1UpBeat March 2014

by Phil Worcester, C76, USA, UWPIAA Reunions Chair

One of the highlights of each reunion is the yearly opportunity to recognize fellow alumni for their post-UWP contributions to our world. The Reunion 2014 awards

ceremony will be held July 25. Reunion year casts are encouraged to nominate a fellow castmate for one of three prestigious awards.

The first, awarded to one deserving member of the UWPIAA population, is the J. Blanton Belk Outstanding Alumnus/Alumna Award. Eligible nominees must be known for making an ongoing compassionate contribution; volunteering a substantial amount of time to help those in need; inspiring, teaching or challenging others through his/her passion, leadership and vision; or overcoming great personal barriers or tragedy to continue as a model of courage and involvement.

The second, the James E. MacLennan Everyday Hero Award, has been given in past years to alumni who have served others steadily with countless small yet effective acts of

Nominations sought for key Reunion 2014 awardsby Jay Gerring, D87, USA

Don’t be left in the cold! Reunion 2014 is just a few months away and hundreds

of people have already taken advantage of the early-bird discount and registered for this great event.

You can, too! Go to www.uwpiaa.org and click on the Reunions tab for the registration link. In the time it takes to toss a suitcase into a bus cargo bay, you can secure your spot poolside this summer at the gorgeous, newly-renovated Westin La Paloma in sunny Tucson, Arizona.

The reunion dates are July 23 through 27, but with so much going on–and with the fantastic UWPIAA room rate offered by the resort–we think you’ll want to book a few days before or after the event to catch up with friends from all around the world. Alumni from all Up with People tour years are welcome, but those who traveled in 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004 and 2009 will be the special focus of this year’s reunion fun.

Register by April 15, and you will save more than 20 percent off the regular registration fee, which includes most Reunion 2014 activities and several delicious meals. As a special welcome to the casts of 2009 who are attending their first-ever reunion, the $295 rate is good until the first day of the event. Registration for all other casts goes up to $325 on April 16 and to $375 on the first day of the event. Once your registration is complete, you can book a beautiful Westin La Paloma room at the low Reunion 2014 rate of $119 per night. Act fast, as this excellent rate is based on availability.

You already know it’s going to be a great reunion, but here’s an extra nudge to register right away. We are giving away a free suite upgrade to the cast that has the most early

registrations by April 15. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a luxurious suite just for your crew to party, relax and reconnect? Your registration could be the one that tips the scale and helps win the prize, so why wait?

Up with People reunions are an unforgettable opportunity to spend precious time with old friends and refresh the bonds you made on the road, as well as a great way to meet new friends across the eras. There are dozens of activities throughout the weekend for alum and their friends and family of all ages. Cast K and Cast T/Camp UWP are available for those alumni with 6-to-18-year-old students attending.

This year’s highlights will also include the Songwriters’ Café on the evening of Wednesday, July 23. This special tribute to Up with People icon Lynne Morris will feature live music performed by some of UWP’s best and brightest, including the Colwell Brothers, Herb Allen, Ken Ashby and Pat Murphy, and attendees are invited to sing and dance along as if it was your first day on the road. There is an additional

charge of $40 for this special event, with net proceeds to benefit the UWPIAA scholarship fund.

Other Reunion 2014 highlights include a Founders Luncheon hosted by J. Blanton Belk; Carolyn Lee’s delightful presentation, “Keep Your Eye on the Ball;” and an informative talk by Ellen Jaffe Jones (B71, A72) on her pioneering work in broadcast journalism, health and publishing. Friday evening’s award ceremony will recognize alumni who do what UWPIAA members do best, improving their local and global communities in remarkable ways. Saturday’s calendar is brimming with opportunities to relive your tour experience, punctuated by the enormously-popular era shows that night. Plus, we’ll get a sneak peak at the current Up with People show with a live performance.

