THE CHANGE
YOU MADE
All the ways changemakers at Upswell 2018 made an impact
Upswell Los Angeles / November 2018
If you followed the design of Upswell from the ground up, you know that the goal was to create a new kind of community experience. After two years of planning and collaboration, the inaugural Upswell brought together changemakers from across the country for three days of innovation, networking, and action.
How did it go? Here’s what one participant said:
“The new format was inspiring and holds promise for a new way to lead the social sector. It felt more like a human centered design approach to what attracts people to ideas and engages them for action that is inclusive and purposeful.”
Whether you want to revisit Upswell LA or explore it for the first time, you can check out videos, photos, and the full program by scrolling down. Or take a quick look with these daily recaps.
On the Main Stage
David Brooks
Angela Glover Blackwell
Tarana Burke
Dan Cardinali
Ann Mei Chang
Robert Egger
Mayor Eric Garcetti
Vijay Gupta
Sarah Kastelic
Ozomatli
Erik Wahl
Kevin Washington
Featured Videos
Sponsors
Speakers
Cathy Albisa
National Economic and Social Rights Initiative
Tracey Allard
Community Resource Exchange (CRE)
Lynn Alvarez
Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative
Jenna Arnold
YMCA of Greater Long Beach Youth Institute
Tolu A. Bamishigbin
Advancement Project California
Steve Barton
Northern California Grantmakers
Judy Belk
The California Wellness Foundation
Stephen Bennett
Caravanserai Project
Joyvin Benton
Arkansas Public Policy Panel
Ben Berres
Project Evident
Taunya Black
Fred Blackwell
The San Francisco Foundation
Joan Blades
Living Room Conversations
David Blankenhorn
Better Angels
Jesse Bliss
The Roots and Wings Project
Tracy Boak
Perlman & Perlman
Jeff Bradach
Bridgespan Group
Paul Brest
Stanford University
David Brooks
New York Times
Amanda Broun
Convergence Center for Policy Resolution
Robert Brown
Cognizant
Lisa Brown Alexander
Nonprofit HR
Rick Buettner
Amazon Web Services
Elise Buik
United Way of Greater Los Angeles
Tarana Burke
‘me too.’ Movement
G.T. Bynum
City of Tulsa
David Callahan
Inside Philanthropy
Sonya Campion
Campion Advocacy Fund
Jená Cane
Citizen University
Elayne Carbajal
YMCA Youth Institute
Loren Cardeli
A Growing Culture
Dan Cardinali
Independent Sector
Veronica Carrizales
California Calls
Natasha Cavanaugh
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Elizabeth Cervantes
Southwest Suburban Immigrant Project
Ellen Cervantes
Child Care Resource Center
Ann Mei Chang
Lean Impact
Meera Chary
The Bridgespan Group
Stacey Chen
Redstone Strategy Group, LLC
Cecilia Chen
Northern California Grantmakers
Tina Cheplick
Informing Change
Maisie Chin
Cadre-LA
Paul Sungmin Cho
The Illumination Foundation
Brian Chung
Bioplastic Recycling Inc.
