SVP Dallas’ bigBANG!Tx will combine forces with the 2023 Upswell Summit, November 15-17, in Dallas-Fort Worth
(DALLAS, Texas, February 15, 2023) – Independent Sector and Social Venture Partners (SVP) Dallas are pleased to announce a special collaboration for the 2023 Upswell Summit, the national gathering of nonprofit changemakers that will take place November 15-17 in Dallas/Fort Worth.
Under this partnership, Independent Sector will combine programming and other elements of bigBANG!Tx – SVP Dallas’ preeminent, annual social impact conference for innovators who believe in an equitable society – into the 2023 Upswell Summit. Upswell launched in 2018 as the reimagining of the Independent Sector Annual Conference to embed a more community-driven and place-based design into its annual convenings.
Since 2018, both in-person and virtually, Upswell has brought together more than 12,500 changemakers, including community activists, nonprofit leaders, philanthropists, business and corporate leaders, and academics, and journalists for main stage presentations, panel presentations, workshops, and other opportunities to reflect, share ideas, and build relationships. Each year, the Upswell Summit focuses on strengthening our collective sense of belonging and trust, prioritizing self and community care, and building a healthy and racially just society. Upswell 2023 will include two free, virtual events, known as Upswell Pop-Ups, and the Upswell Summit, a national convening expected to gather 1,500 leaders in-person this fall.
“We’re grateful to have SVP Dallas as a strategic thought partner for Upswell 2023,” said Dr. Akilah Watkins, president and CEO of Independent Sector. “This collaboration can serve as a model for the way national and local organizations bring their efforts together to ensure a high-quality program for all social changemakers. Our missions are quite aligned to ensuring the local leaders who hold the wisdom and experience to tackle our biggest problems are at the center of our innovation and solutions to create a just nation where all people thrive.”
Tony Fleo, CEO of SVP Dallas said: “We are excited to welcome Independent Sector to Dallas/Fort Worth, and we are committed to collaborating with them and so many of our local partners and supporters to make this convening a meaningful experience for all participants. SVP Dallas has a well-earned reputation for being a catalyst for meaningful change and impact, and this collaboration with Independent Sector is another excellent opportunity to welcome a national lens on local, innovative social justice and equity solutions while informing our thinking throughout the year and on the bigBANG! stage in October 2024.”
In addition to mission alignment, Independent Sector and SVP Dallas will continue to work together to engage local leaders in the programming and design of Upswell 2023, including ensuring a track of programming on impact investing at the Summit. bigBANG!Tx will return to its usual schedule in 2024.
Independent Sector and SVP Dallas thank the following sponsors for their generous support of Upswell and this collaboration: Walmart, Allstate Foundation, United Way Metropolitan Dallas, AT&T Foundation, Amazon, Communities Foundation of Texas, Rainwater Charitable Foundation, Toyota Foundation, and Vistra Energy. Learn more about Upswell 2023.
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Independent Sector is the only national membership organization that brings together a diverse community of changemakers, nonprofits, foundations, and corporations working to strengthen civil society and ensure all people in the United States have the opportunity to thrive. Learn more at independentsector.org.
Social Venture Partners is a global network of local Partners aligning passion and purpose helping to build communities able to solve our most entrenched problems. Their focus of helping individuals realize greater impact with their giving, strengthening social impact organizations, and investing in collaborative solutions helps make connections that make a difference and unleash potential. Learn more at svpdallas.org.
Media Contacts: Bradley Wong, Independent Sector at media@independentsector.org and SVP Dallas at dogoodbetter@svpdallas.org.