To get your all-access pass for Reunion 2014, go to the uwpiaa.org website and click on the Reunions tab for the registration link. Questions? Email us at reunions@uwpiaa.org. See you poolside in July! n

Story continues on page 6

Reunion 2014 early registration deadline extended to April 15

REUNION 2014

UpBeat The official newsletter for the

Up with People International Alumni Association

Demand for early-bird registration is high

March 2014

2UpBeat March 2014

The one and only Lynne Morris is the 2014 UWPIAA inductee into the Up

with People Songwriters’ Hall of Fame! Her invaluable contributions to the creation of Up with People shows over a 30-year span and her consulting work with Up with People and UWPIAA will be gratefully acknowledged when she is inducted into the Hall of Fame at Reunion 2014 on Friday, July 25 at the Westin La Paloma Hotel in Tucson, Arizona.

Lynne will be also be saluted at the Songwriters’ Café on Wednesday, July 23. This popular event recognizes the creative geniuses behind UWP shows and lets guests celebrate the new inductees with fantastic live music, singing, dancing and professionally-produced videos. All alumni are invited to sing (and dance!) along

to UWP tunes performed by past year Songwriter honorees. The great Pat Murphy and Ken Ashby will be anchoring the house band, with special guest appearances by UWP legends Herb Allen and the Colwell brothers. Many other talented musicians, singers, and dancers will be featured in this evening of song and dance performed as only those trained and encouraged by Lynne can do. Admission to this special event is $40. Tickets can be purchased on the UWPIAA website, with limited on-site sales based on availability.

Do you have a special “Lynne moment?” All alumni are invited to share a photo or a written tribute to Lynne that will be included in the event program and a scrapbook created just for her as a gift from all alumni across the eras. You can submit photos (with captions, please) or written memories via email to Eduardo Aguirre, E84, Mexico at aguirre.edu@gmail.com.

If you don’t plan to attend Reunion 2014 but do want to join in the Lynne Morris events, you can still take advantage of the discounted UWPIAA hotel rate at the La Paloma for just $119 per night. This special room rate will be offered until June 18.

Ticket proceeds from the Songwriters’ Café benefit the UWPIAA scholarship fund. Purchase your tickets today by going to www.uwpiaa.org and selecting the Eventinterface link on the Reunion 2014 page. Scroll down and choose the Lynne Morris Tribute in the Registration options menu near the bottom of the page. Don’t miss out! See you there! nLynne Morris blocking a show in the 1980s

by Bonnie Knight, B69, USA and Vickie Henthorn Law, B66, USA

SONGWRITERS’ CAFÉ

Reunion 2014 Songwriters’ Café presents

A tribute to Lynne Morris

4 4C an you help alumni in need? Scan this code for informationon how you can help UWP alumni in need:

4Alumni Assistance NetworkREACH OUT

www.roaan.org • info@roaan.org

UWP alumni helping UWP alumni in need.

Join our group on Facebook!

Business networking, student mentoring and career guidance are just some of the

ways the new UWPIAA CareerConnect Committee will help alumni from all eras create productive partnerships to advance their careers. Won’t you join us?

Join the HR ProjectAttention, HR specialists! While many

alum reach out within our network for career help, there are some times when we just don’t know who to call. UWPIAA’s CareerConnect is organizing a Human Resource/Job Skills team that can offer job coaching and teach interviewing and networking skills. Your expertise is needed! For more information, please call Suzanne Hinton, E80, USA at 719.510.7779 or email careerconnect@uwpiaa.org.

Get LinkedInYou are invited to join our growing

list of alumni followers on our official UWPIAA LinkedIn page at www.goo.gl/MTtLDW. Add the page under your own profile and look for future discussion areas. We’ll also post links to our UWPIAA website for alumni business/service listings and alumni networking, and we encourage the few independent alumni groups on LinkedIn to connect with us to build an even stronger network.

Meet Face to FaceReunion 2014 is this July and Celebrate

50! Reunion 2015 is coming up fast, and we are planning some fun and informational resources for both. We hope you’ll stop by our table at Reunion 2014, and that you can participate in some of our terrific Celebrate 50! break-out sessions, speaker and speed networking events.

