Upswell Pop-Up

The election may be over, but uncertainty, fear, and political unrest in our country continues. Contention over the results, divisions over politics and policy, fears about the pandemic, ongoing racial unrest, nervousness about national and personal economic concerns – the nerves of our nation are raw, leaving changemakers to wonder, “How can we navigate this…

/ By Debra Rainey /  We’ve collectively endured the trauma of the past six months, being consistently reminded about how lack of trust, empathy, leadership, and preparedness continue to be fatal flaws in our systems. Upswell Pop-Up #6 gave us the opportunity to step back, take a breath, and consider all we’ve been through, how…

/ By Debra Rainey /  Harsh realities experienced during childhood can sometimes sharpen the focus and dogged commitment for one’s life’s work as an adult. That is the case for Tawakkol Karman, who grew up in Yemen during a time of great of great tumult and unrest, and went on to become a fierce advocate…

Who among us could have foreseen at the start of 2020 where we’d be today – contending with a worldwide health emergency that threatens us all, limiting where we can go, what we can do, who we see – and with no end in sight? We’ve also been forced to fully see and acknowledge the…

Dr. Shirin Ebadi was an accomplished attorney, and one of Iran’s first female judges. She also served as president of the city court of Tehran from 1975 to 1979 and was the first Iranian woman to achieve Chief Justice status. But that all changed when she and other women judges were dismissed from that position…

Trust is a fragile thing. Hard to gain, and harder still to gain back if it is lost. We know from our recent survey on trust in civil society that there is broad trust in the ability of nonprofits to strengthen society – trust we want to hold onto and strengthen even more. Pop-Up #4…

Have you ever met someone who personally ended a civil war? If the answer is no – and our hunch is that it might be – July 14 is your big chance to do so. For Upswell Pop-Up #4, we’re proud and excited to host a dynamic conversation with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Leymah Gbowee…

Simply acknowledging that inequity exists isn’t enough. We are duty-bound to leverage every ounce of our energy, empathy, intelligence, and power as individuals and as a sector to be a force that helps drives the change that is needed to create a more just and equitable America. Upswell Pop-Up #3 explored the critical factors that…

Creating transformative change often requires doing something different. You’ve gotta take different approaches; be open to different ideas from new people; collaborate with different people who share your dream; and after thoughtful consideration, forge ahead with dogged resolve to make a difference. And sometimes, with determination, grit, and a little luck, you do. That was…

Ever find yourself thinking, “I can’t really make a difference. What can one person do?” How about secure a ban on landmines? Promote human rights, particularly the rights of women, children, and political prisoners in Iran? Lead a women’s peace movement that brought an end to the Second Liberian Civil War? Shine a glaring spotlight…