Press Release: National Peace Corps Association Holds International Panel on Future of the Peace Corps

Washington, DC — September 14th, 2011 — Former president of Peru, vice president of Nigeria among distinguished guests

The National Peace Corps Association, the nation’s leading 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization supporting Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and the Peace Corps community, will hold an international panel discussion on Sept. 24 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the National Theater in Washington, D.C. Supported by the SEVEN Fund to honor of the Peace Corps’ 50th anniversary, the panel will share views on how the Peace Corps community will continue to grow and strive for world peace and prosperity over the next 50 years. Over 1,600 members of the public and supporters of the Peace Corps are registered for this free event, which is now at capacity with a waiting list to attend.

“The Peace Corps in its very nature is an international program and so by bringing together distinguished leaders from around the world to discuss its future, we can better understand how the program will change and its impact over the next five decades, “ said Kevin F. F. Quigley, president of the National Peace Corps Association. “The golden anniversary year of the Peace Corps also is an opportune moment to recognize that some of the Peace Corps’ greatest impact is on those individuals with whom Volunteers worked, including these global leaders on the panel.”

A panel of thought leaders and global figures will discuss their experiences with the Peace Corps and share views on pressing topics with the community. Bill Moyers, first deputy director of the Peace Corps and a leading American journalist and public commentator, will moderate. Panelists include former President of Peru (2001-2006) Alejandro Toledo, former Vice President of Nigeria (1999-2007) and founder of the American University of Nigeria Atiku Abubakar, and former finance minister and 2009 presidential candidate in Afghanistan Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai.

A separate session will also feature competitive proposals for a global community project where a select group of pre-screened projects will be presented to the audience for review and questions. The audience will then vote for the most deserving project, which will be awarded with a $25,000 grant during The Promise of the Peace Corps Gala later that evening.

“While celebrating the last five decades of the Peace Corps is important, it’s equally crucial for us to consider its future and understand where it’s going and how to enhance its effectiveness,” added Quigley. “This panel will help us better understand that.”

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About the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA)

Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) is the nation’s leading 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization connecting and championing Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and the Peace Corps community. It provides service and education opportunities that build on the Peace Corps experience, and is also the longest-standing advocate for an independent and robust Peace Corps. To learn more, visit: www.peacecorpsconnect.org

Media contact:
Erica Burman
Director of Communications
Phone: 202-293-7728

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