Get on board with CareerConnect! We welcome your questions, suggestions and feedback at careerconnect@uwpiaa.org. n

by Christina Noël, A90, USA, CareerConnect Committee Chair

New CareerConnect project helps alumni create productive partnerships

CAREERCONNECT

3UpBeat March 2014

Endowed Scholarship Fund established

UWPIAA gifts $50,000 to Up with PeopleThe Up with People International Alumni

Association Endowed Scholarship was funded by gifts made to the UWPIAA by alumni and friends. “The alumni partner with Up with People in a myriad of ways, including financially. The UWPIAA is especially proud to be making a gift of this size that will help support Up with People for many years to come.” says Keith Frohreich, UWPIAA President.

The purpose of the endowed scholarship fund is to provide financial support for students who represent Up with People’s traditional underrepresented constituencies of male performers, ethnic minorities and musicians. “This is the kind of scholarship assistance that can make the difference in so many ways,” says Eric Anderson, Vice President of Admission for Up with People. “Our alumni are a critical component of our recruiting strategy and with this Endowed Scholarship they have taken the next step to ensure that worthy and talented students have the same opportunities that so many of us once had.”

UWPIAA has been contemplating how best to establish this scholarship. “A great deal of thought and foresight was put into this agreement to ensure its lasting impact,” indicates Marc Barbeau, Vice President of

Advancement for Up with People. “It has been a pleasure to work with several representatives of UWPIAA on this project.” Fred Heismeyer, Vice President of UWPIAA, said on behalf of all alumni, “It is a pleasure to continue our support of UWP with the establishment of this endowed fund. The establishment of the fund provides both organizations another opportunity for a long and meaningful partnership.”

The UWPIAA Endowed Scholarship Fund at Up with People is considered an open fund where additional contributions can be added to the principal of the fund at any time. Alumni and friends of UWPIAA and UWP are encouraged to contribute to this fund. Additionally, if you are interested in learning more about how you can establish your own endowed scholarship personally or through your cast, please contact Marc Barbeau at mbarbeau@upwithpeople.org. n

Members of the Up with People International Alumni Association (left to right, Elaine Crapeau, Phil Worcester,

Rick Small, and Bill Holms) present a check to Marc Barbeau (center),Vice President of Advancement for Up with People.

by Marc Barbeau, Vice President of Advancement for Up with People

UP WITH PEOPLE

An anonymous alumni donor has issued a $500,000 Match Challenge! Any

donation to Up with People of $1,000 or more made by June 30, 2014 will qualify for the match. Contact Marc Barbeau at

mbarbeau@upwithpeople.org.

Major challenge grant for Up with People announced

4UpBeat March 2014

Walter Golding, B68, USA1965-1970@uwpiaa.org

Every day seems to be a reunion day as the 1965-1970 Era Facebook page tops 800 members. New and old photographs and memories are constantly posted, and friendships are being renewed and formed. There’s a lot of happy chatter, but also so many instances of alumni making a difference in each other’s lives. The official Facebook page for 1965-1970 alumni of Sing Out and Up with People is www.facebook.com/groups/singoutuwp/ and it is open to any alumni who traveled in that era. Please help us reach out and find them all!

Willie Knowles, B71, USA1971-1975@uwpiaa.org

Through its Mara’s Trust, the members of Cast A72 have rallied behind castmate Marcia Tweed Klecker and her family by helping their extremely talented daughter on her journey through college. Hannah Davis Robson has made the amazingly generous offer to match any donations of up to $5,000 given until May 1, 2014. And Steve Turpen has made the insanely generous offer to do your federal tax return if you’ll donate part or all of your refund to Mara’s Trust. Thank you, Hannah and Steve! You can donate by check or Paypal. You will find all the details on www.marastrust.org.

