Humanity

Being socially distant does not mean we must also be emotionally distant. As human beings, we have a natural need to feel connected to a community. The shared experiences resulting from the coronavirus pandemic have reminded us of the dynamic global community we’re all part of and the profound impact kindness can have during challenging times.

On this show World Footprints discusses the power of travel to generate social change and heal depression with two amazing guests. Matilde Simas is an award-winning documentary photographer who uses her gifts to generate social change. Her work focuses on human rights, people affected by trauma, and endangered ecosystems. Matilde Simas, born in 1973, studied at the Suffolk University in Boston and studied photography at the Rhode Island School of Design. As a photographer and filmmaker, she traveled to more than 50 countries and early on started to fully commit herself to human rights and the fight against violations of the rights of women and children. In 2017 the award-winning photographer founded Capture Humanity, an artistic collaborative organization that aims to document humanitarian groups that assist women, children, marginalized communities, and conservation efforts. Patience, commitment, and integrity are the core of their effort to inspire greater creative and social consciousness. [...]

World Footprints was invited to attend the GirlUp Leadership Summit in Washington, DC.  GirlUp is an innovative campaign of the United Nations Foundation that gives American girls the opportunity to become global leaders and channel their energy and compassion to raise awareness and funds for United Nations programs that help some of the world’s hardest-to-reach adolescent girls.

On the occasion of International Press Freedom Day, World Footprints was invited by the UN Foundation to attend a powerful event sought to change the narrative and examine women's voices in fragile states and why those voices matter. The UN Foundation co-hosted a distinguished panel which was led by Ambassador Melanne Verveer of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security.  She was joined by Krista Hendry from The Fund for Peace, Amy Slaughter and Yar Ayuel with RefugePoint and award-winning filmmaker Elaisha Stokes.  The panel discussed the challenges that women face in fragile states and areas where women are taking the lead in reconciliation.  They also examined what happens to girls and women as the most vulnerable and neglected victims in conflict afflicted states, and why telling these stories is important. In fragile states, women can be agents of change, leading the way in promoting development and achieving social [...]

Tonya Fitzpatrick, an award-winning travel journalist and 3-time TEDx speaker, brings a fresh perspective on the power of travel in her TEDx talk, "Travel as an Antidote to Divisiveness." As co-founder of the social impact travel platform World Footprints, Tonya has spent years exploring how travel can be used as a force for good, challenging stereotypes, bridging cultural divides, and fostering mutual understanding. Her TEDx presentation shines a spotlight on the ways travel can heal divisions, whether they stem from race, religion, politics, or geography. In this inspiring talk, Tonya takes the audience on a journey that goes beyond the typical vacation experience. She explains how purposeful travel, with an openness to learning from others, has the power to transform individuals and communities alike. For Tonya, travel is more than just seeing new places—it's a way to engage with different cultures, challenge assumptions, and grow in empathy. This intentional approach [...]

NBC News correspondent and former Middle East Bureau Chief, Martin Fletcher, joins World Footprints to share his new book, Walking Israel.  Fletcher’s book chronicles his adventures and insights as he walked along the coast of Israel meeting people and immersing himself in his surroundings.  We will discuss some of the misperceptions that some have of Israel and why a visit to the historic country is worth considering. 

You may have seen the “60 Minutes” interview with Howard Buffett and clips from the World Food Program’s 10th Annual George McGovern Leadership Award Ceremony and global hunger conference at the U.S. Department of State but World Footprints is sharing the complete highlights.

After the War of 1812, Canada’s reputation as a safe haven for slaves grew. Fugitive slaves fled to planned settlements like The Elgin Settlement, known today as Buxton, located in Ontario. Bryan and Shannon Prince from the Buxton National Historic Site & Museum will share how Buxton survived and developed as a haven for fugitive slaves to a thriving town that continues to preserve its rich history.   Then, World Footprints joined with CNN and the BBC as a media partner of the United Nations Global Initiative of fight Human Trafficking (UN-GIFT). We’ll speak to our UN-GIFT partners from Austria, Livia Wagner and Siria Gastellum, to discuss this global issue and learn why human trafficking is the largest and fastest-growing criminal industry in the world-- worth an estimated US$32 billion each year. As responsible travelers, there is a lot we can do to fight this awful crime, and Livia and [...]

Fans of the CBS prime-time reality show, Survivor will remember contestant Becky Lee from the 2006 Cook Islands season. She took her prize money and created Becky’s Fund, to raise awareness about domestic violence. Becky will talk about her social mission with the fund, and share some tips for making it on Survivor. Then, we’ll share how the game of soccer is promoting global citizenship and transforming lives with guest Lawrence Cann, the founder and CEO of Street Soccer USA, who has made soccer a force for social change. Lawrence Cann intended to volunteer for a month at a homeless services center in Charlotte, North Carolina in 2002. The Street Soccer USA venture, for which Lawrence is the Founder and CEO, has grown from 1 program in Charlotte, North Carolina to 18 cities across the United States. Under his leadership, the organization has established relationships a variety of companies, foundations, [...]

On today's  podcast episode... Jana La Sorte, Executive Director of Urban Bush Women, talks about her dance company’s selection as one of three companies selected to inaugurate the U.S. State Department’s cultural exchange program called “Dance Motion USA.” Then, you will meet Cat Cora, the first and only female Iron Chef and founder of the non-profit organization called Chefs for Humanity. Cat Cora is an accomplished lifestyle entrepreneur, author, restaurateur, contributing editor and television personality. She made television history in 2005 when she became the first female Iron Chef on Food Network’s Iron Chef America.  Cat, the Iron Chef will talk about her foundation’s philanthropic efforts, including their newly launched campaign for Haiti called One Million in One Month. And now that the Olympic Games have concluded, the world is shifting its attention to South Africa, the host country for the 2010 World Cup. Travel’n On will be joined by one [...]