Wray Clay
United Way of Greater St. Louis
Kenya Collins
FoodCorps
Travis Collins
Connect Our Kids
Alyssa Conrardy
Prosper Strategies
Diane Cornman-Levy
Women’s Way
Irvin Corona
YMCA of Greater Long Beach Youth Institute
Leslie Crutchfield
Georgetown GSEI
Jose Cuevas
YMCA Youth Institute
KeAndra Cylear Dodds
Community Development Commission of Los Angeles County
Judy Darnell
United Ways of California
Leola Daul
Heart-n-Soul Community Café
Maria Dautruche
National Urban League
Josh Davis
StriveTogether
JerMara Davis-Welch
Supermodel Society
Aaron Dorfman
NCRP
Sarah Eagle Heart
Native Americans in Philanthropy
Robert Egger
Matthew Emerzian
Every Monday Matters
Jennifer Erickson
White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
Cynthia Estremera
Strategy Arts
Juli Farris
Treehouse
Robert Fersh
Convergence Center for Policy Resolution
Kelly Fitzsimmons
Project Evident
Seyron Foo
Southern California Grantmakers
William Foster
The Bridgespan Group
Bob Friedman
Prosperity Now
Eric Garcetti
City of Los Angeles
Henry Gascon
United Ways of California
Kristina Gawrgy Campbell
Independent Sector
Brit Gilmore
The Giving Keys
Angela Glover Blackwell
PolicyLink
Ceasar Godinez
YMCA of Greater Long Beach Youth Institute
Shane Goldsmith
Liberty Hill Foundation
Allison Grayson
Independent Sector
Jeremie Greer
Prosperity Now
Angela Griffin
Treehouse
Patricia Guerra
Community Coalition
Vijay Gupta
Bryan Gutierrez
YMCA of Greater Long Beach Youth Institute
Romanita Hairston-Overstreet
Murdock Charitable Trust
Keecha Harris
KHA Inc.
Kate Hayes
Echoing Green
Crystal Hernandez
YMCA of Greater Long Beach Youth Institute
Gricelle Hernandez
YMCA of Greater Long Beach Youth Institute
John Hernandez
YMCA of Greater Long Beach Youth Institute
Dorothy Ho
The Foundation Center
Taylor Holloway
The Social Impact Studio
Hans How
AsylumConnect
Marcus Iannozzi
Message Agency
Darren Isom
Memphis Music Initiative
Nesha Jairam
Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
Lynsey Wood Jeffries
Higher Achievement
Lucas Johnson
The Civil Conversations Project, On Being
Katie Jones
Independent Sector
Robert Jones
Independent Sector
Monisha Kapila
ProInspire
Sarah Kastelic
National Indian Child Welfare Association
Anna Kawar
Leading Through Connection
Ben Kershaw
Independent Sector
Asif Khan
Games for Change
John Kim
Advancement Project California
Stephanie Klasky-Gamer
L.A. Family Housing
Amelia Klawon
Moves The Needle
Frances Kunreuther
Building Movement Project
Ellen LaPointe
Northern California Grantmakers
Honesti Lawrence
YMCA Youth Institute
Scott Lawson
Amazon Web Services
Marie LeBlanc
Independent Sector
Myung J. Lee
Cities of Service
Melissa Lee
Sierra Club
Judy Lee Haworth
Judy Lee Haworth Consulting
Sam Liccardo
City of San Jose
Larry Lieberman
Charity Navigator
Theresa Esparrago Lieu
Informing Change
Eric Liu
Citizen University
Marta Loachamin
Community Foundation Boulder County
Uvinie Lubecki
Leading Through Connection
Robert Lynch
Americans for the Arts
Darren Mam
YMCA Youth Institute
Pete Manzo
United Ways of California
Olivia Marlowe-Giovetti
Whole Whale
Geovanni Martinez
YMCA of Greater Long Beach Youth Institute
Emily Martiniuk
CSH Advocates
Jan Masaoka
California Association of Nonprofits
Jessica Mason
The Social Impact Studio
Patty Mayer
Moss Adams LLP
Kevin McAndrew
Save the Children
Cary McClelland
Kady McFadden
Sierra Club Illinois Chapter
Stephanie McGencey
Convergence Center for Policy Resolution
Joseph McKellar
PICO California
Heather Meade
Washington Council Ernst & Young
Susan Mende
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Julieta Mendez
The Foundation Center
Kim Meredith
Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society
Brian Miller
Nonprofit Vote
Nathan Moore
Fetzer Institute
Shea Morrissey
Hustle
Dave Moss
Unfunded List
Michael Murphy
The Cleveland Foundation
Preeta Nayak
The Bridgespan Group
Nkem Ndefo
Lumos Transforms
Michael Nilsen
Association of Fundraising Professionals
Jeff Nugent
Jeff Nugent & Associates
Molly O’Donnell
Civic Scholars Program
C. E. Oldham
Get Lit
Allie Olson
LIFT-Los Angeles
Natasha Orozco
Nonstop Administration and Insurance Services, Inc.
