Patchwork of Peace

A Collective Tapestry of Service and Storytelling

by Zachary Klim

The Patchwork of Peace quilt, created in 1990 at the National Peace Corps Association
conference in Eugene, Oregon, is both a historical artifact and a symbol—a tactile expression of
memory, advocacy, and collective identity among RPCVs. Measuring 27 feet in length and
composed of 100 panels contributed by individual Volunteers, this community quilt reflects the
intersection of art, activism, and social memory.

The project was led by Lisa Greenberg (Sierra Leone, 1984–86), who facilitated the collection of the panels during the conference, and construction was completed by Diane Jeffcott (India
1967–69) in the months that followed. More than three decades later, the quilt made its way to
the Museum of the Peace Corps Experience as a gift proposed by the quilt’s caretaker, Dorothy
Soper (Ghana 1963–65), along with Beryl Brinkman (Afghanistan 1967–69). The museum formally acquired the quilt from the West Cascade Peace Corps Association in June of 2024 and recently showcased it in an exhibition at the International Peace Museum in Dayton , Ohio.

The exhibition, titled Ubuntu in Action: Exploring the Peace Corps and Shared Humanity, featured the quilt not only as a commemorative object, but also as a compelling social text. Each quilt block contains visual and symbolic narratives of service abroad, of encounters with differences and unfamiliar cultures, and of friendships formed across cultures and continents.The Volunteers’ stitched contributions often depict imagery from their host countries—local flora and fauna, flags, faces, and words in native languages—interwoven with abstract representations of the Peace Corps ethos: partnership, peace, and people-to-people connection.

In the years since its creation, the Patchwork of Peace has traveled through time carefully
preserved and largely unseen. Its donation to the Museum of the Peace Corps Experience ensures
that the Volunteer stories—and the deeper meanings stitched into the fabric—will continue to
inspire new generations. The museum and NPCA are planning a similar quilt project to be
launched in 2026 to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Peace Corps, and America 250, the
nationwide commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of
Independence. Quilters and artists who would like to be involved may contact the museum with
expressions of interest.

Zachary Klim, Ph.D. (Bangladesh 2000–01) is Executive Director of the Museum of the Peace
Corps Experience.

To learn more about the museum or support their efforts, go to
museumofthepeacecorpsexperience.org,