Meet Abby Westbrook, Social Venture Partners Cleveland’s new executive director

How my career path prepared me for this role: I was born and raised in Cleveland, but my career began in San Francisco at the Homeless Advocacy Project, a nonprofit working to secure housing and public benefits for homeless individuals and families. In that role, I saw firsthand how our public policies and systems are not working for everyone. This realization led me to pursue my graduate degree in public policy at New York University. While in NYC, I had the opportunity to work for The Atlantic Philanthropies, a limited-life foundation founded by Chuck Feeney. At its closing this year, Atlantic invested over $8 billion over 35 years to support opportunity, equity and dignity in eight countries throughout the world. My new role at SVP Cleveland is a perfect culmination of these experiences and an exciting leadership opportunity for me in my hometown. 

Three goals for the next 12 months: In my first 12 months, I hope to expand our partnerships and visibility in Cleveland; leverage and learn from the SVP International network; and deepen SVP Cleveland's commitment to equity through individual and collective education, reflection and most importantly – action!

What I’m reading: Between the pandemic and young children, I don’t have as much time for reading these days as I would like. But I am slowly making my way through "On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous" by Ocean Vuong.