The Village Community Foundation creates and shares opportunity through our vibrant hub, The Village—a place where people with barriers to success can discover and unlock their potential.
Our Opportunity Hub helps restore the American Dream in our community. We uplift people with programs, resources, inspiration, and events. This is made uniquely possible through our expertise and networks in the worlds of media, the arts, and entrepreneurship. We believe that Opportunity Hubs are our best hope to move forward together and create opportunity for all. By fostering creators, artists, and makers we have the best chance to build an economy and community for everyone.
INITIAL PROGRAMS
CAREER DISCOVERY
Discover and explore your passions through community and connection
Career Discovery introduces students to career opportunities in media and entertainment, finance, venture capital, arts, food, professional services, and the public sector. Supported by The Village, Wheelhouse, and a network of partners, the program helps students identify and pursue their passions and interests in the most prominent industries and employers in the region. By building soft skills, a professional network, and gaining real-world experience, program participants are better prepared for more rewarding and enriching experiences as they enter the workforce. The program features executive fireside sessions and industry-specific breakout sessions where students can chat with associate talent and learn about their specific post-secondary or early-career experiences, or “How I Got In.”
CURATED SPACES
Empowering artists and creators, building our creative community and economy
Curated Spaces, a program of The Village Community Foundation (TVCF), is dedicated to supporting local, emerging, and diverse artists and creators. The program provides participants with gallery space, acceleration services, guaranteed income, and the opportunity to develop their business and professional network. Through the leasing-model program, TVCF identifies local artists and works with buildings and lobbies to create a network of sponsored spaces and galleries to showcase the artists’ work. Art is often free to enjoy. But it is not free to make. And it is certainly not free for artists to live and thrive. This philosophical north star guides our economic model; we believe artists must be paid fairly for their work and time. Participating artists are compensated in full upon installation. And 80% of all program leasing and sales funding goes directly to the artists.
KITCHEN INCUBATOR
Empowering food entrepreneurs to succeed with no-cost incubation services, expert mentorship, and integrated sales and marketing channels
The Incubator Program at The Village is a nonprofit program that supports local, diverse entrepreneurs and startups in the food and beverage industry. The program provides participants with the tools, resources, and support they need to build their company, including commercial kitchen space,networking opportunities, and integrated sales and marketing channels. The program also connects participants with elite mentors, providing one-on-one.
THE VILLAGE
Located in Stamford’s South End, The Village is a new indoor/outdoor premium waterfront campus designed to serve the needs of entrepreneurs and creators in realms like art, entertainment, tech, music, health, fitness, food, finance, the digital/influencer worlds and more. Touting 133,000 square feet with nearly 1,000 feet of walkable marina, The Village fuses modern office space and unique private event venues with world-class food and beverage offerings. The large-scale, work/play environment also encompasses one of Connecticut’s first LEED v4 certifications, making it an outstandingly energy-efficient commercial building.
BRENT & COURTNEY MONTGOMERY
Brent and Courtney Montgomery are the media power couple and entrepreneurs behind The Village. Their vision for the campus, and via The Village Community Foundation, is to bridge the connection between community, impact and philanthropy. Deeply committed and actively involved in driving The Village’s mission forward, The Montgomerys are doers, personally cultivating meaningful relationships with local nonprofits, organizations and individuals who share their passion for change. Giving back is at the essence of The Village and at the heart of their respective companies.
Anchoring The Village is Brent Montgomery’s Wheelhouse, launched in 2018 in partnership with Jimmy Kimmel. Wheelhouse encompasses content and production enterprise Wheelhouse Entertainment; brand marketing and creative innovation division Wheelhouse Labs; digital-first and influencer division Wheelhouse DNA; and investment arm Wheelhouse Partners. Courtney’s Wheelhouse Properties is a growing real estate operation that includes “The Wheelhouses,” invitation-only clubs in New York and Los Angeles, as well as The Village.
MEET OUR PRESIDENT
Jon Winkel joined The Village Community Foundation in February of 2023 to spearhead its launch. After over a decade in private sector business development roles he founded Stamford Innovation Week and led its rise to become the largest innovation festival in New England. Previously, Jon was Chairman of Stamford’s Economic Development Commission, served on the Governor’s Commission on Connecticut’s Future, and on the Urban Redevelopment Commission. Prior to joining The Village, he spent 3.5 years as CEO of a regional economic and community development organization.