the white stepmother of a mixed-race child, Sarah Cohen-Doherty, Community Impact Manager, reflects on her personal equity journey and how she is responding to the current tensions of today.
Partners Provide Support for Child Care Businesses
During these challenging times, it is neighbor helping neighbor that uplifts our spirits and makes Oregon communities stronger. A group of Partners from SVP Portland, working in collaboration with early childhood advocates, has done just that, helping Oregon's struggling child care providers with the creation of the Oregon Child Care Provider Relief Guide.
How Communities Are Leading The Way With Effective Solutions
As the world collectively navigates the shock and pain of a "new normal" fueled by the uncertainty and grief of the COVID-19 pandemic, SVP Portland is looking to resilient communities here in Oregon, to lead the way into the future.
Who Will Keep the Lights On? Equity, Philanthropy & COVID-19
SVP Partner Larry Fox reflects on the need to philanthropy to address inequities, highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. "We, as leaders in philanthropy, now face an opportunity to name these disparities, and leverage our power and resources to mitigate them. We must collectively work toward a future in which the color of your skin, or zip code in which you are born, does not predict your life path."
Meet Our Newest Community Partner: Portland Children’s Museum
Through this new partnership, SVP will help Portland Children's Museum expand its capacity to become part of the solution for ensuring that all children in the Portland metro area have access to high-quality, culturally-responsive, and affordable preschool.
SVP Portland Responds to Community Needs
We are living in unprecedented times. COVID-19 is creating an evolving situation with short- and long-term ramifications for our community. Circumstances are rapidly changing and, fortunately, SVP is a highly nimble, responsive, and collaborative organization. Our proximity to leaders on the front lines serving children and families in need uniquely positions us as a trusted resource to help them navigate this crisis.
Center for Equity & Inclusion and SVP Partnership
SVP launched a unique partnership with the Center for Equity and Inclusion (CEI) in 2019, and we are excited to build upon accomplishments we’ve made over the past year, through newly established goals for continued impact in 2020.
Partner of the Month: Linda Weston
SVP Portland brings together professionals and organizations in partnership to address community challenges. Our Partners are leaders in their fields (strategy, marketing, IT, finance HR). One such Partner who brings her remarkable expertise to the Partnership is Linda Weston. We are proud to recognize Linda as April’s Partner of the Month!
The Leaders Among Us
SVP Partner Larry Fox explains why the Lead Partner role is the linchpin of success. Lead Partners are the primary contact with our Community Partners. Their job is to bring together a team of Partners to create mutually-shared goals with the Community Partner, to ensure that resource needs are communicated to SVP staff, to monitor progress, and to suggest adjustments as necessary… but the role is so much more.
SVP Portland's Executive Director Update: March 2020
On February 25, Partners gathered to learn about and discuss our 2019 impact and 2020 strategy. In case you missed it, here is a recap of the conversation. You can also read more about our 2019 impact in our Year in Review, listen to the Partnership Meeting, or see the presentation.
Where Are They Now: Children’s Book Bank
In honor of our 20th anniversary, we are taking a look back at our past investments to see where they are now. When we first partnered with The Children’s Book Bank (CBB) in 2014, they were a five-year-old organization dedicated to closing the “book gap” that exists between low-income neighborhoods and middle- and upper-income communities. From 2014 to 2017, over ten SVP Partners and four Encore Fellows engaged with CBB to build their organizational capacity.
Partner of the Month: Kelly Starkey
Over the years, SVP Portland has prided itself on bringing together changemakers and leaders with diverse skills, experiences, and networks. One Partner who has invested her unique expertise in marketing, engaged her terrific network, and served as an incredible champion is Kelly Starkey, so we are proud to recognize her as our March Partner of the Month.
2019 Year in Review
We had a historic year of impact in 2019, from scaling Latino Network’s Juntos Aprendemos early learning program state-wide and passage of the $20M Equity Fund, to publication of the Preschool for All initiative’s comprehensive plan and significantly strengthening SVP’s own capacity.Read our Year in Review for a full look at the what else our Partnership accomplished!
Partner of the Month: David Smith
SVP Portland is kicking off 2020 by honoring David Smith as Partner of the Month. David has been deeply engaged since joining our Partnership, most recently on SVP’s internal Development Team where he is helping expand our Business Partnerships.
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. Their vision for 2020 is to engage the SVP Partnership in informative, relevant, and fun learning opportunities.
Workforce Development: A Critical Piece of the Puzzle
With funding on the horizon from both the Student Success Act at the State level the Preschool for All initiative with Multnomah County, now is the time to build the Threads of Justice Collective’s capacity to meet the growing workforce development needs. ToJC’s programs are vital to building a robust, skilled early learning workforce.
Community Education Workers: A Model That Can Change the World
SVP Portland had the chance to be counted in more deeply when we partnered with CEW in 2014 to evaluate their programs and identify opportunities for capacity building and growth. CEW’s belief that it shouldn’t be acceptable that children have different access to early childhood education based on income level, skin color, or immigration or refugee status, aligned well with SVP Portland’s mission and initiatives.