The community dinner at Sinhá (pronounced Seen-yah’, which means “lady of the house”) may be happening in Chicago, but rest assured the delectable cuisine will be 100% Brazilian. As noted on their website, “The food preparation is totally authentic and so is the chef.” That chef is Jorgina Pereira – born, raised, and educated in…
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What kind of language do you use to talk about civic engagement? Perhaps you, like many working in this corner of changework, use terms like activism, justice, and democratic participation. Have you considered how words like those may resonate with some audiences but not others? Adiel Suarez-Murias, communications and marketing director at Philanthropy for Active…
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These days, words like activism, equity, justice, and democracy are commonplace in our field, describing both the values and substance of our work. But what do these words mean to everyday Americans? Earlier this year, Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE) released the findings of its Civic Language Perceptions Project, a nationally representative survey and…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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