Up With People

Up With People, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to empowering youth to promote global peace and dignity through cultural exchange, performing arts, and dialogue. Their mission is to bring together young individuals from various backgrounds and cultures, transforming them into culturally competent, global citizens who contribute positively to their communities.

The flagship program of Up With People, titled Voices by Up With People, is a 12-week arts-based, cross-cultural exchange program for youth between the ages of 18 and 24. This program includes leadership training, community service, and learning through cultural immersion and performing arts. A group of 50 young individuals, known as a cast, travel to several cities in various regions, staying with host families and local youth to develop cross-cultural understanding and build lifelong relationships.

During this journey, the cast participates in an experiential global citizenship curriculum, which includes workshops with local artists, artisans, and leadership experts. They collaborate with local communities to design social action projects centered around the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which they implement in their respective communities. Each city visit culminates in a Voices Festival and an Up With People show, co-created with local partners, youth, and artists.

Through this program, Up With People fosters global citizenship, leadership, life skills, employability and entrepreneurial mindsets, a strong sense of purpose, and a desire to make a meaningful difference in their communities. The inaugural Voices program traveled through Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Guatemala, engaging over 4,000 community members and performing for nearly 3,000 audience members.