Up with People

The UWP Archives is housed at the University of Arizona Special Collections library. The archives include materials from the Up with People organization, the International Alumni Association, as well as the personal papers of the UWP Founder and Chairman Emeritus J. Blanton Belk and his wife Elizabeth "Betty" Belk. Select materials from the UWP archives are accessible on the Up with People digital collection hosted on the University of Arizona Special Collections website.

In 1965, J. Blanton Belk dedicated his energies to creating an organization for young adults that enabled them to interact with the world through positivity and music. He created Up with People (UWP) to bring people together for the common good regardless of ideology, political affiliation, ethnicity, race, or religious affiliation. Up with People was officially incorporated as a "501(c)(3)  nonprofit, apolitical, non-sectarian international educational organization[4]" in 1968 under the leadership of Belk.[5]

UWP traveled and performed their musical show across several countries. Notable events were performances at the Cotton Bowl, the White House, Super Bowl X,[6] Belfast during the Troubles, and the People's Republic of China.[4]

UWP continued their musical tour, performing at Super Bowls XIV, XVI, and XX,[6] the Jerash Festival, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, U.S. President George H. W. Bush’s Inauguration in Washington, DC, and Berlin to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall. This is also the first decade in which Up with People introduced a named show called Beat of the Future in 1985.[4]

UWP toured throughout the '90s, performing at events at the Washington Monument, Washington, DC; at the Freedom Festival in Philadelphia, PA; the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development's Earth Summit; and the first Celebration of Peace event with Colin Powell in Denver, CO. This is also the decade UWP established formal partnerships with academic universities to begin offering academic credit through their program.[4]

UWP suspended touring operations temporarily at the end of 2000 until 2004, relaunching the program with a more academic focus and their current program aspects of travel, volunteer service, performing arts, and leadership development with the sub-brand Worldsmart Leadership Program. Two years after its relaunch, the sub-brand was removed, leaving the program branded solely as Up with People again. Notable touring appearances during the 2000s were the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the United Nations Culture of Peace Forum at the UN Headquarters, the 400th Anniversary of Bermuda, and the 119th Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California.[4]

UWP continued their program with a more comprehensive focus on travel, performance, volunteering, and leadership development. Notable performances during the 2010s were performing for Queen Silvia of Sweden at the Mentor Foundation Gala, Washington, DC; the 122nd Tournament of Roses Parade; and the 100th Anniversary of Kiwanis International in Indianapolis, Indiana. Camp Up with People was also started during this decade in 2011.[4]

Up with People hired former Board of Director's member and Lawyer Vernon C. Grigg, III as the President & CEO after the retirement of the previous CEO, Dale Penny. Up with People was forced to suspend their tour for Cast A2020 two months in due to the global pandemic caused by COVID-19. They subsequently canceled the following tour B2020 due to the ongoing global health concern.

In 1976, Up with People began to make frequent appearances at the Super Bowl; the group performed in five Super Bowl halftime shows between 1976 and 1986 (with Grambling State University Marching Band being the only other group having that many returns to the Super Bowl halftime show with its six appearances), and performed at the pre-game show of Super Bowl XXV in 1991. By the 1990s, the style of halftime performance they helped define during the 1970s and 1980s (which centered on themed, musical-style spectacles which aimed to "fill the field") were frequently lambasted by critics for being too dated and not in touch with modern popular culture, leading organizers to shift toward popular musicians for future halftime shows.[7]

The UWP program typically covers 8-10 countries (beginning in the United States) on at least two continents over a 6-month semester with a second semester option. The program emphasizes cultural immersion, so participants live with host families during their stay. They tour the city and learn about points of interest in the city from a local guide as well as from their host families. The program also emphasizes that their program draws from a wide range of international participants, so individuals are learning about cultures from the organized travel portion as well as from fellow members.[9][10][8]

The UWP program provides participants with the opportunity to volunteer in each community. They coordinate with local community members ahead of arrival to find projects that are appropriate for the community, so the focus can cover a range of topics such as park/trail restoration, education, homelessness, disabilities, local beautification projects, and more. After the completion of the project, the staff runs workshops with the students to discuss why the project was chosen, and how to identify the needs of communities in the future.[10][11][9]

UWP has always had a musical performance component integrated into their show that involves the cast singing, dancing, and playing musical instruments for the community they just traveled through at the end of each week. They state that participants do not need prior experience to be involved in the show.[10][9]

UWP has a curriculum built around creating "global citizens" through a series of workshops, community projects, and internships. Each component is designed to teach students communication skills, cross-cultural competency, and skills sets that are applicable in future careers. The internships cover backstage technical skills, marketing, public relations, and sales. They are also partnered with universities and offer optional college academic credit for participants for an additional fee.[12][2]

Monday – Travel Day

The cast travels for three to eight hours to the next city. This time is used to create conversations between various cast members and give them an opportunity to reflect and learn. The cast meets their host families, and then they spend the afternoon together at their home and around the city.

Tuesday – Community Discovery Day

The cast and their local host families/contacts watch presentations from local speakers and visit sites of interest.  They also participate in educational workshops and discussions based on the UWP Curriculum.

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday – Community Action Days

The cast and community members volunteer together at schools, at community spaces/parks, and with local NGOs.

Saturday – Show Day

Cast members rehearse for the show they put on for the community, including stage set-up, lighting, sound, costumes, and the musical performance aspects of the show.

Sunday – Host Family Day

The Host Family Day gives students the opportunity to explore the city with their host family, learn customs, and create connections.[13]

Up with People has an alumni group/professional networking organization that goes by the name: the Up with People International Alumni Association (UWPIAA). It was formed in 1988 and is also a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The alumni body is composed of over 20,000 members from over 100 countries, and their vision is stated as: "Our vision is to inspire vibrant multi-generational and global alumni to be instrumental in perpetuating the mission and vision of UWP."[14] They host a reunion event for previous travelers once a year.

Camp Up with People is a 3-week-long sleep-away summer camp in Virginia for ages 13–17 years old. The curriculum has a similar structure to the Up with People touring program, focusing on the arts, leadership, and volunteer service. It also incorporates standard camp activities such as ropes courses. The main notable difference is that the camp occurs only in one USA location instead of traveling like the tour program.[15]

Up with People, Jr. is a program of Up with People composed of week long summer day camps for ages 8–12 years old. The camps occur in multiple countries such as the United States of America, Canada, and Belgium. They focus on teaching arts and crafts, international culture, interpersonal skills, and leadership; ultimately ending in a short musical performance by the campers.[16]

Common Beat is an organization started in Japan by Han Chuson. Chuson traveled as a student in Up with People, took the UWP show ‘A Common Beat’ to Japan, translated it, and performed it there. This grew into the current annual program which has had over 1500 participants since its inception. Common Beat also consistently provides scholarships to Japanese young adults so they may participate in the Up with People program.

Up with People has a partnership with Kiwanis International (the parent organization of Key Club, Circle K, K-Kids, Builders Club, Aktion Club, and Kiwanis Junior), the international service club that encourages youth to get involved in volunteering and leadership opportunities. Kiwanis states that "Kiwanis clubs can engage with Up with People by coordinating service projects, hosting the cast in their homes and sponsoring performances as fundraisers."[17]