An Original Gap Year

Posted by Up with People on October 18, 2018

The idea of the “gap year” has been around since the 1960’s. Originating as a time for young people to travel independently, it has grown to serve different purposes over the years. Certainly, travel remains a large aspect of a gap year, but many people also work to incorporate ways to give back, as well as to learn and grow personally. Since 1965 Up with People has been providing all of those elements and more, as one of the original gap year programs. Gap years have several roots; ranging from backpacking individuals staying in hostels, to government sponsored service in …

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Topics: Gap Year Abroad

Day of the Girl – Betsy Myers Guest Post

Posted by Up with People on October 11, 2018

Betsy Myers is currently the Founding Director of the Center for Women and Business at Bentley University. A leadership expert, author and advocate, she is also speaking at conferences and workshops around the world on the changing nature of leadership. Her book, Take the Lead: Motivate, Inspire, and Bring Out the Best in Yourself and Everyone Around You, continues to be the basis of her work as her experience spans the corporate, political and high education arena. As Executive Director of the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, she focused the center’s teaching and research around …

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Topics: Insider

MEET THE CAST MONDAY: Stephon from the USA

Posted by Up with People on October 8, 2018

Denver local, Stephon Matthews, came to know about Up with People (UWP) through a local African American leader, Toi Massey. Toi believed Stephon could excel and contribute to the international cast through his performance talents, specifically through dance. This 24-year old was working and volunteering as a dance and fitness instructor when he interviewed for the program.  Stephon worked hard for months to set aside money to fund his tour and rally his community of support. The realization that his dream would come true came after a showcase fundraising event that featured collaboration with the organization, Same Side, as well …

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Topics: "On The Road"

Building Global Connections That Last

Posted by Up with People on October 4, 2018

For over 52 years Up with People participants have been traveling around the globe fulfilling our mission. Through music and action, we empower young people to be positive agents of change for a more hopeful, trusting and peaceful world. The people our participants travel with and meet while on the road can quickly become lifelong friends. We recently received an email from Jed Daly who traveled with Up with People 47 years ago. Jed recently received an unexpected message from a host family he stayed with while traveling abroad during his Up with People tour. Translated it reads: Hi Jed, …

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Topics: "On The Road", Insider

A Global Ecosystem

Posted by Up with People on September 27, 2018

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

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