Martin Luther King Jr. and the Peace Corps
By Mike Roman, Kiribati 00-02 In the early 1960s, as the world trembled between hope and fear, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke not only to America, but to humanity. He spoke of a beloved community—a world bound together not by power, but by justice, dignity, and mutual care. While his voice echoed through churches, city streets, and the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, another idea was taking shape alongside his dream: the belief that peace could be built through service. When the Peace Corps was founded in 1961, it carried a quiet kinship with King’s vision. Young Americans were asked...
What Does Peace Corps Do for America?
Every Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV)’s experience is unique and challenging. Facing the unknown, learning a language (or two), developing sensitivity to very different cultures, growing new relationships, identifying and completing projects, and overcoming physical difficulties are but a few of the tasks that PCVs face. When they return home, their stories tend to revolve around the experiences they had during their service and the impact they had in the countries they served. But service in the Peace Corps also affects the United States in ways that are equally important to document. The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Archival Project...
Peace Corps Needs Our Support
After weeks of disruption and dismantling for many federal agencies and programs (including many international assistance programs), members of the Peace Corps community are legitimately concerned about what could happen to the agency. We should know more about where the Peace Corps stands in the next several weeks, when it is expected that the Trump administration will deliver its Fiscal Year 2026 budget request to Congress. NPCA is monitoring the situation closely and will keep our community informed as we learn more. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to receive alerts on any further developments. You can also...
NPCA Leads Effort to Protect Peace Corps Ideals
Join us for a town hall on Thursday, February 6th, at 8:00 PM to discuss the latest updates and happenings. Including: Open Mic, Q&A, and Exclusive Updates from Peace Corps. Register here. At this time, no actions by the new administration have been focused solely on the Peace Corps, and volunteers remain on the job. However, a variety of Executive Orders are having several serious impacts on agency and volunteer operations. At the same time, thousands of individual Returned Peace Corps Volunteers who have proudly served in various government agencies, or who work for/contract with non-governmental organizations that provide critical...
NPCA Board Chair Expresses Concern about the Future of Peace Corps
Protect the Peace Corps: A message from NPCA Board Chair John Lee Evans In my opinion, there is no guarantee that the Peace Corps, as we know it, will continue to exist. The Peace Corps has endured many political changes, but now we are in an unprecedented and uncertain political environment. If you believe that the experience you had in the Peace Corps should be available for the next generation, we need your help now. Whether you are a regular or infrequent NPCA donor, we are asking you to chip in an extra $50 to save the Peace Corps at...
House FY 2025 Spending Bill Avoids Peace Corps Funding Cut
It's appropriations season on Capitol Hill! And, in a continued, difficult fiscal environment, a recent victory for the Peace Corps community provides a strong possibility that funding for the Peace Corps in the upcoming fiscal year (FY 2025) will – at worst – be no less than current funding levels. In The House: Overcoming a Budget Cut The House of Representatives took up its version of the FY 2025 State/Foreign Operations appropriations bill on June 26. Initially, this funding bill included a proposal to cut funding for the Peace Corps from its current $430 million to $410 million –...
RPCV Representatives Make Impression at UN Women’s Conference
Eight NPCA representatives make valuable connections at United Nations Women's Conference to further the conversation on global progress toward gender equality By Greg Emerson Every spring, the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) holds its flagship two-week conference to bring global stakeholders together to discuss approaches to improving the lives of women and girls around the world. It’s the second-largest event on the UN calendar, after the General Assembly session in September. This year, National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) representatives were there to engage, and, most critically, build connections for an impactful partnership at next year’s meeting....
Diary of a First-Time Advocate
8:30AM It is a windy morning when I arrive at our Peace Corps meeting point in an old church located two blocks away from the Supreme Court and the Capitol building. Ever since I moved to Washington D.C., I am continuously amazed and humbled by our nation’s magnificent venues. When I arrive at the church, I am impressed by the large number of former Peace Corps Volunteers who, like me, had served our country in previous years. Everyone I greet is kind as we share experiences about serving on the ground with our global communities. 8:45AM Jonathan Pearson, Peace Corps Advocacy...
Former Peace Corps Directors Call on Senate to Pass the Peace Corps Reauthorization Act
In a bipartisan show of support, ten former Peace Corps Directors who have served under Republican and Democratic administrations alike call on the Senate to pass the Peace Corps Reauthorization Act. The most sweeping Peace Corps legislation in a generation, it would bring important reforms and support for Volunteers as the agency seeks to meet the needs of a changed world. Press Release Today, 10 former Peace Corps Directors who served in both Republican and Democratic administrations sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), calling on them to pass the Peace Corps Reauthorization Act (S....
Senate Peace Corps Funding Letter Hits New Record!
Each spring, the Peace Corps community mobilizes to support letters issued in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives urging robust funding for the Peace Corps. Senators Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) circulated a Dear Colleague letter asking for an increase in Peace Corps funding, and the Peace Corps community responded. The Dear Colleague letter, an official correspondence sent by Members of Congress to encourage others to support or oppose a bill, received a record 41 signatures this year. That number surpassed the previous high of 37 signatures, achieved in both 2009 and 2018. Coupled with a record breaking House Dear Colleague letter and its 181 signatures, a...