What the heck is…?

Upswell community engagement is going to look a little different this year. Last year, we experimented with Justice Informed, to facilitate the Accelerator’s work. Justice Informed is led by Xavier Ramey, who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with changework in Chicago (we’ll share more about Xavier in an upcoming blog post!). Peach’s, a…

You settle into your swivel chair, don a virtual reality headset, push a button, and suddenly you’re far from LA. Maybe you’re feeding an elephant in Africa, breaking rocks in India, measuring the ice in Greenland, or testifying before Congress in Washington, DC. For 10 or 15 minutes, you’re not just reading about a problem…

When it comes to changework, no matter how inspired you might be, you can’t just wing it. In the history of big ideas, none have changed the world before first being tested. And one of the most exciting things about Upswell is the potential to generate a big idea when such a diverse group of…

There's a lot going on during Upswell. As evidence, before even thinking about

A short amount of time to share a big bold idea. That’s a Spark Talk. Rather than a long-winded speech, a Spark Talk is a quick, ten-minute opportunity for a fellow changemaker to take the stage in Upswell’s

/ By Debra Rainey / Our community of changemakers is chock-full of emerging leaders doing amazing work in neighborhoods across the country. So imagine how difficult it is to identify and recognize one accomplished changemaker whose work makes them a leader among outstanding next-generation leaders? Take our word for it, it’s really tough. But, each…

For changework, local context is essential. You can’t make a real difference unless you immerse yourself in a community – building relationships with the people living there, exploring the intersections of ideas and action, and experiencing firsthand the innovations, obstacles, and diversity that shape a community. And you can’t get that context from a simple…

You’ve heard that Upswell is going to be a new kind of experience. But what does that even mean?! The short answer, of course, is that you’ll have to join us in LA this November 14-16 to really understand. But that’s not a satisfying response! Don’t worry, we’re not trying to be mysterious. If there’s…

The award and its celebration event will be a high-energy part of Upswell, but more on that (and an important April 2 deadline!) in a minute. First, you might be wondering: Who the heck was John W. Gardner? Great question! John Gardner was a distinguished American statesman, academic, nonprofit leader, civil servant, author, and community…