2023 Upswell
Pop-Ups
Upswell Pop-Ups keep our Upswell community connected. It’s how we “keep it real” throughout the year. Each Pop-Up has a different focus – binding our ties as people and communities, making sense of the changing world around us, and exploring big ideas about how to tackle what comes next.
Advancing racial equity means moving beyond focusing on disparities to developing inclusive and equitable policies that improve society for all. To achieve this, we need to disrupt, challenge, and change the systems in place to build new ones. This includes systems not only in our communities and on a local and national level, but within our own organizations.
Our April 25 Pop-Up will focus on the most important driving force – You! This Pop-Up will be a chance for you, as a changemaker, to amplify your inner and outer self. Self-care and community care is about how we bring joy and abundance into our work, while “keeping it real” about our focus on systemic challenges and progress. We need practices that help us reflect and renew so we can continue to push forward and tackle the challenges of building a healthy and racially just nation.
In addition to a Main Stage conversation and workshops, we’ll close out the Pop-Up by getting your feedback in the Upswell Exchange. Facilitated by Dr. Cheryl Hall-Russell, President and Chief Cultural Consultant of Black Women Wise Women, LLC, the Exchange allows you to tell us what you heard, what you liked, and what we may have missed in these discussions.
Our Speakers
Kerrien Suarez
President and Chief Executive Officer
Equity In The Center
Liz Dozier
Founder and CEO
Chicago Beyond
Dr. Y. “Falami” Devoe
Holistic Human Development Strategist, Public Speaker, Educator, Poet and Self-Care Ritualist
Dr. Cheryl Hall-Russell
President and Chief Cultural Officer of Black Women Wise Women, facilitator
April Pop-Up Schedule
1:00 – 1:05 PM ET
Opening Remarks: Dr. Akilah Watkins
1:05 – 2:05 PM ET
Main Stage: Care and Joy in Our Work Cultures – learn more
2:05 – 2:10 PM ET
Transition
2:10 – 3:10 PM ET
Workshop – learn more
3:10 – 3:15 PM ET
Transition
3:15 – 4:25 PM ET
Exchange: facilitated by Dr. Cheryl Hall-Russell
4:25 – 4:30 PM ET
Closing Remarks: Dr. Akilah Watkins
The June Pop-Up will focus on how we as changemakers can collaborate and mobilize through systems change, advocacy, movement building, bridging and storytelling to create real lasting change.
In addition to a Main Stage conversation and workshops, we’ll close out the Pop-Up by getting your feedback in the Upswell Exchange. Facilitated by Dr. Cheryl Hall-Russell, President and Chief Cultural Consultant of Black Women Wise Women, LLC, the Exchange allows you to tell us what you heard, what you liked, and what we may have missed in these discussions.
Main Stage
Care and Joy in Our Work Cultures
The pandemic and its immediate aftermath completely changed the landscape of our working environments. What was once revolutionary – remote work, four-day work weeks, or a focus on mental health and community care – took hold in our work cultures. Are we still as committed as we were two years ago to embedding care and joy in our workplaces? These national leaders will share their insights and where they see the future of well-being and care practices in our workplace and how these strategies should strengthen our commitment to healthy, equitable, and inclusive organizations.
- Panelist: Kerrien Suarez, President & CEO, Equity in The Center
- Panelist: Liz Dozier, Founder & CEO, Chicago Beyond
- Panelist: Y. Falami Devoe, Ph.D, Holistic Human Development Strategist
- Moderator: Dr. Cheryl Hall-Russel, President and Chief Cultural Officer of Black Women Wise Women
Workshop
Supporting our Caring Communities
Trust is the bedrock of community strength and arises when people feel seen and cared for. This workshop will explore how to build and support an ethic of caring between neighbors. Dylan Tête built Bastion as an intentional community in New Orleans to support veterans suffering from brain trauma and PTSD. Muffy Mendoza created Brown Mamas in Pittsburgh, connecting more than 6500 women to peer support and resources. Rajiv Mehta developed Atlas of Care to study well-being and belonging and has guided corporate executives, health professionals, military commanders, and social activists in recognizing and adopting the fundamentals of care. These community “weavers” – all involved with the Aspen Institute’s Weave: The Social Fabric Project – will share their experience in very different communities and guide participants to explore with each other ways to amplify caring in their communities.
- Muffy Mendoza: CEO, Brown Mamas from Pittsburgh, PA
- Rajiv Mehta: CEO, Atlas of Care from Palo Alto, CA
- Dylan Tête: Founder of Bastion Community of Resilience from New Orleans
2023 Sponsors
TRANSFORMERS
BUILDERS
MOVERS
CONNECTORS
SCHOLARSHIP SPONSORS