Lynda Sullivan Hamadi, C83, USA1981-1985@uwpiaa.org

While registration is growing from our era for Celebrate 50! in Orlando, our 1984 casts are also eagerly anticipating their 30th reunion this summer in Tucson. They are engaged in a friendly competition for which cast can have the largest turnout. Many alumni from our era have children who attend Camp UWP and/or join Up with People to experience life on the road. Many from our era have also taken part in the special alumni adventures organized by UWP; most recently to Rome and, coming up in June 2014, to Israel. Join us on Facebook (UWP Alumni 1981-85) and stay connected!

Ruthie Shimabukuro B77, USA1976-1980@uwpiaa.org

(Submitted by Lee Ann Hamilton, Cast Rep, D77)

On February 3, 2014, Cast D77 had a mini-reunion in Tucson, AZ while Hanne Halseth was visiting from Norway and Kathy Stubbs Ziola was visiting from Colorado, USA. There were only six of us, but because we had such a small cast, we represented 10% of our cast! Joining Hanne and Kathy were Mia Hansen, Dan Gunther, Cyndy Watson, and Lee Ann Hamilton. Together again in Tucson. Friends for almost 37 years!!

An invitation to the European Alumni Meeting and great fun in Tallinnby Merle Zimmer, D96, Estonia (on behalf of the EAM Tallinn team)

EUROPE

1965-1970 1971-1975 1976-1980 1981-1985ERA REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS - Alumni through the years

Town hall in Tallinn, Estonia, location for the 2014 EAM, May1 - 4, 2014

We would like to remind you all that there will be a European Alumni

Meeting (EAM) in Tallinn, Estonia, May 1–4.

Tallinn is the capital city of Estonia and the heart of Estonia’s business life. We as locals say that Tallinn is known for its excellent choice of restaurants, wide variety of sights to see, places to visit and culture to experience–galleries, museums, a unique Seaplane Harbor, TV Tower, Rotermanni Quarter, exceptional architecture, Kumu

Art Museum, cozy wineries, lounges with live music, etc. in old town and around it. Our old town is like out of a fairytale. Also, modern necessities like shopping centers are open 7 days a week and you’ll find free wireless Internet everywhere.

This year’s event theme is “Sharing the e-story.” What does this mean? It can be “e” like Estonia. It can also stand for innovation and smart solutions in today’s world: everything is “e”lectronic these days, enabling fast and effective communication.

And last but not least, Estonia has received a lot of praise for being a real e-country (e-tax returns, e-parking, the original home of Skype, etc.). And “sharing” – what a great Up with People verb! UWP was all about sharing. A lot in our lives today is also about sharing. Why not share some more?!

Besides the beautiful Tallinn, we offer a wide

variety of EAM activities and events to take part in. Scheduled for Tallinn EAM is also a BOG meeting and any alumni who are interested in listening can join in. Besides the daytime EAM meetings, there will be entertainment, dinners, sightseeing, community involvement, take your pick! Friday and Saturday evening events are still being planned but we can promise great venues and fun happenings. More information to follow!

We also have lined up visits to the Estonian Parliament and to the Town Hall plus various cool places to see, eat at or dance in. Also, the EAM hotel is one of the popular ones in Tallinn and is located in walking distance from old town Tallinn (about a 10-minute scenic walk that takes you straight to the Freedom Square).

In order to register and find more information, please go to the official website of EAM Tallinn at www.uwpeam.com.

See you all in Tallinn–the city with a nice urban vibe in a cozy setting. Not to mention that May is probably the most beautiful time of year to be here. Mark your calendars now! n

5UpBeat March 2014

Danilo de Simone, E86, CH 1986-1990@uwpiaa.org

We like to have your correct email and postal address. In this way you get the quarterly UpBeat, once a year in print, UWPIAA reunion and Up with People news. Did you register at www.uwpiaa.org or send your updated information to is@uwpiaa.org? Let all your cast members know, please. As a thank you, you can save 15% in the UWPIAA webshop. Also, the UWPIAA Reunion 2014 dates are July 23-27 at the beautiful Westin La Paloma in Tucson, AZ. Congratulations to the 1989 casts on your 25th year of friendship between you all and with the worldwide UWP family.

