/ By Tamieka Briscoe / Another year, another conference. If you’re anything like us, you’d rather watch paint dry than attend the same old, same old mundane meeting of the minds. Well, color us excited! Because recently added to the mainstage speaker lineup at Upswell is international graffiti artist and best-selling author, Erik Wahl. If…
Details
/ By Kristina Gawrgy Campbell / Throughout her career, Lisa Ling has been a champion for telling the stories that are hard to find on the cover of newspapers or through your daily news alerts. As an award-winning journalist, Lisa has traveled around the country and world to document everything from the toll of prescription…
Details
We dig Loren Riemer’s vision for a better world, and not just because she diffuses essential oil in her day-to-day workspace. Loren is an Austinite who serves as vice president of development operations for a Texas-based org called Upbring. In her Upbring role, Riemer is part of a team that works across the state of…
Details
/ By Debra Rainey / Imagine being homeless, hopeless, and having someone say: “Here’s a pair of sneakers. Take an early morning run with me. You might just turn the corner to a better life.” Sounds crazy, right? Well, you can virtually watch someone do just that, as they run along the streets of LA’s…
Details
/ By Tamieka Briscoe / As planning for Upswell and building our community of changemakers continues, we’ve found inspiration in artists within and outside of the Los Angeles area who are using their talent to bring issues to light. Inspired and informed by global grassroots movements, Quetzal—a bilingual Chicano rock band from East Los Angeles,…
Details
Chances are, if you’ve been involved in nonprofit policy or legal work, you know Gene Takagi. Gene is an award-winning nonprofit lawyer who runs Nonprofit Law Blog, a resource for all of your favorite nonprofit legal topics — like how to deal with fiscal sponsorships, maintain effective collaborations, and understand the role of social enterprise.…
Details
From a young age, Erin Risner knew she was attracted to a broad range of issues—enough to have a constant fear of missing out. Heeding the wise advice of a parent though, she found a way to beat the restlessness by following a professional route that has taken her through nonprofits, tech, and social entrepreneurship.…
Details
/ By Christian Clansky / Remember the last time you sat in a windowless conference hall, squeezed into a row of uncomfortable chairs under the dull hum of underpowered florescent lights, and thought to yourself, I FEEL ALIVE! I’M BURSTING WITH ENERGY AND READY FOR ACTION! Our bet is that you probably haven’t had that…
Details
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…
Details
One of the most powerful tools in the changemaker toolkit is storytelling. As managing partner and chief engagement officer of Momentum Solutions, David Kietzman and his team help changemakers tell stories that matter. And David’s own story is a fascinating one. He’s taught art in Central America, led nonprofits, launched a giving circle, lectured at…
Details