The possibilities are as big as your imagination – and Upswell is where you can co-create with other changemakers to turn your innovative ideas into bold action.

Through April 19, you’re invited to submit a proposal for one of six kinds of activities happening this November at Upswell Chicago.

Why You?

Upswell is all about co-creation. We know that our best shot at building a society where everyone thrives won’t come from one person, one organization, or one place. Our best shot will come from leveraging our incredible diversity of thought, talent, and life experience.

That’s where you come in.

You’re a changemaker,  so you’ve thought about how to make the world a better place. And your ideas are coming from a different perspective, mission, and mantra than any other changemaker participating in Upswell.

In other words, whether you are brand new to changework or have spent decades in the thick of it, you have something important and unique to offer to – and gain from – your fellow changemakers.

How Does it Work?

First, review the six activities and pick the one that excites you most. They range from 10 minutes to three hours, high energy to quiet reflection, big groups to a focused few. You’ve got lots of options!

Then, think about which of the seven Upswell themes best matches your idea. Don’t worry, your idea will definitely fit into one of them.

And finally, the fun part. Either by yourself or as part of a team, you’ll put together a concise proposal that could be described with words like creative, unusual, innovative, provocative, engaging, or energetic. The changemakers at Upswell collectively represent tens of thousands of years of experience – so think more about harnessing that energy, rather than a mind-numbing presentation to a disengaged room!

Need Some Inspiration?

Last year at Upswell Los Angeles, there were 220 different events featuring 249 presenters. They explored things like:

• Critical thinking with virtual reality
• How to improve high school graduation rates
• Leading with compassion
• Incubating grassroots social entrepreneurship
• The relationship between voting and life expectancy
• How to play Bruno Mars songs on the ukulele (seriously)

And that doesn’t even scratch of the surface. You can check out the whole 2018 program here.

What Happens Now?

Grab a notepad, put on your thinking cap, maybe gather some friends and colleagues, and start brainstorming. All of the information you’ll need (including the submission form) is located here. That’s it! You’ve got this and we can’t wait to see your ideas – by the April 19 deadline!