News
In Memoriam – September 2019
As we honor the 58th anniversary of the signing of the Peace Corps Act, we remember the accomplishments of those who recently passed away with the distinction of being known as Returned Peace Corps Volunteers. Carol Chuckrow Guernsey died just two months after celebrating her 50th wedding anniversary with her husband Sherwood, with whom she had served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Panama. The meaningful relationships they developed in Panama informed them in ways that served them the rest of their lives; they became avid supporters and advocates of immigrants. Later in life, Carol and Sherwood returned to Panama to start computer learning centers that are still...
Peace Corps Celebration Highlights the Launch of The REACH at the Kennedy Center
To mark Peace Corps' 58th anniversary, thousands of people gathered at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC on September 22nd for a full-day of programming by and about the Peace Corps experience. The event, open to the public, was part of a month-long celebration of the Kennedy Center's newest space, The REACH. In the spirit of President Kennedy’s vision for a new frontier for the arts, The REACH is a place where visitors, audiences, and artists can come together for collaboration, experimentation, and exploration. Many of the spaces have been named after historical and personal moments in his life, including the Peace...
Sneak Preview of Senate Spending Bill Indicates Level Peace Corps Funding
As Senate leadership struggles to bring a Fiscal Year 2020 State/Foreign Operations bill to the Senate Floor for a vote, a recently released copy of proposed funding levels strongly suggests that Peace Corps will not receive the recommended raise from Senate appropriators. The Senate's proposed funding level for the State Department and a wide range of international affairs programs totals $56.8 billion, a roughly 1.4 percent increase over current spending. Included in the proposal released late this week is a recommendation that Peace Corps funding remain at $410.5 million. Differences between House and Senate Funding Recommendations Meanwhile, the House of Representatives...
Community Achievements – September 2019
Community News - Achievements of RPCVs Author: Peter Deekle September 2019 CAMEROON Daniel Martin Moore's new album Never Look Away is due out on October 4. In its title track which he co-produced, the Kentucky singer-songwriter tries to convince himself, and listeners, that all hope is not lost: "I hear that song as a way of accepting that it is still possible to be peaceful in our obsessive and hectic cultures." Moore has released seven albums since 2008 and will be touring this fall and into next year. CHILE Juana Bordas (1964-1966) is the president of Mestiza Leadership International, a company focused on leadership, diversity, and...
Volunteer Advocacy Coordinators Wanted
With more than fifty district office advocacy meetings being held or scheduled around the country, volunteer advocacy coordinators are playing a key a role in reaching out to district offices, recruiting local RPCV advocates, and coordinating with NPCA staff in Washington. Next week, members of the South Florida Returned Peace Corps Volunteers will be meeting with district office staff of Senator Rick Scott to discuss their reasons for opposing the senator's legislation to put an end to the independent status of the Peace Corps. The group's advocacy coordinator, Ana Ciereszko, is finalizing preparations for that meeting. In central Massachusetts, advocacy coordinator Tim...
In Memoriam – August 2019
It's no surprise that members of the Peace Corps community possess and develop a wide range of skills and talents. Among those who recently passed away, we honor founders of humanitarian organizations, teachers of English around the world, and individuals committed to vocations ranging from music to herpetology. Vincent H. Beckman III devoted his distinguished law career to enabling social justice. Vincent received a bachelor of arts from Notre Dame University, a masters in Sociology from the University of Chicago, and a juris doctorate from Northwestern University. As a Peace Corps Volunteer in Peru from 1966-1968, he helped organize community development projects. Later, he worked...
Why I Give: Gloria Levin
NPCA asks Gloria Levin why she gives time, talent, and treasure to the Peace Corps community While serving as a Peace Corps selection officer at headquarters from 1965 to 1966, Gloria Levin was inspired by returning Peace Corps Volunteers, especially B.J. Warren, who had served in Peru. Gloria served in Peace Corps as a community development volunteer in a squatter settlement in Arequipa, Peru from 1966 to 1968. After several years organizing in U.S. communities, she earned a University of Michigan Ph.D. in community psychology in 1975. She spent the rest of her career at the National Institutes of Health...
Organize/Join District Office Meetings!
A defeated amendment to eliminate Peace Corps funding next fiscal year. Senate legislation to place Peace Corps under the Department of State. House legislation that would propose no less than $450 million for the Peace Corps, protect volunteer non-competitive eligibility (NCE) during a federal hiring freeze, increase pay for RPCVs on disability, and allow the Peace Corps logo to be used at gravesites of deceased volunteers and former staff. The 116th Congress has before it legislation that will have an impact on these and other Peace Corps-related issues. That’s why we are promoting and supporting district office meetings around the nation over the...
ACTION ALERT: Oppose Legislation Introduced to Make Peace Corps a Sub-Agency of the State Department
Keep Peace Corps Independent and Internationally Trusted Join the Peace Corps community in protecting the independent, non-political nature of the Peace Corps by opposing legislation (S.2320) introduced by Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) that would make Peace Corps subordinate to the Department of State under the direction of the Secretary of State. By safeguarding Peace Corps' status as an independent agency, we can help to ensure that it will not be used to promote short-term goals of the Secretary of State or whichever administration is occupying the White House. The international perception of the Peace Corps' independence is imperative for its continued success, which...
Community Achievements – August 2019
Community News - Achievements of RPCVs Author: Peter Deekle August 2019 ARMENIA Erica Brouillette (2007-2009) was asked to serve in a leadership role within Rotary International. She is the assistant governor for area 10 in Rotary District 7610, and serves as a liaison between her individual clubs and the district governor. Erica was as an environmental education Peace Corps Volunteer in Armenia. El Salvador Kristin Shane (2001-2003) is the founder and CEO of Fly Feet Running, a group fitness workout with two studios in the Twin Cities and hopes of going national. She is among the two percent of women-owned businesses to...