Up with People

Student Participate

In 2008, I embarked on an experience of a lifetime.  I decided to take a Gap Year and traveled with the international organization, Up with People, for a 6 month tour.  Up with People is an international non-profit, educational organization whose mission is “to train people in global leadership and to spark them to action in meeting the needs of their communities, countries, and the world while building bridges of understanding as a foundation for world peace” (Up with People, 2014).  On January 11th I met my castmates in Denver, Colorado.

Photo by: Anthony's Personal Collection

Our cast, Cast A, was comprised of 110 participants from 27 countries, and represented a total of 28 nations.  The 6 month tour consisted of global workshops, community impact projects, living with host families, and performing a high-energy show each week that raised proceeds for local organizations.  I personally:

  • Accumulated more than 300 hours of community service work.
  • Lived with 22 host families throughout the United States, Mexico and Thailand.
  • Completed the Stage Manager internship.
  • Performed for thousands as a front line dancer.
  • Grew tremendously as a person!
 

Staff Member

Toward the end of my student semester, I was invited to be a part of the road staff that facilitates the Up with People experience.  I was hired as the Lighting Technician where my primary area of responsibility was to design and run the lights for the Up with People Show.  I worked with the production team to ensure the safety of the cast, audience members, and the successful run of every show.  In addition to these responsibilities, I mentored students, taught workshops on leadership and communication, and facilitated the service-learning process incorporated into the Up with People program.  

Traveling as a staff member afforded me the opportunity to apply many individual strengths and leadership abilities, and allowed me to gain cross cultural competencies.

Some accomplishments as a staff member with Up with People were:

  • Increased the number of applicants for the Lighting Intern position, attaining highest number submissions.

  • Trained interns to independently perform all lighting position duties.

  • Formed lasting relationships with some of the most incredible people I met in the world who are doing amazing work to continually serve others first.

 

Graduate School

I continued to travel after Up with People. In fact, much of my experiences with Up with People led me to pick a graduate program which reflected many of intercultural aspects I experienced while traveling with Up with People.

During my graduate studies, I traveled to Italy where I studied the Italian language and acquired an A2 proficiency of speaking Italian. In addition to studying the language in the classroom, I lived with a host family and participated in evening language groups where local Italians and english speakers came together to practice language fluency and accuracy. Also, I taught english in Italian high schools several days a week and taught basic english to five year old children through basketball. Lastly, my program in Italy took him to several cities in Italy where I learned about the type of development work Italy faces. Additionally, I continued to study Intercultural Communication but looked at the topic through a European lens, which didn't differ too much from my Navajo perspective.

After studying in Italy, I spent a semester in Ecuador where I took a one week intensive course in Spanish. Here, I lived with a local family as well. In Ecuador, I focused on Identity and the social factors that determine class through Ecuador and other South American countries. Furthermore, I looked at Plurinationlism and the Indigenous populations seeking recognition and their land rights.  This topic meant that we learned much about the oil companies in South America. In fact, we did a "toxic tour" where we had a tour guide and several speakers talk to us about the effects of oil in the country, especially among the Indigenous populations. 

While in Ecuador, I volunteered with a local NGO, NinaShunku. I worked with this NGO since they did development work through the Arts. During this time, I felt my artist side needing release and I sought out a group who understood the power of the arts in social change. Ninashunku was it! While I mainly helped them with Marketing and translations, I did spend much time with them and learned more about their mission and how they used their space as a safe haven for all people who wanted to express their culture, identities, and injustices through art.