We hope you’ve had a chance to check out the lineup for Chicago Inside & Out – a dozen thoughtfully designed experiences, all guided by dynamic community leaders across Chicago. These immersive tours are a cornerstone of the Upswell experience, which is all about going deep locally to uncover enriching and surprising insights that apply…
In the workshop, “How to Create Resilient Systems Change,” Robert Albright, director of programs at FSG – Collective Impact Forum, will join Thrive Chicago Chief Strategy Officer Christina Krasov for a primer on Thrive’s collaboration to accelerate innovation for Chicago’s youth. We caught up with Robert and Christina to learn more about both of them,…
You’ve navigated the complexities of working collectively with organizations and individuals that share your goal of solving a social inequity issue. You’ve made good progress. But how do you keep the momentum going and create systems that last? How do you ensure the change you’ve made sticks? If you’re about systems change, don’t miss the…
Emilia Chico and Steven Rosado recently led focus groups in two of Chicago’s predominantly Latinx neighborhoods as the Upswell Accelerator sought to hear from community stakeholders in creating a racial equity framework. After giving them a week or so to collect their thoughts, we asked the two moderators to reflect, in their own words, on…
Let’s be honest. Talking about race and ethnicity can be uncomfortable. But would it be less uncomfortable in an environment where you feel more at ease, like say, your living room? That’s the premise of Living Room Conversations, a conversational model designed to revitalize civil discourse through conversation. As a follow-up to a session during…
During the Upswell workshop, “How to Talk about Race and Ethnicity,” you’ll join Mary Gaylord, managing partner of Living Room Conversations, in a “living room like” environment to share, listen, and help advance understanding. Find out more about Mary, including what she likes about the 60s, and why we must work at staying connected. Q: If…
When filling out demographic information on a registration form, have you ever stopped to consider the line that’s often labeled “Race/Ethnicity”? That slash may seem like a small thing, but at a recent focus group in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago, it is an obvious source of consternation and confusion. “There’s ambiguity around the definition…
Darren Isom, Bridgespan partner and former executive director of Memphis Music Initiative, wants philanthropic organizations to be intentional about equitable giving, and will lead a frank conversation about it during his Upswell workshop, “Enough Talk — How Foundations Can Live Their Racial Equity Strategy.” He also leads his life guided by an empowering message instilled…
Darren Isom, Bridgespan partner and former executive director of Memphis Music Initiative, says everyone may be talking about equity, but there’s a huge disconnect between how the philanthropic sector thinks about giving, and how organizations live equitable strategies internally. It’s time to talk about how that disconnect can compromise implementation and limit the equitable outcomes…
Theaster Gates – an internationally renowned artist, academic, and urban planner – creates works that engage with space theory and land development, sculpture and performance. Known for his recirculation of art-world capital, Gates upturns art values, land values, and human values. In all aspects of his work, he contends with the notion of Black space…