Ozomatli
Tiphani Palmer
Leadership Embodiment Organization
Mihai Patru
Caravanserai Project
Silvia Paz
Alianza Coachella Valley
Camila Pazos
Echoing Green
Min Pease
Echoing Green
Matt Perdoni
Independent Sector
Henry Perez
Associate Director
Emily Peterson-Cassin
Public Citizen
Jose Luis Plaza
The California Endowment
Andrew Plumley
ProInspire
Beatriz Ponce de Léon
Generation All
Andrew Powers
City of Thousand Oaks, California
Hayling Price
FSG Inc.
Jennifer Price-Letscher
The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation
Rodney Prunty
United Way of Racine County
Liz Quick
Mercy For Animals
Alyssa Quijano
YMCA of Greater Long Beach Youth Institute
Sana Rahim
Emerge Consulting
Dawn Rains
Treehouse
Karthick Ramakrishnan
Center for Social Innovation
Sami Reed
Elevate Corporate Wellness
Rob Reich
Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society
Amira Resnick
Alliance for a Healthier Generation
Alberto Retana
Community Coalition
Janay Richmond
National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy
Matthew Roberson
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, Department of Athletic Regulation
Marty Rodgers
Accenture
Romero Y Perez
Adri Rosembert
ActBlue
Barbara Rosen
Nonprofit Finance Fund
Robert K. Ross
The California Endowment
Katie Roth
PowerMyLearning
Vattra Rudy Tep
YMCA of Greater Long Beach Youth Institute
Kaveh Sadeghian
Transformative Action Institute
Amanda Saich
ActBlue
Lester Salamon
Johns Hopkins University
Alexia Salvatierra
Faith-Rooted Organizing UnNetwork
Luis Sanchez
YMCA of Greater Long Beach Youth Institute
Dottie Schindlinger
BoardEffect
Paul Schmitz
Collective Impact Forum
Elizabeth Schwan-Rosenwald
Taproot Foundation
Gage Scott
YMCA of Greater Long Beach Youth Institute
Terri Seay Bryant
Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement
Amy Seidenwurm
Oculus
Jesvin Selda
YMCA of Greater Long Beach Youth Institute
Mikaela Seligman
AchieveMission
Amiyoko Shabazz
CSH Advocates
Scott Sherman
Transformative Action Institute
Darlene Slaughter
United Way Worldwide
Caithlyn Sok
YMCA of Greater Long Beach Youth Institute
Katie Sok
YMCA of Greater Long Beach Youth Institute
Beatriz Maria Solís
The California Endowment
Marc Solomon
Civitas Public Affairs
Duncan Stephenson
Royal Society for Public Health
Stacy Stout
City of Grand Rapids
Kerrien Rollins Suarez
Equity in the Center
Victor Tale
YMCA of Greater Long Beach Youth Institute
Sean Tennerson
The Case Foundation
Jason Tester
Institute for the Future
Sean Thomas-Breitfeld
Building Movement Project
Lindsay Torrico
United Way Worldwide
Prithi Trivedi
William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
Ukulenny
Tescia Uribe
Path
Annie Valdes
Design Tugboat
Belen Vargas
Weingart Foundation
Erik Wahl
Anne Wallestad
BoardSource
Jim Wallis
Sojourners
Angel Walters
Child360
Kevin Washington
YMCA of the USA
Laura Waters
Circles
Rob Watson
Social Impact Studio
Nadine Watt
Watt Companies
Scott Watt
Watt Companies
Jennifer Wei
William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
Lilly Weinberg
Knight Foundation
Bennett Weiner
BBB Wise Giving Alliance
Eric Weinheimer
Forefront
Lauren Werner
Charity Network
Scott Wheeler
Strategy Arts
Danielle Wildkress
Brilliant Corners
David Williams
Deloitte Services, LP
Susan Wolf Ditkoff
The Bridgespan Group
John Wood, Jr.
