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Up With People Brings Peaceful Message, Songs

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By LAURA KINSLER

lkinsler@tampatrib.com

Published: March 5, 2009

DADE CITY - International touring group Up with People arrived Monday for its first visit to Dade City.

The weeklong visit culminates Friday and Saturday with a pair of concerts at Saint Leo University.

The cast, made up primarily of college students and recent graduates, represents 22 countries, among them Norway, Ethiopia, Japan and Mexico. Dozens of Dade City families will host the members and staff while they're here.

The Up With People movement was founded in 1965 as a way for young people to spread a message of peace around the world. More than 20,000 young people have served as global ambassadors. The organization has no religious affiliation, but proceeds from the two weekend performances will benefit Catholic Charities.

Phil Worcester, part of the group's advance team, has been in town since January.

"This semester, the region chosen was the Southeastern United States," Worcester said. "We picked it because we haven't been to the area for a long time."

The 88-member cast started in Miami and stopped in St. Augustine and Orlando before arriving in Dade City. This cast also will travel throughout Taiwan and Mexico before concluding its six-month tour.

"We travel all over the world, and we try to pick cities where we'll have a lasting impact," Worcester said. "We're in Dade City, which has 6,000 people. In a few months, we'll be in Mexico City, which is one of the largest cities in the world."

While in Dade City, the participants will volunteer for a number of local service organizations. Groups will help build homes for Habitat for Humanity, tend to injured animals at Stearns Zoological Rescue and fix up an apartment complex for homeless families.

Today, the cast will spend the day at Pasco Middle School working with 100 students. The program spreads an anti-bullying message and emphasizes diversity and global connection.

Teacher Wanda Rafuse was instrumental in bringing the group to Pasco Middle School. "Their program reinforces everything we're trying to do with our Pirates of Peace program," she said. "I hope that our kids really just eat it up."

IN CONCERT

Up with People

WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday

WHERE: Saint Leo University
TICKETS: $15, $12 for students, at Dade City Chamber of Commerce or Florida Traditions Bank

INFORMATION: (352) 521-1218

Reporter Laura Kinsler can be reached at (813) 779-4617.

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