Dignity or Disgrace? Controversy over Miss America

“There she is, Miss America, . . .“ For years, pageant host Bert Parks belted out those signature lyrics when young women, stunned by the victory of being named Miss America, strolled down the runway with poise as the audience expressed their praise and approval. Park’s iconic rendition of the song is still used today, and […]

Music and Ideology

AS A MUSICIAN, everything I hear speaks books to me.  With the right mindset, every song, every tune can inspire or conjure up something meaningful about humanity.  And growing up reading of the world and its different cultures, and having visited the United Nations, I was in awe of such a massive, ecumenical congregation of […]

Echoes of Humanity Through Music

  Jarring sounds of screechy violins do not usually come to mind when listening to classical music.  However, ever since the violent premiere of Igor Stravinsky’s Le sacre du printemps, which gave a vital thrust of modernity to western art music, composers have been remarkably adventurous and gutsy in conveying concepts and messages in unheard of ways. […]

Moving Partnerships Forward: LAU

The Lebanese American University (LAU) is the first academic institution that the World Youth Alliance (WYA) partnered with in the Middle East because of their pioneering spirit and willingness to reach out and take risks with partners from across the globe. September 13, 2013 marked another important milestone in the history of LAU as they […]

Hope: the Guiding Light of Humanity

The more I live in this world, the more I realize how corrupted it is… how impossible it is to change; how bad things are so embedded in it that if they were taken out, the world will have turned a complete 180 degrees to the better. Discrimination is all around; it has been for […]

Summer Camp Series: Ximena Vidales and Joanna Liu

From Ximena, a WYA member from Mexico: “In this summer camp I’ve been practicing my dignity through different talks, but also in a dynamic way. We have gone through different topics that in my opinion are very necessary for the whole society nowadays. I met people from different parts of the world and I could […]

Summer Camp Series: Youssef Madbouly

“People seek good.” It’s a simple three worded sentence. However, holds so much meaning. It is these three words that changed my perspective on life and the human person. I’ve realized that the human person is indeed and naturally seeking the well being of others around him. I feel that I’ve become more open minded […]

Summer Camp Series: Elizabeth Bohan

The World Youth Alliance international summer camp has been such an enriching experience for me: listening to the talks, discussing prevalent issues, and forming lasting friendships. Martin Buber, one thinker whose philosophy has been central to our talks, proposes that there are two types of human relationships: the “I-Thou” and the “I-It.” Buber explains that […]

Technology in Latin America: Dignity in a Digital Age?

We live in a hectic, over saturated world where the need for instant information and solutions demands a quick response from human beings and fast political or social action. Just a couple of years ago, it was unimaginable that a person could surf the web and make a phone call through the same line.  Now, […]

A Case on Tackling Economic Malaise through Coops

The economic importance of Cooperative enterprises in the sustainable development of local communities is essential. These economic entities are a genuine reflection of a human activity based on dignity, freedom and solidarity. Therefore it is important to define the term itself, describing what a genuine cooperative is, how it works and how this term is […]