Better Angels
Frank Ybarra
CSH Advocates
Iris Zuñiga
Youth Policy Institute
LA Inside & Out Tours
Historic Filipinotown
Just west of downtown LA, Historic Filipinotown (HiFi) is one of the city’s most bustling, culturally rich, and ethnically diverse communities.
Skid Row
You’ve heard that homelessness is one of the most devastating challenges facing LA. On the front lines, the Downtown Women’s Center and Skid Row Housing Trust are rapidly innovating their way toward a better future.
Little Tokyo
Only three Japantowns still exist in the United States, and Los Angeles’ 134-year-old Little Tokyo isn’t just persevering – it’s thriving. Thanks to a community-driven sustainability initiative, Little Tokyo will be healthy, equitable, and culturally rich for generations to come.
Southeast LA
The Southeast Los Angeles Collaborative is comprised of eleven agencies that leverage their expertise to support and empower local residents in 10 different municipalities and unincorporated areas.
Pasadena
Pasadena might be best known as the home of the Rose Bowl. But the town has a fascinating social history that has been shaped by wealth, war, and major demographic shifts.
El Monte
Located 17 miles east of downtown L.A., El Monte is home to a collective of multi-year, place-based initiatives that aim to create a college-going culture and healthier neighborhoods among its predominantly Latino and Asian immigrant families.
Downtown LA
Led by @LAHistory, the tour explored historic downtown sites where well-known (and not so well-known) women worked to influence and shape today’s LA.
Magnolia Community Initiative
This groundbreaking community is where children from LA’s most vulnerable neighborhoods are shattering records for success in their education, health milestones, and family economic stability.
Leimert Park
Leimert Park has been called “the black Greenwich Village.” The neighborhood, once home to Ella Fitzgerald and Ray Charles, is widely regarded as the thriving epicenter of African American arts and humanities in LA.
Arts District/Industrial Corridor
With stops at Homeboy Electronics Recycling and the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, this tour explored the unexpected ways that the arts and the green economy are interwoven.
Workshops
Advocacy Without Fear
Presented by The Bridgespan Group
Aligning Organizational Ethics with 21st Century Challenges
Applying Business Skills to Nonprofit Challenges
Presented by Chicago Booth Civic Scholars Program
Attract and Retain an Inclusive, Impactful Nonprofit Workforce
Presented by Nonprofit HR
Avoiding Potholes on the Road to Charitable Fundraising Compliance
Presented by Perlman & Perlman
Beyond Being an Ally
Presented by AchieveMission
Board Governance in a Digital Age
Presented by BoardEffect
Building a Narrative for the Sector and Your Mission
Sponsored by Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
Building Values-Driven Boards
Presented by Echoing Green
Building Your Skills for a Race Equity Culture
Presented by Equity in the Center/ProInspire & Building Movement Project
Civic Saturday at Upswell
Presented by Citizen University
Sponsored by Fetzer Institute
A Decade Review of Philanthropy and Equity in California
Presented by Building Movement Project
Demystifying Nonprofit and Foundation Collaboration
Presented by Foundation Center
Designing With, Not For, Your Community
Presented by Cleveland Foundation and Knight Foundation
Diagnosing Organizational Health: A Guide to Assessment Tools
Presented by William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
Equitable Engagement & Transforming Philanthropy
Presented by Strategy Arts
Extended Reality for Social Good
Sponsored by Accenture
The Faith Factor in Social Purpose
Presented by Sojourners
Sponsored by Fetzer Institute
Five Steps to Greater Social Impact
Presented by Moves the Needle
Fostering a Healthy Democracy
Sponsored by Fetzer Institute
How Change Happens
Presented by Georgetown Global Social Enterprise Initiative
How Changemaking Mayors are Building Trust and Community
Presented by Cities of Service
How Healthy is the Nonprofit Sector?
