Upswell

Dan Cardinali, president and CEO of Independent Sector, shares his vision for Upswell and invites you to experience new-power community building for yourself this November 13-15 in Chicago.

In trying to foster a grassroots movement, New York Times columnist David Brooks finds that elite institutions need to give up their power — while taking on the supporting roles of illuminators, synthesizers, and conveners.

The authors of the book New Power recognize that conferences and convenings are typically old-power affairs. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With a different take on access, connections, power dynamics, and “holy things,” convenings can be a powerful tool for building authentic and diverse communities.

Relationships, creativity, inspiration, social capital: Four nonprofit leaders from Chicago discuss why physical space still matters in movement building — and how community voices are finding new ways to make themselves heard.

Instead of just “dropping in” on a city, what if a national convening could grow from the soil of a place, nourished by the unique values and experiences of the community? Two architects of Upswell reveal eight design principles behind a distinctly new-power approach to community building.