News
International Victorious Woman Month: Celebrate some of Peace Corps Most Victorious and Inspirational Women
May is International Victorious Woman Month! This month, we recognize some of the women in Peace Corps history who made significant impacts and contributions in various industries such as government, business, science, arts and more. By Priyasha Chakravarti Happy International Victorious Woman Month! First celebrated in 2006, this month recognizes women who have stepped beyond their comfort zones, embarked on new journeys, and made a positive difference globally — something that Peace Corps Volunteers have done since the agency’s inception in 1961. This year, we want to use this opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Peace Corps women in history...
National Days of Advocacy: Voices from a Team of Peace Corps Advocates
On Capitol Hill Advocacy Day, a team of five RPCVs visited six congressional offices to urge lawmakers to support the Peace Corps. Hear what they had to say about why they advocate for the Peace Corps. By Tiffany James As part of NPCA's National Days of Advocacy 2023, 120 Peace Corps advocates from 30 states and the District of Columbia returned to Washington, D.C., for an in-person Capitol Hill Advocacy Day on March 9. Grouped into 27 teams, the advocates spent about eight hours meeting with more than 160 congressional offices in support of the Peace Corps. Among the groups was Team 18, which included Flavio...
Peace Corps Reauthorization Act Re-introduced in Senate
Senators Robert Menendez, Jim Risch, and colleagues have reintroduced the Peace Corps Reauthorization Act of 2023. If passed, this would be the first comprehensive reauthorization of the Peace Corps agency for the first time in over 20 years. By Jonathan Pearson On Wednesday, April 19, Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and James Risch (R-ID), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, re-introduced the Peace Corps Reauthorization Act (S. 1203), which would be the first comprehensive reauthorization of the Peace Corps in over twenty years. “Today, we’re reintroducing legislation that will reauthorize the Sexual Assault Advisory Council, mandate security briefings, improve whistleblower...
Celebrating the Wide Range of Achievements Made By Members of the Peace Corps Community
News and updates from the Peace Corps community — across the country, around the world, and spanning generations of returned Volunteers and staff. Compiled by Peter V. Deekle (Iran 1968–70) For nearly five years, National Peace Corps Association has published the Community Achievements article to amplify the accomplishments and celebratory updates of returned Volunteers and Peace Corps staff. To expand and diversify the achievements highlighted, we are inviting the Peace Corps community to submit recent or upcoming achievements via this submission form. We encourage all RPCVs, current Volunteers, affiliate groups, and Peace Corps staff to complete the form so we can showcase your accomplishments with the...
42 Senators Sign the Peace Corps Funding Letter in support of increased funding for the Peace Corps
U.S. Senator Robert Menendez circulated the annual Dear Colleague Peace Corps Funding letter during the week of April 10th, supporting President Biden's request of a 15 percent increase in Peace Corps funding. 42 Senators signed this year's letter, one short of our record. By Jonathan Pearson On Monday, April 10, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, began circulating the annual Peace Corps Funding Dear Colleague letter. This year's letter to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for State/Foreign Operations, urges support for President Biden's request of $495 million for the Peace Corps — a 15 percent, $65 million increase in funding for Fiscal Year...
Peace Corps Achievements – March and April 2023
News and updates from the Peace Corps community — across the country, around the world, and spanning generations of returned Volunteers and staff. By Peter V. Deekle and Priyasha Chakravarti Jon Santiago (pictured, Dominican Republic 2006–08) became Massachusetts’ first-ever Secretary of the Executive Office of Veterans’ Services on March 1, overseeing facilities and benefits for more than 270,000 veterans in the state. Johnnie Carson (Tanzania 1965–68) was appointed as the Special Presidential Representative for U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit Implementation last December. Peggy Walton (Ukraine 1994–96; 2013–16) a retired teacher, enrolled to participate in the Peace Corps Virtual Service Pilot Program in Ukraine, an active war zone. We also share more stories...
Meet the Peace Corps’ 2023 Franklin H. Williams Awards Honorees
For over two decades, the Franklin H. Williams awards have annually recognized ethnically diverse Returned Peace Corps Volunteers dedicated to civic engagement, service, diversity, inclusion, world peace, and friendship. The six 2023 awardees were honored in Washington, D.C., on March 1 — as part of Peace Corps Week. By Priyasha Chakravarti Photo: Franklin H. Williams was an American lawyer and civil rights activist who served as Peace Corps’ regional director for Africa. He was the first Black person appointed to the UN Council and the first Black person ever to serve as an ambassador to an African country. On March 1, the Peace Corps...
Peace Corps Week: Climate Change and Agriculture in Senegal
Many Peace Corps posts around the world organized country-specific virtual events to celebrate the day that President Kennedy established the agency. Peace Corps Senegal's event explored life and service in Senegal — against the backdrop of intensifying climate change impacts. By Priyasha Chakravarti Photo courtesy RPCV Caitlin Healy In celebration of Peace Corps Week 2023, posts across the world organized country-specific, virtual events, such as Peace Corps Senegal’s “Climate Change and Agriculture in Senegal” panel discussion. Hosted on March 1, the event focused on how Volunteers worked with their counterparts to address agricultural needs and climate challenges — fitting as the month of March is National...
136 House Reps Sign 2023 Peace Corps Funding Letter!
Following President Biden's March 9th announcement that he is requesting $495 million for the Peace Corps in Fiscal Year 2024, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA) issued the annual Peace Corps Funding Dear Colleague letter. The letter to leaders of the House Appropriations Committee – which urges support for the president's request – secured 136 signatures in less than one week. Four House Republicans (Bacon-NE, Molinaro-NY, Gonzalez-Colon-Puerto Rico, and Radewagen-American Samoa) signed onto this year's letter. Use this link to read the final letter. Take Action: Review the list of signers below. If your Rep is among those who...
NPCA’s National Days of Advocacy Continue — Including our March 9th Return to Capitol Hill
NPCA's National Days of Advocacy Continue — Including our March 9th Return to Capitol Hill By Jonathan Pearson For the past 19 years, National Peace Corps Association's (NPCA) primary contribution to Peace Corps Week — the week that includes March 1st, when President Kennedy in 1961 signed an executive order that established the Peace Corps — has focused on citizen advocacy. Our message: If you don't do anything else all year long, this is the time to reach out to your representatives in Congress and urge them to support the Peace Corps. When it comes to the Third Goal of...