Anne-Catherine Boes, B92, BE1991-1995@uwpiaa.org

Cast C94 will be having another reunion following the big UWPIAA reunion in Tucson. AZ this summer. The Cast C94 “post-reunion reunion” will be taking place from July 28-31, 2014 in upstate New York at the Sullivan Hotel in Rock Hill, New York (just about an hour or two outside of New York City). If anyone is interested in obtaining more information about the Cast C94 reunion scheduled to take place this summer, they can contact bryant.evans@hccs.edu.

Sharing the ideals of Up with People in Shanghai by Edwin Aponte, B77, Puerto Rico,

Regional Representative/Latin America

Torrin Tyler, A09, New Zealand, Regional Representative/Oceania-Southern Hemisphere

by Fred Heismeyer, A75, USA, UWPIAA Vice President

LATIN AMERICA

OCEANIA - SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE

ASIA

Latin American events planned

Exciting times ahead

1986-1990 1991-1995 1996-2000 2001-2015Shontel Dugar, E98, USA1996-2000@uwpiaa.org

Our era continues to nourish and grow the relationships that started on the road. Kirsi Heiskanen, E2000, Finland, took a special magical mystery tour to reconnect with her castmates. The adventure included miles and miles on a bus, being someone’s first house guest, hearing Indian prayers, Antelope Canyon, seeing a K-9 unit in action, kayaking with seals, reconnecting with long-lost friends, getting to know castmates’ boy/girlfriends, partners, husbands/wives, pets, kids, families, friends, etc., laughing, crying, saying hello, saying goodbye and taking 2,453 pictures to remember it all. We can’t wait for the reunion!

Beth Clay, A08, USA2001-2015@uwpiaa.org

Cast A & Cast B 2009 are getting ready for their five-year reunion in Tucson this summer. WorldSmart 2004 joins the party with their 10-year reunion. As a personal incentive, members from our era who submit a story to the “Stories from the Road” book project will be entered to win a special prize! Get involved with the UWPIAA. Come to Tallinn, Estonia for the European Alumni Meeting (EAM) or email me for ideas at 2001-2015@uwpiaa.org.

Up with People alumni from Shanghai, China displayed

their passion for and confidence in Up with People as they addressed an international audience of young professionals during a December 2013 meeting of Shanghai Rotaract, a worldwide leadership and community service organization for members aged 18 to 30 sponsored by Rotary International.

A highlight in the Shanghai event was a discussion of the community service projects that UWP performs while visiting cities, a strong connection point for the members of Rotaract. Alumni Sifan Liu, A13, Jiamin Walker Zhu,

A10, and I welcomed the opportunity to speak about our UWP experiences and the audience, representing over eight countries, was very receptive. Several expressed interest in learning more about the organization. Recruiting future cast members is one great way alumni can give back to Up with People and help ensure that our legacy continues. n

Sifan Liu, A13, Jiamin Walker Zhu, A10 share their UWP experience with Rotaract in Shanghai, China

In recent weeks, contact was established with UWP and Viva la Gente alumni of Brazil. A possible gathering

with the alumni is being planned in order to promote Brazilian participation at Celebrate 50! Reunion 2015 and to promote the UWPIAA programs. Some Mexican alumni have expressed interest in getting the Mexican UWP alumni together for a meeting prior to Celebrate 50! Reunion 2015 in Orlando. n

