Advocacy
It’s Coming! National Day of Action
By Jonathan Pearson on Friday, January 13th, 2012
NPCA Advocates met Congressman Russ Carnahan (D-MO) during last year's National Day of Action
It’s becoming a rite of spring. Just as sure as the Cherry Blossoms will soon return in Washington, advocates of the National Peace Corps Association will return to Capitol Hill this March 1st during Peace Corps Week.
But that’s only half the story and – depending on you – the smaller half of the story behind the 8th Annual National Day of Action in Support of the Peace Corps.
The Day of Action is designed so that even if you can’t join us in Washington, you can still take part. On Thursday March 1st, we want all supporters of the Peace Corps community to take five or ten minutes to make a phone call, write a letter, send an email, send a fax. We will provide you with the key action items and materials you will need to take quick, effective action.
And while you are taking action from home, dozens of advocates will be visiting every congressional office to reinforce the messages you are sending.
Last year, we had 50 advocates on Capitol Hill, participating in more than 100 formal meetings and lots of informal, face-to-face interactions with Senators,
Congressmen/women and their staff.
Can we get 75 advocates to the Hill this March 1st?
If you can join us in Washington, your first step is to contact advocacy@peacecorpsconnect.org to let us know you can attend (Note: the Day of Action will start early in the morning and run throughout the day).
March is an important time to make your voice heard. It will mark the start of the Fiscal Year 2013 consideration of Peace Corps funding. And, we will want to continue on the great work from last year and pass Peace Corps commemorative legislation.
Check out this video from last year’s Day of Action.
Stay up to date by joining our National Day of Action Group on NPCA’s social network, Connected Peace Corps.
Save the date and get ready to take action on March 1st!
Great! I had signed up for similar activity during the recent PC 50th celebratory activities and then I got a contract for work in what had been Somalia, so I had to give up 50th participation, sell off some tickets I had purchased and leave that week! So this time, as a native Washingtonian, I hope to get a picture of how our legislative process works (and doesn’t!). Going back to Somalia was also special for me as I had helped train the last group of PCVs in 1968, returned to train Somali managers in 1988 and now in 2011 to return yet again. So, I guess I’m due back in Somalia in 2031 or every 20 years. And the most exciting part of my recent trip to Somalia was meeting a Somali who had been a language teacher back in 1968! Imagine that.