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National Peace Corps Association > News > Advocacy > Peace Corps Boost from the Nation’s Mayors
Peace Corps Boost from the Nation’s Mayors
By Jonathan Pearson on Monday, June 18th, 2012
Eugene Oregon Mayor and Ethiopia RPCV Kitty Piercy
Although we most often associate Peace Corps policy matters with the President or Congress, that’s not always the case.
Take this past weekend at the 80th annual gathering of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Included among the nearly 150 resolutions approved during the four day conference was one which recognizes “the vital work of the Peace Corps around the world and the valuable contribution that returned Peace Corps volunteers make to communities in the United States upon their return from service overseas.”
The Peace Corps resolution was originated by RPCV Kitty Piercy (Ethiopia 64-66), who serves as Mayor of Eugene, Oregon. Quoted in a Peace Corps press release, Piercy says the Peace Corps benefits us domestically as well as internationally. ”I know that I have taken that experience and knowledge to inform and guide me as teacher, state legislator and now Mayor of Eugene Oregon. I have no doubt that Peace Corps volunteers represent a vast and talented resource for this country as we struggle out of a difficult recession and prepare ourselves for a better future in a complex and ever smaller world.”
Beyond simply recognizing the contributions of current and returned Peace Corps Volunteers, the resolution calls upon the nation’s mayors to encourage Peace Corps service and to host events to mark Peace Corps Day (March 1st). The resolution also calls upon the returned Peace Corps community to support city initiatives and operations as part of their ongoing commitment to service. One of the key findings from last year’s 50th anniversary survey of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (commissioned in part by the National Peace Corps Association) was that 55 percent report they regularly volunteer in their local communities, more than double the national rate for volunteering in the United States.
Follow this link to read the resolution.
Follow this link if you would like to reach out to Mayor Piercy and thank her for for leadership in recognizing the importance of the Peace Corps.