Are you one of the estimated 100 UWP alumni living in the Oceania-Southern Hemisphere region? If so,

please contact me oceania-rep@uwpiaa.org to update your profile and to share your ideas on several key topics, including your plans to attend Reunion 2014 in Tucson, AZ and/or the Celebrate 50! Reunion 2015 in Orlando, FL; your thoughts on preferred locations for our region’s alumni meetings; and ways you might help bring an Up with People cast to this ripper part of the world. There are exciting times ahead and we want our Oceania-Southern Hemisphere alumni to help shape the future of UWP and UWPIAA! n

by Sara Keilty, A14, USA

6UpBeat March 2014

Hi! My name is Sara and I was a cast member in the very first summer

session of Camp Up with People - Cast A 2011. I am now touring with Up with People along with my fellow campers Malin from Norway and Charlie from Switzerland. All of us agree that Camp Up with People changed our lives and helped to prepare us for our first month in Denver. Staging has been similar to our three weeks in the beautiful woods of Virginia. Every day we practice international medleys and dances along with songs that pertain to real world issues. We participated in the Martin Luther King Marade in downtown Denver which reminded us of the unique opportunity we had while at camp: touring the White House in Washington D.C. Plus, I knew how to connect better to my staging host family’s different habits and interests because of my one night host family experience while at Camp Up with People.

One of my new cast members in Up with People personally knows my Belgian friend I met at camp and who I still correspond with frequently three years later. We are constantly reminded how big and diverse our world is, and how connection is all around us, bringing

us together, a lesson I first learned in Camp Up with People. Malin, Charlie and I are very thankful for the wonderful adventures, international friends and challenging experiences camp provided for us, and most of all that our experience planted the seed in our heads to travel with the full cast now. We believe that if we could provide every single person with the chance to participate in Camp Up with People or tour with Up with People the world would be headed in a great, positive direction. n

Camp Up with People alumni currently touring with Cast A14

CAMP UP WITH PEOPLE

Camp Up with People alumni and current cast A14 members (left to right) Malin Øygard,

Norway; Charlotte “Charlie” Loopuijt, Netherlands/Switzerland; and Sara Keilty, USA

kindness and time commitment; who have founded, been involved in, or led community service projects; and/or responded to emergencies or human misery, whether domestic or foreign.

The third award is an honor given to an Outstanding Cast Representative. This award will recognize a person who has served as Cast Representative for at least two reunion years (including 2014), whose cast consistently competes for the reunion’s highest percentage attendance honor, and who consistently keeps his or her cast connected during non-reunion years. Additional consideration will be given to those Cast Representatives who support the programs and missions of Up with People and/or UWPIAA through volunteer work and/or fundraising, and who organize mini-reunions during non-reunion years.

To download the award criteria, go to www.uwpiaa.org/awards-criteria. To nominate an alumna or alumnus, go to www.uwpiaa.org/awards-nomination-form. For more information, contact me Jay Gerring at awards@uwpiaa.org.

Nominations sought for key Reunion 2014 awardsContinued from page 1

7UpBeat March 2014

by Malcolm B. Roberts, Sing Out ‘65, USA

Thanks to the Communications Committee for their efforts in creating this newsletter. Stephanie McCollister Cox, B81, USA; Barry Marlow, C83, USA; Cori Jones, C76, USA; Christina Noël, A90, USA; Zan Diener, E91, USAUWPIAA Board of Governors

UpBeat is your newsletter, let us hear your VOICES! Do you have story

ideas or photos relevant to our international family that you would like to share? We want to hear from you.

Email us at communications@uwpiaa.org and start the conversation. Submission deadline for the next edition of UpBeat is May 1, 2014. If you are not online, you can write to us at:

UpBeatPO Box 46102Plymouth, MN 55446

Join the conversation

Applications are now being accepted for the following positions: � Reunions Chair � Asia Representative � 1986-1990 Era Rep � 1996-2000 Era Rep � Development Chair

For a job description and application, contact me at recruitment@uwpiaa.org.

