SVP Community Newsletter – Feb 2024

Thank you to everyone who attended Social Venture Partners’ Together  for Good Celebration of Giving & Gratitude.

It was wonderful to hear from all the Investee youth-serving organizations and the SVP Partners who collaborate with them.  It was a joy to be in a community of leaders and philanthropists who really want to see young people thrive.  Old relationships were renewed and new relationships were formed- all with a central purpose
of collective giving and collective action for a collective impact.

We were also excited for you to meet all the winners of our inaugural YouthSparks Ideas Competition as part of SVP’s Youth Voice Initiative.  Young people are so inspiring and we can’t wait to see what is next for these ideas and for these young leaders.  We believe in the power of young people.  We know young people have amazing ideas.  We will continue to provide a platform for them and include youth voice in SVPs decision- making and strategic direction.  I am also excited to share more good press that is coming about the YouthSparks Ideas Competition.  Please check out the article from The Minneapolis/ St Paul Business Journal that shares the YouthSparks Competition winning ideas and the motivation and inspiration behind them.

Social Venture Partners MN has a two-part mission.  We catalyze equitable social change by expanding the impact of youth-serving organizations, and by building an effective community of engaged philanthropists.

• If you are feeling inspired to help build impact with youth-serving organizations and with young leaders and would like to make a donation you can do so here.  https://svpmn.org/donate/
• If you are interested in joining SVP as an investing Partner to help us achieve this work, including opportunities for you to get more involved with community organizations on capacity-building and impact-building projects- Please contact me and I would welcome the opportunity to tell you more  https://svpmn.org/get-involved/become-a-partner/
• If you are from a nonprofit youth-serving organization and you want to join our mailing list to hear more about SVP’s funding opportunities you can contact me for more information and keep your eye on our website for the next giving cycle https://svpmn.org/get-involved/apply-for-a-grant/
• If you want to join SVP’s newsletter list you can sign up at the bottom of any page of our website  https://svpmn.org/

It was a pleasure to see many of you at the event.  If you want to set up a meeting with me to continue to build connections, please reach out.  There was an awesome cross-section of over 100 of our stakeholders and community connections in the room.  If you were unable to attend, you were missed and please reach out and I can catch you up on the latest SVP updates.

Thank you to all of you who donated to support our work.  Thank you
to those of you who donated or bid on silent auction items.  Thank you to Big Brothers Big Sisters for the use of their amazing space.  Thank you to EquaSpace as a sponsor and to the HB Fuller Company Foundation for supporting the YouthSparks Ideas Competition.   Thank you to the young people who submitted ideas to the YouthSparks Ideas competition and the judges who helped to evaluate the applications. Thank you to the Together for Good Taskforce and SVP Board Members who helped make the event a success.

Thank you to all of you for all you
do for the community.  We look forward to continued connections and opportunities to collaborate.
In gratitude,

Deb Salls

SVP MN, Executive Director

p.s. Many of you asked about our ginger limeade mocktail that we served at the event.  You can find the recipe here. 

IMPACT ACCELERATOR COHORT 2024

We are excited to announce the 2024 Impact Accelerator Cohort.  Check out their websites for more information about the critical work they are doing to make change in our community and positively impact the lives of youth.

ANTI-RACISM RESOURCES

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Celebrate Black History Month with this daily newsletter featuring an underappreciated, untold story of an inspiring Black figure in history-  centering  queer, transgender,
disabled and marginalized individuals.

On February 29 at 6:30pm, Talk of the Stacks season begins with a special visit on Zoom from critically-acclaimed author, Ijeoma Oluo. In her 2018 New York Times bestseller, So You Want To Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo offered a vital guide grounding important discussions of race and racism in society.

Now, she returns with an inspiring illustration of hope and a restorative call for action in Be A Revolution: How Everyday People Are Fighting Oppression and Changing the World—and How You Can, Too.

Talk of the Stacks with Ijeoma Oluo is a virtual-only event. The event is free, but advanced registration is required. Register today–and enjoy from the comfort of your home later this month!

Before you attend the event? Are you interested in reading books by the event author? You can pre-order Ijeoma Oluo’s Be A
Revolution from our bookseller partner, Magers & Quinn. Your purchase includes a signed bookplate while supplies last!

Reimagining Police: The Future of Public Safety

is a MN Book Award Finalist

Dr. Tyner is deeply honored to announce that her latest book, “Reimagining Police: The Future of Public Safety,” published by Lerner Publishing Group, has been selected as a finalist for the MN Book Awards. She extends her sincere congratulations to all the talented
finalists who contribute to the diverse and impactful literary landscape. This acknowledgment underscores our collective commitment to fostering meaningful conversations and influencing discussions on crucial societal issues. Dr. Tyner is grateful for the support of readers, and looks forward to further engaging in thoughtful dialogue about the future of public safety.

The winners of the 2024 Minnesota Book Awards will be announced Tuesday, May 7 in a live Ceremony at the Ordway.

Large-scale protests, marches, and demonstrations in cities all over the globe have followed high-profile fatal encounters involving law enforcement and people of color.
In Reimagining Police, Dr. Artika R. Tyner explores this troubled past and present, as well as the underlying problems of a flawed criminal justice system and unjust social structures. By examining various alternative policing models—and addressing systemic societal issues such as breaking the poverty cycle, instituting restorative justice, and investing in education and community resources—Tyner debunks the misconception that calls for change are anti-police, while offering hope for a more harmonious future between law enforcement and the people it swears to protect and serve. Tyner encourages readers to get involved in this difficult conversation and to feel empowered to lead social change that helps build safe and strong communities

SVP catalyzes equitable social change by expanding the impact of youth-serving organizations, and building an effective community of engaged philanthropists. Together we’re building better futures!