How to Use the Lean Methodology for Social Change
Presented by Lean Impact
Incubating Grassroots Social Entrepreneurship
Presented by Caravanserai
Leading with Compassion
Presented by Leading Through Connection
Sponsored by Fetzer Institute
Moving Beyond Intention to Action on DEI and Talent
Presented by The Bridgespan Group
The New Normal for Evidence Building
Presented by Project Evident
Online Fundraising in a Rapid Response World
Presented by Act Blue
The Policy Battle Between Idealism and Pragmatism
The Problem with Large-Scale Philanthropy
Presented by Stanford Law School
Realizing the California Dream
Presented by Northern California Grantmakers
Settling Differences, Making Change
Sponsored by Fetzer Institute
Presented by Convergence
The Secret Sauce of Scaling Through Partnerships
Presented by BoardSource
Starting a Marketing Revolution at Your Nonprofit
Presented by Prosper Strategies
Staying Nonpartisan in a Politically Charged Environment
Strategies for Retaining Next Generation Leaders of Color
Sponsored by American Express
Sustaining Collective Action Through Setbacks
Taking Big Bets for Transformational Change
Presented by Treehouse
Technology for Humans
Presented by Hustle
Tracking Racial Inequity in California
Presented by Advancement Project California
Sponsored by The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation
Training the Next-Generation of Leaders
Presented by Transformative Action Institute
Transformative Solidarity in California – The Next Frontier of the Equity Movement
Sponsored by The California Endowment
Upswell / Action
Sponsored by JPMorgan Chase and Co.
Weaving Equity and Inclusion into Community-Based Work
Presented by United Way Worldwide
What to do When Machines do Everything
Presented by Cognizant
Your 2019 Policy Game Plan
Community Dinners
Homegirl Cafe Industries
At the intersection of social enterprise and a well-deserved Zagat rating, Homegirl Café Industries trains high-risk and formerly gang-involved young adults in culinary arts and restaurant service.
Equitas Academy
How often do you have the opportunity to enjoy a gourmet dinner…at school? The Equitas Academy’s newest charter school provides free high quality education to families in Los Angeles’ Pico Union neighborhood.
Mercado La Paloma
The Mercado La Paloma’s mission is to create business ownership opportunities and living wage jobs for the local residents of the Figueroa Corridor of South Los Angeles.
Casa 0101
The evening began with a mouthwatering Mexican meal at Casa Fina, a social enterprise owned by CASA 0101, and ended with a special performance based on past struggles and future opportunities of the Boyle Heights community.
Heritage Square Museum
Located in Highland Park, the museum is a showcase of living history that explores the everyday lives of Southern Californians from the close of the 19th Century into the early decades of the 20th Century.
The Park’s Finest
This family owned business is built on a classic LA story: Filipino kids grew up in a gang-infested neighborhood and learned to meld the recipes they were raised on with the American BBQ tradition.
Kettle Black
Nestled in the artsy neighborhood of Silver Lake, Kettle Black served up rustic Italian goodies paired with a conversation about advocacy efforts to defend DACA.
Spark Talks
Becoming Big Bettable
Presented by The Bridgespan Group
Beyond Representation: Creating a Space in Government Where Women of Color Have a Sense of Belonging
Presented by City Manager’s Office of Grand Rapids
Building Better Movements
Presented by FSG
Changing the Narrative Around Our Food System
Presented by A Growing Culture
Civic Engagement & Power Building in a Divided Moment
Presented by PICO California
The Currency of Love: An Innovative Approach to Breaking the Cycle of Intergenerational Poverty
Presented by LIFT-Los Angeles
Do-ocracy: A Way of Deploying Effective Resources While Relying on Limited Budgets
Presented by Circles
Envisioning a Healthy Main Street: What Can We Learn from Across the Pond?
Presented by Royal Society For Public Health
From Social Media to Social Good: Turning Fans into Donors
Presented by Charity Network
Funders, What Does Power Have to Do with Equity?
Presented by National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy
Housing: A Public Good for All
Presented by Community Development Commission of the County of Los Angeles
How Can Leaders Move Organizations from Charity to Justice?
