Next Up is growing. 2015-16 marks the tenth year since it was started in BC, its seventh year in Alberta, its sixth year in Saskatchewan, its fourth year in Ontario, and its second year in Winnipeg. Next Up has also run two leadership intensive programs for First Nations & Métis Youth in Saskatchewan. The people organizing Next Up come from a wide range of backgrounds: public policy, community activism, labour, the non-profit sector, and research. We are all involved in social and environmental justice work. We’ve created this program because we believe that a better world is not just possible, but an imperative.

We believe that good solutions to the biggest issues are out there, and can be realized. We have different approaches to teaching and learning, but we all believe that a new generation of progressive leaders is needed and should be supported.

Next Up is a growing network of social change leaders across western Canada. The program is a partnership between several organizations with region specific partnerships that help make the program happen in each region.

Each region has it’s own Advisory Committee made up of great people in that community who are working to make a better world. Advisory committee members come from community organizations, the public and private sectors, not-for-profits and trade unions. The amazing people on the advisory committee’s volunteer their time to help with program design and delivery in their region and to help make community connections between participants and leaders in the community.

2016 marks the launch of a new Next Up Climate Leadership Program. This 5 weekend intensive program is being piloted in Alberta over the spring of 2016.