The Board of Governors needs you!by Suzanne Duryee-Hinton, E80, USA, UWPIAA Recruitment Chair

Officers President Keith Frohreich, C66, USA Past President Jeff Zadroga, C84, USA Vice President Fred Heismeyer, A75, USA Secretary Barry Marlow, C83, USA Treasurer Christian Walton, C69, Belgium Committee Chairpersons Communications Stephanie McCollister Cox, B81, USA Development OPEN Alumni Products John VanZanten, D78, USA Information Systems Rosy Salazar, B92, Mexico Reunions Phil Worcester, C76, USA Recruitment Suzanne Duryee-Hinton, E80, USA CareerConnect Christina Noël, A90, USA Alumni-in-Action Jay Gerring, D87, USA Archives Bonnie Knight, B69, USA Celebrate 50! Reunion 2015 Terry McCreary, B68, USA and Vickie Henthorn Law, B66, USA Regional Reps Europe/MidEast/Africa Marie Tobler, D93, Switzerland Latin America Edwin Aponte, B77, Puerto Rico Asia Noritada (Ted) Agatsuma, A71, Japan Oceania-Southern Hemisphere Torrin Tyler, A09, New Zealand Era Reps 1965-1970 Walter Golding, B68, USA 1971-1975 Willie Knowles, B71, USA 1976-1980 Ruthie Shimabukuro, B77, USA 1981-1985 Lynda Sullivan Hamadi, C83, USA 1986-1990 Danilo de Simone, E86, Switzerland 1991-1995 Anne-Catherine Boes, B92, Belgium 1996-2000 Shontel Dugar, E98, USA 2001-2015 Beth Clay, A08,USA

Up with People International Alumni Association has undertaken an exciting

new book project. Titled “Stories from the Road,” the publication will be produced by Many Roads Publishing. Scheduled for release in time for Celebrate 50! Reunion 2015, “Stories from the Road” will feature personal recollections from many of the 20,000 alumni around the world and span UWP’s 50-year history.

We want to hear your own story from the road. We invite you to think back to your time on the road, whether as a cast member or a staffer, for one specific vignette or experience that you won’t forget. Your tale may be dramatic or hilarious, or changed your life or simply a point of view. We know your story is unique to you and yet universal to all of us who travelled in Up with People.

Stories can be any length up to 800 words, photographs are welcome, too. Era and Cast Representatives will be reaching out to alumni across the globe with more details. Please send your submissions to Stories@manyroadspublishing.com. If you have questions or ideas, feel free to contact me at john@manyroadspublishing.com or Stephanie McCollister Cox at communications@uwpiaa.org. We look forward to hearing from you!

by John Ruffin, A65, USA

Tell us your “Stories from the Road”Alumni memories define UWP’s 50-year history in new book

Bridge Builders scatters seeds of change in Alaska

Author James Newton once compared Up with People to the “dynamite tree” in the garden of his friend, inventor Thomas Edison. He said that every year, the tree’s seed

pods grew until they exploded, scattering seeds in all directions. “That,” he concluded, “is what is happening with Up with People.”

I agree. After traveling in the original cast of Sing Out ‘65, I wrote for Pace Magazine, a journalistic vision sponsored by Sing Out. Later, I worked for Wally Hickel, past governor of Alaska and then-U.S. Secretary of the Interior. When Hickel left the cabinet, he invited my wife, Cindy, and me to Alaska where we became involved in politics.

It is here that Bridge Builders has taken root and where, like Up with People, it is scattering seeds of positive change. Since 1996, Bridge Builders has crafted a community of friends among diverse cultures in a region where over 100 different languages are spoken. My experience with Up with People and its mission to build bridges of understanding between all people gave me the ideal background for this project.

To date, people from 43 cultures have taken part in Bridge Builders activities such as the Meet the World in Anchorage festival, showcasing 30 or more ethnic communities; an Independence Day parade in which new and lifelong citizens celebrate side by side; and a Unity Gala to honor the community service of unsung heroes. Our goal is to make Anchorage the first city without prejudice.

Here in the Far North, Bridge Builders is a working model of cooperation and growth for other communities with diverse population. The program has significantly reduced discrimination and forged bonds of understanding and support among residents. If you would like to learn more about the Bridge Builders concept, contact us at mal@gci.net or check out our website at www.bridgebuildersak.org.