People International Inc (Pii) is the name for both a motivational and a musical performance organization.
The organization is made up of a cast which sing and perform in the United States at annual summer conventions. Along with performing the show, cast members participate in community impact activities and assist volunteer organizations as a way to give back to the communities that host them.
History edit
The United States in the 1960's was changing. Protests against the Vietnam war, and policies of the government were not uncommon. One group that worked toward bringing christian values of the "four Absolutes" - (absolute honesty, absolute purity, absolute unselfishness and absolute love) was Moral Re-Armament (MRA) who at a conference in 1965 formed a show as a tool to spread it's message.
Sing Out 65' was supposed to be a one-time event, but the enthusiasm of the youth involved was well recieved, and Sing Out 66' followed the next year. The movement continued to grow, and Sing Out 66' reincorporated in 1967 to become the world known Up with People.
With the Up With People cast touring the United States and the world, the organization began encouraging the formation of local "Sing Out" groups - providing publications to help perform and staging directions to the smaller groups. Groups soon were performing everywhere in the country.
In 1968, Up with people incorporated as a non profit organization and severed ties with MRA. Up With People's relationship to local "Sing Out" casts wained and finally broke affilication with the Sing Out Program as well later that year. Without the support of UWP, the local Sing Outs accross the country began to fade themselves.
In 1971, a group of representatives for the small Sing Out groups met in Waco, Texas for the first conference of the National Sing Out Action Council (NSOAC) which in 1977, would become People International Inc. (Pii) [1]
Soon after, members of Sing-Out groups around the country were meeting for annual conferences in the Summer - each year at a different location within the United States. The organization affiliates itself to an area organization that dedicates itself to helping others, and the funds raised at the final performance at week's end are donated to that charity.
Summer Conferences edit
As mentioned previously, Pii holds a week long conference at different locations within the United States every summer. During these conferences, the participants are busy with rehearsals, show preparation, and small team-building exercises. Later in the week, the cast travels to local community sites and put on free shows that are open to the public as well.
- 1982 - University of Windsor, Windsor Canada Charity:
- 1983 - University of Louisville, Louisville KY Charity: Muscular Distrophy Assn.
- 1984 - Kent State University, Kent, OH
- 1985 - Fontbonne College, St Louis MO Charity: Child Find
- 1986 - Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti MI Charity:
- 1987 - , Hutchison, KS Hutchison Petting Zoo
- 1988 - Randolph-Macon College, Ashland VA Charity: The American Field Society
- 1989 - Kent State University, Kent OH Charity: Safer Futures
- 1990 - Allentown College, Allentown PA Charity: Spina Bifida Assoc of Lehigh Valley
- 1991 - St. Louis, MO
- 1992 - Kent State University, Kent, OH Charity:
- 1993 - Host families, Richmond, VA Peter Paul Development Center
- 1994 - Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti MI Charity: Huron Services for Youth
- 1995 - Cedar Crest College, Allentown, PA Charity: Jenn's House
- 1996 - Boy scout camp, Connecticut Charity:
- 1997 - Host families, Richmond, VA Charity: Richmond for Rich
- 1998 - , Fond du Lac, WI Red Cross
- 1999 -
- 2000 -
- 2001 -
- 2002 -
- 2003 -
- 2004 -
- 2005 -
- 2006 -
- 2007 - Kent OH Charity: Stewart's Caring Place of Akron
- 2008 - St Clair Shores, MI Charity: Outdoor Opportunity Fund (Boy Scouts of America)
Sing Out Programs edit
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Unless otherwise noted - Sing Out programs listed here have been closed for many years.
- Sing Out South - Richmond VA
- Sing Out Fond Du Lac - Fond Du Lac WI
- Sing Out New Tomorrow - St. Louis MO
- We the People (Formerly Sing Out Kent)- Kent OH
- Sing Out Dearborn - Dearborn MI
- Sing Out Reno County - KS
- Sing Out Kalamazoo - Kalamazoo MI
- Sing Out Detroit - Detroit, MI
References edit
People International Annual Show Programs:
- "Tomorrow's a Picture" 1983
- "We can Make it Happen" 1985
- "Magic Power" 1988
- "Life is a celebration" 1989
- "Follow your Dreams" 1990
- "Taking it to the Streets" 1994