/ By Tamieka Briscoe / It seems like just yesterday that we were rocking out on ukuleles and experiencing a whole new world with the help of virtual reality goggles. But it’s been nearly six months since we met in November 2018 for Upswell Los Angeles. We’ve caught up with…
/ By Kristina Gawrgy Campbell / For 18-year-old Michelle Serratos, being a part of Upswell LA was a motivational and educational experience. “It really touched me to hear the [awardees] speaking about their work and I really learned something being there,” she said. Michelle was a young photographer-in-training hired to…
/ By Tamieka Briscoe / Jessica Stern never identified as a “foster child” growing up—but at age ten, one week after her mother passed away of cancer, Stern and her seven siblings began living with foster families. According to Stern, while her family had “a whole lot of love,” they…
/ By Jackie Brennan / During Upswell LA, and in the weeks since, we were glad to hear from more than a few people that the three-day gathering in Downtown LA didn’t look or feel exactly like a traditional conference. That was intentional—and we made a very deliberate effort to…
In early November, Amira Resnick told us that while the allure of being a changemaker energizes and invigorates her, she worries that “we don’t spend enough time evaluating whether the changes we make are the best or most needed. Or even good at all.” Amira, who works at the Alliance…
/ By Debra Rainey / Earlier this year we introduced you to Vera deVera and Carola Secada — two amazing community organizers with strong cross-sector experience and deep ties to the many neighborhoods that make up Los Angeles. Vera and Carola worked with us to ensure that Upswell’s “LA Inside…
/ By Tamieka Briscoe / One of the best and most memorable aspects of Upswell LA was undoubtedly the infusion of youth throughout the entire experience. During the grand finale of the three-day event, 200 youth ranging from kindergarten to 8th grade from the Turnaround Arts: California partner school Ellen…
Becoming reenergized about her work and her contributions to her community: That’s what Amanda D. Scott was most looking forward to about Upswell. After joining us in Los Angeles, we wanted to know whether Amanda was reinvigorated by the Upswell wave. Q: Was Upswell different from other events you’ve attended…
Tammira Lucas, co-founder of Moms As Entrepreneurs, stressed the importance of relationship building when we first met her in October. She hoped to walk away from Upswell with new relationships that would help her grow her program on a national level. We touched base with Tammira about Upswell LA and…
We first met Cassie Nguyen, a pediatric cancer survivor and founder of Spotlight On Hope Film Camp (SOH), right before the start of Upswell LA. SOH is a program that provides cost-free film-making training for pediatric and young adult cancer patients and their families to help them tell their stories.…