History of Up with People

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Started in 1965 during a turbulent period in the United States, Up with People was founded by J. Blanton Belk as a positive voice for young people. Its historic path officially began in 1968 when it was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) as an international, educational non-profit entity.

Over the years, Up with People has become known as a tremendous force in international relations, education, and entertainment.  The organization's worldwide influence is far-reaching:

• Over 20,000 young men and women from more than 89 countries have come together to deliver a common message of hope and goodwill to people around the world;
• Up with People has visited 3,600 communities in 38 countries;
• 3 million hours of community service have been performed by Up with People students;
• 450,000 host families around the world  have welcomed Up with People students to their homes;
• An estimated 20 million people worldwide have been directly impacted by Up with People.

Up with People's ability to both touch individuals and affect global change through music and service is unparalleled, as evidenced by the organization's historical highlights. 

Historical Highlights

The '60s | The '70s | The '80s | The '90s | The 2000s

The '60s

• 1965- A group forms called Sing Out, performing the song Up with People in their traveling show
• 1965- Up with People was the first event at Jordan HS in Watts after the LA race riots
• 1967- The cast of Sing Out performs at the World Expo in Montreal
• 1968- Up with People is incorporated as a non-profit organization, through the encouragement of President Dwight Eisenhower and Chancellor Helmut Kohl
• 1969- Up with People is received by Pope Paul VI

The '70s

• 1971- Cast performs with Bob Hope for President Nixon at the White House
• 1972- Cast performs at the Munich Olympics after the tragic massacre of Israeli athletes
• 1974- Cast first visit to Belfast, Northern Ireland
• 1974- Cast performs all summer at the Worlds Expo-Spokane, WA
• 1975- Cast first visit to Morocco and Yugoslavia
• 1975- Up with People invited to facilitate Boston public school desegregation
• 1976- Bicentennial tour of U.S [771 cities, 3.9 million live attendance]
• 1976- Cast performs in Super Bowl X in Miami, Florida
• 1976- Cast first visit to Poland
• 1977- Cast presents 3 Television Specials with Televisa, introduced by Anthony Quinn
• 1978- Cast first visit to People's Republic of China
• 1979- King Juan Carlos of Spain meets cast in Madrid

The '80s

• 1980- Cast performs at Super Bowl XIV in Pasadena, California
• 1982- Cast performs at Super Bowl XVI in Pontiac, Michigan
• 1982- Cast performs all summer at the Worlds Expo-Knoxville, TN
• 1983- Up with People is received by Pope John Paul II in Rome
• 1983- Cast performs all summer at Sea World-San Diego, CA
• 1984- Invited by the King and Queen of Jordan to Amman, Jordan for the Jerash Festival
• 1985- Cast returns to People's Republic of China
• 1986- Cast performs at Super Bowl XX in New Orleans
• 1986- Coca Cola Centennial Anniversary features a 17-city tour of Japan
• 1988- Cast performs for US President George Bush's Inauguration
• 1988- Cast performs at World Expo in Brisbane, Australia 
• 1989- Cast visits to USSR and Jordan
• 1989- Cast performs all summer at De Efteling Theme Park, The Netherlands

The '90s

• 1990- Soviet students travel in UWP for the first time
• 1990- UWP's 25th Anniversary celebration in Denver, CO
• 1992- Cast performs at Earth Summit in Brazil
• 1993- Cast performs in Denver for Pope John Paul II and for US President Bill Clinton
• 1993- Urban school program, Project Pride, launched in Los Angeles
• 1994- Performance in Hong Kong for Chinese New Year
• 1995- Urban Schools Program takes place in Tucson, Denver and San Antonio
• 1996- Cast performs at the Olympics in Atlanta and Disneyland in California
• 1997- Cast tour of Japan and first study groups visit South Korea, Thailand and China
• 1997- Red Cross benefit and Projects in Portugal
• 1998- Affiliation with America's Promise - The Alliance for Youth
• 1998- Cast performs at World Expo in Portugal
• 1999- Cast performs at Celebration of Peace with Colin Powell
• 1999- Launching of the Communities of Peace program
• 1999- Cast performs at International Red Cross event in Switzerland

The 2000s

• 2000- Casts participated in Communities of Peace and perform at World Youth Day in Rome
• 2000 -Up with People suspends operations
• 2004- Up with People launches a new semester-based program called WorldSmart
• 2005- Up with People's WorldSmart program performs for Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter's Square
• 2006- Cast A 2006 first relaunches a full musical performance and assumes the UWP program title 
• 2007- Up with People launches new Emerging Countries program in Thailand and the Philippines
• 2007- Up with People makes second appearance in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York
• 2007- Up with People participates in The United Nations Culture of Peace Forum
• 2008- UWP performs in the Opening Ceremony of the Tournament of Roses Parade in California
  2009 - Cast A 2009 is the first UWP group to visit the island nation of Taiwan

More impressive than where Up with People has been is the very real and sustainable change it has inspired across the globe through its contingent of alumni.  For over four decades, students who traveled in Up with People have gone on to become enthusiastic leaders in their hometowns, their countries and the world. Equipped with the life skills and broad perspectives learned "on the road," they have made a tremendous difference in a myriad of careers and, through their life choices, have truly become global citizens.