June eNews | Welcoming New Community Partners, Partner Survey Results, Upcoming Events

In our Equity in Education Grant Round, we had a "Chat with Youth" and other changemakers and leaders to learn more about what equity in education means, sourced organizations to consider based on community nominations, and engaged current Community Partners / Grantees in our organization shortlisting process. We selected these two deeply successful and growing organizations to each receive $125,000 in multi-year unrestricted funding, beyond-the-dollars support as helpful, and friendship!

Community. By itself, it is already a powerful word. On Sunday, May 22, as the newest member of the SV2 team, I got to witness it first-hand. SV2 welcomed summer with its first big in-person social gathering since the pandemic, marking an exciting time for SV2’s collective leadership. There were many reasons to celebrate—from the launch of SV2’s new strategic plan focused on equity and power-sharing to the progress of grant recipients from years before. Following the warm words of welcome by hosts Rose Bloomin and SV2 CEO David Onek, SV2 Board Member Kwok Lau, Linda Prieto of Upward Scholars, and Diana Phuong of Braven shared the impact SV2 has had on their organizations and people.

SV2 Partners are invited to come along on an immersive learning journey through the U.S. South this fall. Our country has never felt more divided and the challenges are so overwhelming and many that sometimes it's hard to know how to make sense of it all. One place to start is by getting to a truer telling of our American history and digging deeper into competing narratives to better understand our current realities, especially around race. The trip will start in New Orleans on October 19 and end in Montgomery on October 26th. This trip is limited to SV2 Partners and family members and the deadline to register is July 1st. Register below or feel free to email desaiparu526@gmail.com if you have questions.

MON. JUNE. 13 | 12:00PM - 12:30PM

SV2 Meditation Mondays

Join us every Monday at noon on Zoom for a 10-15 minute gently guided meditation and an optional chat afterwards, ending at 12:30. All are welcome, as are all levels of practice. Whether you are a curious beginner, long time meditator or somewhere in between, this is a way to gather in community and share the practice of mindful living.

Please feel free to invite colleagues, friends, family — anyone who might benefit from taking a few moments on a Monday to support their well-being.

The meditations are guided by David Onek and Paru Desai. David is the former Program Director at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, a current participant in Spirit Rock’s two-year Dedicated Practitioners Program, and a certified Change & Transition Strategist with Phillip Moffitt’s Life Balance Institute. Paru recently completed a two year mindfulness meditation teacher training program under the guidance of globally renowned teachers Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach and is currently pursuing additional courses in trauma sensitive mindfulness.

TUES. JUN. 14 | 12:00PM - 1:30PM

Investing in Climate Solutions | Wrapup Session
Partner-Led Event

Join us as we wrap up our five-part series on Investing in Climate Solutions. All are welcome, and attendance at the prior sessions - which covered Public Investments, Real Assets, Venture Capital and Defensive Strategies - is not required. We will provide a high-level overview of each of these sessions and expand the conversation to discuss recent market and economic uncertainties and how they may impact climate change investment strategies. The session will be led by a team at Align impact including Eric Stephenson, Director, and Fabian Willskytt, Associate Director, Public Markets. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions on any climate change investing topic - no question is ever too basic.

WED. JUN. 15 | 11:30AM - 1:30PM

Impact Investing Working Group

The SV2 Impact Investing Working Group discusses prospective impact investment opportunities, hears pitches from social entrepreneurs, and performs due diligence in order to make informed investment recommendations on behalf of SV2. The Working Group is comprised of Partners who are committed to actively participating in all aspects of impact investing, including the due diligence process. All Partners are welcome to begin regularly attending IIWG meetings at any point in the year or are welcome to audit meetings on a drop-in basis.

FRI. JUL. 1

Deadline to Register for U.S. South Trip
Partner-Led Event

SV2 Partners are invited to come along on an immersive learning journey through the U.S. South this fall. Our country has never felt more divided and the challenges are so overwhelming and many that sometimes it's hard to know how to make sense of it all. One place to start is by getting to a truer telling of our American history and digging deeper into competing narratives to better understand our current realities, especially around race. The trip will start in New Orleans on October 19 and end in Montgomery on October 26th. This trip is limited to SV2 Partners and family members and the deadline to register is July 1st. Register below or feel free to email desaiparu526@gmail.com if you have questions.

Celebrations, Opportunities, Events

With some of our current Community Partners / Grantees

Redwood City PAL

The 2022 PAL Music Festival is making its big return to the main stage in Downtown Redwood City Square! Headlining the main stage on June 18th, 2022 will be the amazing Faithfully Live, The Journey Tribute Sensation! This event that supports PAL’s educational and recreational summer programs for the children in our community. | Saturday, June 18, 4-8pm | More Info. and Donate here.

Shop the ICA Marketplace! | By shopping with us, you’re helping the Bay Area small business ecosystem thrive.

With more friends and allies...

Silicon Valley Community Foundation | Movement and Power-building Giving Guide

This giving guide is intended to encourage donors to give, especially in this election year. The organizations are all serving San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties.

Stanford Social Innovation Review presents Nonprofit Management Institute 2022, “Bridging the Divide."

This year’s convening will seek to empower and inspire leaders of social change to bridge real or perceived divides of all types, whether it is within your organization, your community, or society at large. | September 13-15, 2022

National Center for Family Philanthropy

The annual conference is being held in San Francisco this year. The convening is built specifically for family philanthropy practitioners and is a wonderful opportunity to connect with peers. | October 19-21, 2022 | Early Bird rates until June 15!

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