WHO WE ARE
We are people for whom improving our community is part of our life’s journey – whether we work in the nonprofit or corporate world.
We are volunteers, parents, community leaders, philanthropists, entrepreneurs – a global network of local partners connecting passion and purpose. We see the chasm between the challenges we face today as a society, and the scale at which we are engaging those challenges.
WHO WE ARE
We are people for whom improving our community is part of our life’s journey – whether we work in the nonprofit or corporate world.
We are volunteers, parents, community leaders, philanthropists, entrepreneurs – a global network of local partners connecting passion and purpose. We see the chasm between the challenges we face today as a society, and the scale at which we are engaging those challenges.
MEET OUR BOARD
Jamilah serves as the Executive Director of FaithActs for Education and also served as the Vice Chair of SVP’s Board and a member of the Executive Committee.
Jamilah is a native of New Haven, Connecticut and graduate of Yale University. After graduation, Jamilah worked at Hartford Youth Scholars Foundation as the Placement Manager, where she placed inner-city middle school students into independent secondary schools around the country. Recognizing larger systemic issues facing Connecticut's education system, Jamilah embarked on a journey to increase the participation of community leaders, parents, and people of color in Connecticut’s education reform movement as the Director of Community Engagement at ConnCAN, a state-level advocacy organization.
During her time at ConnCAN, Jamilah began a robust Clergy organizing initiative that garnered major wins for Connecticut's education reform movement and went on to found FaithActs for Education. FaithActs is a faith-based education advocacy organization in Bridgeport, Hartford and New Haven, that builds relationships, leaders and power through community organizing and civic engagement. FaithActs is 80 churches, 500 members, 6500 committed voters, and 11,000 congregants strong
JAMILAH PRINCE-STEWART
CHAIR
MEET OUR STAFF
Mark Argosh has been an SVP Partner since 2014 and has served as Executive Director since December 2016. Since 2016, SVP has tripled in size to almost 200 members, while its nonprofit and government consulting portfolio has grown from two to 18 organizations. As Executive Director, Mark oversees the daily management of SVP to engage Partners, recruit new Partners, and maximize the impact of SVP’s work to close the opportunity gap. In addition, he serves as the Chair of the Governor’s Workforce Council and serves as an advisor to many of SVP’s projects with nonprofit organizations and initiatives.
Prior to his role with SVP, Mark worked for more than thirty years as a boardroom consultant and operating executive in the financial sector. He began his career in the nonprofit sector as a community organizer and executive director of two grassroots community organizations focused on community revitalization and economic development in low and moderate-income communities in the Midwest. Mark did his undergraduate work at Brown University and received his MBA from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.
MARK ARGOSH
Executive Director
OUR PARTNERS
We call our member donors “Partners” because they’re so much more than individuals who write checks. SVP Partners are engaged in their giving, and get involved beyond the checkbook.
SVP Connecticut started with 9 founding Partners and we’ve been growing ever since. Our Partners, current and retired professionals, are drawn from varied industries and sectors including banking and finance, energy, nonprofit, tech, and management consulting.
We are truly fortunate to have so many generous individuals living in our area who are committed to being a catalyst for closing the opportunity gap in our state. Some of our Partners are extensively experienced in philanthropy while others are just starting out and eager to learn from others in the group.
Every story is different, but each is fueled by a series of connections. That’s the beauty of the SVP network. You never know who will take your impact to the next level.
