Welcome. The sign on my door reads: “Let’s go bottom-up.”

What does that mean? It’s about using your privilege and resources to support those with fewer opportunities. It’s about showing up where the need is greatest and helping build a fairer world.

Going bottom-up means starting at the ground level. You help others apply their own drive and discipline — but also provide access to essentials they lack: money, encouragement, recognition.

When I first arrived in a village, an elder woman stopped me:

“White people never come back. They make promises. We never see them again.”

She was right. I nearly didn’t return — the work seemed impossible. But her words stayed with me.

I sold my second car to fund the start. Over the next decade, I returned 27 times. The results? Life-changing.

The key to bottom-up is going back — again and again. You build systems together. You bring consistency, trust, and a can-do spirit. You treat it seriously, like a business. That’s where marketing and fundraising come in.

Now, this bottom-up movement is growing. We have a chance to define it — to do what top-down never could. The communities are ready. We’re ready. Are you?

We’re building tools and resources to help you take the first step.

Dana Dakin