A COMMUNITY
NOT A CONFERENCE

Upswell Chicago, Nov. 13-15, 2019

Upswell Chicago

November 13-15, 2019
Chicago, Illinois

This fall, you’re invited to the Windy City for a three-day experience that will push the limits of what’s possible when we work together.

Upswell Chicago will be a high-energy forum for turning ideas into action. It’s where you can forge new partnerships, address big challenges, exchange lessons learned, and explore best practices for advancing your mission.

Rousing Main Stage speakers, immersive exploration at dozens of local venues, hundreds of events, thousands of diverse changemakers from across the country – it all adds up to immeasurable energy and boundless potential.

Chicago is the place for changemakers to be in November. We hope you’ll join us.

Upswell Chicago

November 13-15, 2019
Chicago, Illinois

This fall, you’re invited to the Windy City for a three-day experience that will push the limits of what’s possible when we work together.

Upswell Chicago will be a high-energy forum for turning ideas into action. It’s where you can forge new partnerships, address big challenges, exchange lessons learned, and explore best practices for advancing your mission.

Rousing Main Stage speakers, immersive exploration at dozens of local venues, hundreds of events, thousands of diverse changemakers from across the country – it all adds up to immeasurable energy and boundless potential.

Chicago is the place for changemakers to be in November. We hope you’ll join us.

Richard Brown

American Express

Dan Cardinali

Independent Sector

Mick Ebeling

Not Impossible Labs

Theaster Gates

Rebuild Foundation

Tonika Lewis Johnson

Sarah Kastelic

National Indian Child Welfare Association

Roy Kinsey

Lori Lightfoot

Michael McAfee

PolicyLink

Michele Norris

The Race Card Project

Eboo Patel

Interfaith Youth Core

Sherry Salway Black

First People's Fund

ON THE MAIN STAGE

We’re excited to announce that Theaster Gates, Michele Norris and Eboo Patel will speak on the Upswell Chicago Main Stage! With urgent and actionable ideas, Michele and Eboo are each on a mission to leverage place, race, and religion as powerful tools for bringing our communities together across differences.

ON THE MAIN STAGE

We’re excited to announce that Theaster Gates, Michele Norris and Eboo Patel will speak on the Upswell Chicago Main Stage! With urgent and actionable ideas, Michele and Eboo are each on a mission to leverage place, race, and religion as powerful tools for bringing our communities together across differences.

THE EXPERIENCE

We know that there’s no such thing as a “one size fits all” approach to changework. So, when you get to Upswell, you’ll have the opportunity to design the kind of experience that you want to have.

Dive deep and learn. Share your big ideas and get help with your toughest challenges. Meet new people, sharpen your skills, roll up your sleeves and experiment. Lift your spirits with high-energy performances or totally unplug to refocus your mind in quiet contemplation. You can do any of these things or all of them…and so much more!

AT THE

CORE

From Main Stage talks to timely workshops, you’re invited to open your imagination, build new skills, and stand on the front edge of emerging trends.

IN THE

PUBLIC
SQUARE

Think of the Public Square as you might think of a town center or big city. Like busy streets and bustling plazas, you’ll have tons of choices about what to do and who to meet next.

AROUND THE

CITY

For changework, local context is essential. To see how all of the pieces fit together to create lasting change, you’re invited to immerse yourself in Chicago’s vibrant communities.

Upswell Plus

You can never spend too much time in Chicago – or learn too much about how to be an effective changemaker! Upswell Plus gives you the chance to enhance your experience by participating in a day-long, highly focused event on November 12. Each event, offered by partners who are at the top of their fields, will help you build and master specific skill sets.

AACP

This comprehensive introduction to impact measurement teaches CSR professionals how to read the measurement landscape – and how to apply best practices to corporations.

Equity in the Center

Learn how to operationalize a race equity culture using best practices from EiC’s Awake to Woke to Work: Building a Race Equity Culture publication.

Presidents' Forum

A one-day seminar for foundation CEOs to discuss what is needed to shift the tide of philanthropy toward a diverse, equitable, and inclusive giving community.