Experience. Education. Exposure.
We create the next generation of global citizens by exposing African-American youth to international travel, leadership development, entrepreneurship, education, careers, cultural immersion, and sports.
International Scholars and Learning Journeys
Our organization gives a global edge to our inner city youth through international scholarship and virtual learning.
International Scholars
Our international scholars are boys and girls ages 12-18 who travel abroad with our organization. These international experiences help expand their horizons through our 5-pillar curriculum: Education, Entrepreneurship, Careers, Sports, and Cultural Immersion. When students return, they bring a global edge into their extracurricular activities, education, career interests, and interpersonal relationships.
Due to COVID-19, YPT Global Edge has cancelled our international travel until 2021. We now offer these same destinations virtually through our Learning Journey program. This program is available for all ages.
8-Week Virtual Learning Journeys
Fulfill your wanderlust and experience international destinations, history, and culture during our 8-week virtual Learning Journey program.
Learning Journeys take students on virtual educational tours to countries abroad where they learn about the history and culture of the destination from our international team of professionals. Students will hear from educators, entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, and other business professionals who meet the standards of our 5-pillar curriculum.
Topics will include but are not limited to diplomacy, advocacy and social justice, climate change, cultural practices, international educational and career options, sports, and the arts.
Winter 2021 Classes are FULL. Register now for Fall 2021!
8 Weeks | September 18 – November 6, 2021 | Saturdays 12:00-1:30
Scholarships are available!
About Us
Young People Travel Global Edge exposes African-American youth to international travel and our 5-pillar curriculum of education, entrepreneurship, careers, sports and cultural immersion to give students a global edge.
“Only 5% of Americans who study abroad are black.”
“Over 95% of students who study abroad believe it increases their self-confidence.”
A global edge allows students to broaden their worldview in their everyday lives and have a positive impact on their communities and the world.
This offers a pathway into foreign affairs, ambassadorship, international relations, and many other areas that result in a global impact.
Meet Our Scholars
This summer, our International Scholars participated in a 5-week virtual internship where they discussed topics like the Northern Triangle, climate change, Black Lives Matter, diplomacy and ambassadorship, natural disasters and preparedness, and human rights with teens their age from Kosovo, Mexico, El Salvador, and around the U.S. They also worked on special teams focusing on Social Media & Marketing, Research, Fundraising & Sponsorship, and Operations of our organization.
“I think this program had a large impact on how I view social justice issues and it helped me understand it from other people’s perspectives from around the world. But the most exciting thing I learned was about virtual Learning Journeys. It taught me how to do research about countries to learn about culture, architecture, food, and tourism.”
“YPT Global Edge will allow kids to have a new perspective on how others live in other countries and that everyone deserves to live the life that they choose. Something Young People Travel Global Edge taught me this summer is communication skills, teamwork, and learning about new experiences.”
"Because of Young People Travel Global Edge, I am now more comfortable applying for colleges further from home than I was before I started this program."
“Young People Travel Global Edge will impact the world by giving black youth who may be unfamiliar with the world outside of theirs a platform to learn and discover new outlooks of life in other places”
Each International Scholar in our program is expected to choose a destination abroad that fuels a passion or stretches them out of their comfort zone, ensuring their travels will be a pathway to having a global edge.
We are a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Detroit, MI. Donations are tax-deductible.
We aim to encourage African-American children to find their place in the world through education, sports, entrepreneurship, career, and cultural immersion.
Watch this video to learn more!
Check out these photos from our past experiences!
Donate to Global Edge with PayPal
Board of Directors
Sanya Tyson Weston is CEO of Your Premier Travel Service, the oldest African-American owned travel agency in Detroit, and founder of Young People Travel Global Edge, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving inner-city youth in Detroit. Weston has more than 30 years of experience planning and organizing travel excursions. A third-generation business owner, Sanya has been an entrepreneur and community leader in her beloved Detroit community for over half of her life.
Kaleigh Wilder is the Program Assistant Director for Young People Travel (YPT) Global Edge. She brings a wealth of knowledge from her own international travels into her work with Young People Travel Global Edge by creating the Learning Journey online programs, planning itineraries and travel-based activities for students and families, and managing a team of interns.
Financial Services Senior Officer with 17+ years of experience at Massachusetts Bankers Association (one of the largest state banking trade associations nationwide) and in-depth banking industry knowledge and expertise. Also skilled at advancing legislative and regulatory policies that stimulate economic growth.
Award-Winning Experienced Strategic Marketing and Communications Professional with a demonstrated history of working in Marketing, Public Relations, and communications industry. Skilled in Management, Budgeting, Coaching, Event Management, and Yielding Prolific Strategic Outcomes.
Crystal Sanford-Brown, recently retired is a seasoned early childhood advocate within the early childhood field. Having served in direct care as a licensed facilitator of family and group childcare homes, a child care center owner, and an early childhood resource and referral specialist, she celebrated more than 10 years as a coordinator of on-campus children’s centers. Crystal continues to highlight the importance of quality early childhood education and environments for young children.
Janel F. Johnson is a young adult with a passion for travel and a wanderlust spirit. She believes that travel should expose a visitor to the true nature of a foreign locale. When in a new country, Janel can be found traversing local public transportation or becoming a regular at a local bakery. She loves to travel to experience how others live and to expand her view of the world. She is the definition of actively working to “expand your horizons”.
Stephen Ball is Founder and CEO of Wisdem, a company providing college admissions counseling, career advising, homeschool consulting, and entrepreneurship guidance. As an online business, Wisdem works with clients in Metro Detroit, nationally, and across the globe. Ball earned a B.A. in Political Science and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan, as well as a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Destiney is a former collegiate scholar-athlete with a passion for developing youth through literacy and sport. Also a Kentucky State University Alum with a Bachelor's in Mass Communication and Public Speaking, Destiney has 15 + years in athletics as a player, coach, and mentor. She is also the Founder of “ The Pink Laces Foundation” a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization geared toward bringing awareness to female high-school athletes of color and urban areas to earn athletic scholarships. 5+ year's experience as an aviation skycap. Destiney enjoys working with the youth and developing their confidence and communication skills and traveling around the world.
Larmender A. Davis is a professor at Wayne State University School of Social Work in Detroit, MI teaching at the bachelor and master levels. Davis is also the owner of Soul Fire, LLC, a counseling, training, organizational development, and event consulting firm. She is a previous licensee/owner of Your Premier Travel Service Detroit and focused on self-care and corporate travel.
Davis earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and a Master’s degree in social work, both from Wayne State University. She is currently a Doctoral candidate in organizational psychology at Walden University.
Margaret Mutumba is a passionate public health researcher with over 10 years of experience in maternal and reproductive health; particularly focused on affordable infertility care in Sub-Saharan Africa. Her expertise is in health systems thinking, implementation science, qualitative research, hospital & project management, health promotion, and program management.
Margaret is the founder of Infertility Voices, an advocacy platform that seeks to increase awareness, broaden access, and improve the affordability of fertility care in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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