Around the World in 480 Days

LANSING, MI – After 12 years in local politics, including a term as the mayor of East Lansing, and 10 years as the president and CEO of the Michigan Nonprofit Association, 36-year-old Sam Singh is packing his bags and pulling the trigger on a life-long dream to explore the world.  Singh’s 16-month, self-funded trip will take him to more than 25 countries and all seven continents.

     It’s the dream of a lifetime, says Singh, who just signed on with Public Policy Associates as their first “global correspondent.”  Singh’s journey will include running a half-marathon in Antarctica, volunteering for Habitat for Humanity in Costa Rica and other stops on his journey, conducting nonprofit management seminars in Nigeria, running with the bulls in Pamplona, celebrating the summer solstice at Stonehenge, and catching the Olympics in Beijing.

     Singh’s world tour combines his love of travel and the intrigue of learning about other cultures with opportunities to volunteer with nonprofits around the world.  He will post his adventures in pursuit of his “worldlist” – all the places he’s wanted to go – in a weekly blog on his website www.singharoundtheworld.com. 

     Singh will also report and comment on public policy, politics and governance around the world for Public Policy Associates, a Lansing-based national research firm.  PPA conducts research, policy development, and evaluation in several public policy areas including economic development, education, workforce development, criminal justice, and health care. Singh’s reports will be on PPA’s website at www.publicpolicy.com.

     “Sam’s odyssey is the envy of everyone I know,” says PPA founder and president Jeff Padden, who recruited Singh to join the PPA team before heading out of town.  “We can’t all pack our bags and leave town but we can live vicariously through Sam’s adventures around the world, checking his website and his blog and learning from his experiences.  We look forward to Sam’s return to Michigan and to PPA in April 2009.”