Presented by ProInspire
Improving Philanthropy through Crowdsourced Feedback for the Unfunded
Presented by Unfunded List
Mindful Leadership
Presented by Elevate Corporate Wellness
A Part of the Problem: Unleashing Talent by Dismantling Barriers to Social Change
Presented by Echoing Green
The Presidents’ Forum for Racial Equity in Philanthropy Racial Equity: Leading from the Inside Out
Presented by KHA, Inc.
Sparking Prosperity for Everyone
Presented by Prosperity Now
Telling the Stories of Many: How Oral History Helps Us Map Problems and Discover Solutions
Presented by Cary McClelland
The Value of Story
Presented by CSH Speak Up!
When You Know It Is Time to Stop!
Presented by Taproot Foundation
Why Neighborhood High Schools Still Matter
Presented by Generation All
Focus Groups
Aging-in-Place in Supportive Housing
Presented by CSH Speak Up!
Are You Advocating for Your Mission?
Presented by BoardSource
Beyond Transforming Systems to Transferring Power
Presented by StriveTogether
Collaborative Leadership: Why Collaborate?
Presented by Community Resource Exchange
The Disappearing Donor and You
Presented by Campion Advocacy Fund / Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society
From Fundraisers to Power Players: Raising More than Money
Presented by National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy
Getting Real About Authentic Community Engagement
Presented by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Housing IS Healthcare
Presented by CSH Speak Up!
Improving Access while Decreasing Disparities in Philanthropic Funding
Presented by Echoing Green
Measuring Poverty Better: Introducing the Real Cost Measure to Assess What it Really Costs to Live
Presented by United Ways of California
National Scope with a Local Approach: Toward a Balance of Power that Strengthens Communities
Presented by Healthier Generation
Preaching to the Choir
Presented by United Way Worldwide
Race, Equity and Learning: How to Create Culturally Responsive Practices
Presented by Higher Achievement
Results in the Center: Voting & Life Expectancy
Presented by Independent Sector
Social Enterprise: The Business of Changing the World
Presented by Child360
Stories of Suicide: Living Past 30
Presented by Charity Navigator
We’re All Journalists Now: Meaningful Storytelling with Minimal Means
Presented by Whole Whale
Spotlight Stage
Assessing your Private Foundation’s Minimum Distribution Requirement (MDR) Environment
Presented by Moss Adams
Changing the Approach to Health Benefits, One Nonprofit at a Time
Presented by Nonstop Administration and Insurance Services Inc
Designing for Diversity: How User Personas Can Transform Your Digital Platforms and Services
Presented by Message Agency
Fernando Pullum Center Ensemble
Jazz Performance
Give.org Donor Trust Report
Presented by BBB Wise Giving Alliance
Have Your Best Board Meetings. Ever.
Presented by BoardEffect / Diligent Corporation
How Data Leads to Insights to Better Serve Communities
Presented by Foundation Center
Investing in Your Future Leaders
Presented by The Bridgespan Group
A Permanent Loving Home for Every Foster Child
Presented by Connect Our Kids
Power to the People
Presented by StriveTogether
Romero Y Perez
Live Flamenco Fusion
The 6 Practices of Successful Movements
Presented by Global Social Enterprise Initiative
Using Art to Build Bridges, Not Walls
Presented by Tanya Aguiñiga
Exhibitors and Collaborators
Antioch University Los Angeles
BBB Wise Giving Alliance
BoardEffect
The Bridgespan Group
Caravanserai Project
Cardborigami
Chicago Booth Civic Scholars Program
Cognizant
Connect Our Kids
Fetzer Institute
The FOR Project
The Foundation Center
Games for Change
Global Social Enterprise Initiative
Hustle
Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
Kala Brand Music Co.
Message Agency
Moss Adams LLP
Moves the Needle
The NAMM Foundation
Nonprofit HR
Nonprofit Leadership Alliance
The Nonprofit Times
Northern California Grantmakers
Oculus VR for Good
Perlman & Perlman
Philanthropy California
Pineapple.org
Prosper Strategies
Sojourners
Strategy Arts
United Way of Greater Los Angeles
Weave
World Institute on Disability
YMCA of Greater Long Beach Youth Institute
Zulu Nyala Game Lodge