World Tour News Archives - Up with People

Earth Day 2020 – Guest Post on Climate Change

Posted by Up with People on April 22, 2020 [supsystic-social-sharing id=’1′ style=’color:#ffffff !important’]

Today marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day around the world. While we may not all be able to go outside and participate in ways we have in the past, there are many ways that we are all connecting, contributing, and digitally working to remove our carbon footprint. Bri Thompson from New York is a cast member of A 2020 and Yassine Chentouf from Bermuda traveled in both B 2019 and A 2020. Their tour was cancelled early due to COVID-19. (Learn more about our Up with People Emergency GoFundMe here). In doing their part to be a part of …

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Topics: World Tour News

In Memoriam: James E. MacLennan, 1931-2019

Posted by Up with People on December 2, 2019 [supsystic-social-sharing id=’1′ style=’color:#ffffff !important’]

We are greatly saddened to report that James Ellis “Jim” MacLennan, a founding member of Up with People’s leadership, passed away peacefully on November 27, 2019. Jim is survived by his loving wife Carol of 52 years, son Kent and daughter-in-law Jennifer, and beloved grandchildren Justin, Cameron and Alessandra. He is also survived by nieces and nephews David Currie, Jill Reeves, Craig Currie, Bruce Carlton Currie, Erik MacLennan and Kristina MacLennan. Jim was born in Detroit, Michigan on February 26, 1931 to Finlay MacLennan and Grace Barr MacLennan. Jim was the oldest of their three children, with sister Francis and …

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Topics: World Tour News

A Global Ecosystem

Posted by Up with People on September 27, 2018 [supsystic-social-sharing id=’1′ style=’color:#ffffff !important’]

Post from Up with People President & CEO Dale Penny: When I left Up with People in 1995, I worked with a national youth conservation service organization (The SCA) for 17 years. Our mission was to develop young environmental leaders through stewardship of the land. College interns and high school volunteers worked to preserve and restore public lands in backcountry and urban settings. What I came to understand was we weren’t simply conserving the land…we were really working to sustain the ecosystem of the places where we worked. An ecosystem is simply a community of mutually dependent parts — animals, …

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Topics: Insider, World Tour News

Young People Unite for Positive Change: Up with People Youth Programs Growing at Record Pace!

Posted by Up with People on July 5, 2018 [supsystic-social-sharing id=’1′ style=’color:#ffffff !important’]

Excerpt from speech given by Up with People President & CEO Dale Penny for Up with People Jr. Campers, Parents & Staff: After the week we’ve had, the troubling scenes we’ve been watching on TV, and the divisive language that we’ve heard from too many people throughout the country, we sometimes need an affirmation that what unites us is stronger than what divides us. What you’re going to see this afternoon [at the Up with People Jr. Show] is that affirmation. We believe young people are the best voice we have to remind us that with intentionality and with respect …

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Topics: Insider, World Tour News

Up with People To Visit Kosovo

Posted by Up with People on May 18, 2018 [supsystic-social-sharing id=’1′ style=’color:#ffffff !important’]

For the first time in its history Up with People is headed to Europe’s youngest country. Cast A 2018 will arrive in Kosovo in a few days time. Why Kosovo? While Kosovo has made significant strides since her independence in 2008, this post-conflict nation still remains one of the poorest in Europe with over one-third of its population living under the poverty line and over fifty percent of its youth population unemployed. Working alongside local non-profits in Kosovo, Up with People’s Cast A 2018 along with the ‘Impact Kosovo’ program seeks to bring together and connect young leaders from around …

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Topics: World Tour News

When in Rome: Performing for Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica

Posted by Up with People on November 21, 2017 [supsystic-social-sharing id=’1′ style=’color:#ffffff !important’]

It’s not everyday you get to perform for the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, but that’s what a group representing Up with People has the chance to do in December when they travel to Rome, Italy to perform on the stairs of St Peter’s Basilica in front of thousands of people as part of the Papal Audience, the pope’s weekly morning address. “We know that it’s exciting and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our cast members,” says Tim Lane, Vice President of Human Resources and Alumni Engagement at Up with People. “While Up with People is not a religious or …

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Topics: World Tour News

How Do We Keep Hope Alive?

Posted by Up with People Tour on January 18, 2018 [supsystic-social-sharing id=’1′ style=’color:#ffffff !important’]

How Do We Keep Hope Alive? By Eric Lentz and Michael Bowerman, co-writers of the Up with People show How do you measure hope? In a recent edition of Time magazine, guest editor Bill Gates assembled articles from a diverse collection of writers and public figures, including Trevor Noah, Malala Yousafzai, Ava Duvernay and Bono to answer that question. A central theme ran true to all of the articles – despite what we may read in our daily news feeds, there is more reason for optimism today than there has been in decades. For over 20 years, we have been …

Political Polarization Got You Down? Pope Francis and Andrea Bocelli Find Hope In Young People

Posted by Up with People on December 14, 2017 [supsystic-social-sharing id=’1′ style=’color:#ffffff !important’]

No matter where you live in the world, it seems politics is bringing out the worst in us. Watching the news can leave one disillusioned and depressed at the state of things. Political polarization pits neighbor against neighbor. Simply having a civil conversation doesn’t even seem possible anymore. According to the Pew Research Center, politics has divided us more than at any other point in the last two decades. These trends manifest themselves in a myriad of negative ways, both in politics and in everyday life. Is there hope? If so, where can we find it? Pope Francis and Andrea Bocelli have both recently met …

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Topics: World Tour News