This post is one in a three-part introduction to the Upswell experience. Other installments focus on the program and design. We like to say that Upswell is a community rather than a conference, but what does that mean, exactly? It’s hard to explain a “sense of community,” and harder still to build it into a three-day gathering.…
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/ By Tamieka Briscoe / Jessica Stern never identified as a “foster child” growing up—but at age ten, one week after her mother passed away of cancer, Stern and her seven siblings began living with foster families. According to Stern, while her family had “a whole lot of love,” they struggled in poverty, so much…
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/ By Jackie Brennan / During Upswell LA, and in the weeks since, we were glad to hear from more than a few people that the three-day gathering in Downtown LA didn’t look or feel exactly like a traditional conference. That was intentional—and we made a very deliberate effort to not bill it as a…
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The wave has crested! For the final episode of the season, we take you to Los Angeles to experience Upswell 2018 – and there’s a twist! We were lucky enough to have three student artists from DC-based AOK (All Our Kids) in LA to document Upswell. So, on this episode, we start with a conversation…
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In early November, Amira Resnick told us that while the allure of being a changemaker energizes and invigorates her, she worries that “we don’t spend enough time evaluating whether the changes we make are the best or most needed. Or even good at all.” Amira, who works at the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, has…
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/ By Debra Rainey / Earlier this year we introduced you to Vera deVera and Carola Secada — two amazing community organizers with strong cross-sector experience and deep ties to the many neighborhoods that make up Los Angeles. Vera and Carola worked with us to ensure that Upswell’s “LA Inside & Out” tours and community…
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/ By Tamieka Briscoe / One of the best and most memorable aspects of Upswell LA was undoubtedly the infusion of youth throughout the entire experience. During the grand finale of the three-day event, 200 youth ranging from kindergarten to 8th grade from the Turnaround Arts: California partner school Ellen Ochoa Learning Center accompanied Grammy-winning…
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Becoming reenergized about her work and her contributions to her community: That’s what Amanda D. Scott was most looking forward to about Upswell. After joining us in Los Angeles, we wanted to know whether Amanda was reinvigorated by the Upswell wave. Q: Was Upswell different from other events you’ve attended in the past, and if…
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Tammira Lucas, co-founder of Moms As Entrepreneurs, stressed the importance of relationship building when we first met her in October. She hoped to walk away from Upswell with new relationships that would help her grow her program on a national level. We touched base with Tammira about Upswell LA and whether the experience helped her…
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/ by Christian Clansky / There’s a wonderful quote about music that’s attributed to Billy Joel. It’s one of those quotes that appears on a suspicious number of tacky memes and sends you on a wild goose chase through a maze of “best sayings” websites if you try to seek out the original source. But…
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