Peace Corps Polyglot

Watch the Peace Corps Confirmation Hearing

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has indicated that it plans to stream video of the Aaron Williams confirmation hearing tomorrow, Wednesday, June 29. To watch, go to the homepage of the Foreign Relations Committee (http://foreign.senate.gov/) at/about 2:30 pm EST. A link to the video will be above the picture of Senator Kerry.

NPCA Partnering to Promote Youssou N'Dour Documentary

The National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) and independent film distributor Shadow Distribution are partnering in a national program to promote the theatrical release of the new feature-length documentary, Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love and its message of peace, understanding and tolerance for other countries, cultures and religions. Directed by Chai Vasarhelyi, the award-winning film is a portrait of Africa's world-renowned singer Youssou N'Dour and his musical journey to inspire change.

Through NPCA's national network of member groups, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers will be invited to host screenings and lead post-screening discussions on the issues raised by the film. The film and associated events will be promoted to the NPCA's network and on the NPCA website at www.PeaceCorpsConnect.org; NPCA will be one of the organizations featured on the "Get Involved" section of the film's website, www.IBringWhatILove.com, bringing attention to the Peace Corps community.

"We look forward to engaging our community around the film to further the 'Third Goal' of Peace Corps: 'to promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans,'" says NPCA President Kevin Quigley. "We are very excited about this opportunity for collaboration. It's a natural fit."

Next month the NPCA is launching an innovative online project, Africa Rural Connect, which encourages collaboration among African people and the Peace Corps community to share their best ideas for development in Africa.

"I am grateful to the National Peace Corps Association for embracing the film's message of a 'hopeful Africa.' It is extremely rare that a film like ours is made which does not focus on African AIDS, war and poverty. This initiative will help spread our positive message to as wide an audience as possible. This partnership is very much in the spirit of the film and Youssou N'Dour's goal to bring diverse communities together and to enrich their understanding of each other through music," says Vasarhelyi.

Shadow will launch the film's national release on June 12, 2009 in New York City at the Paris Theatre, IFC Center and BAM Rose Cinemas and at Laemmle Theatres in Los Angeles on July 3, 2009. It will open in theaters in over 25 cities throughout the summer. 

Read the NPCA press release here.

Here's the same thing, but in a fancier format, through PRWeb.

"Twin Towers" -- Play by Peace Corps Writer -- Set to Debut

Returned Peace Corps volunteers are nothing if not multi-talented.  Exhibit A:  Damian Wampler. 

Wampler served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Kyrgyz Republic from 1999 to 2001, teaching English. Following his service he earned his Master's degree and was a Fulbright researcher in the Kyrgyz Republic, before returning to New York City to work as a Peace Corps recruiter.  He is currently a professional photographer and full time graduate student of the School of Visual Arts, earning a Master’s degree in digital photography.  For the past few months he's been helping with the MorePeaceCorps campaign.  This fall he will enter the Foreign Service.

Oh, and he's written a play.

Twin Towers, an original play by Damian Wampler and directed by Angela Astle, will premiere at The Planet Connections Theater Festivity on Friday, June 12th through Sunday, June 28th for six  performances only at the Robert Moss Theater at 440 Studios, 440 Lafayette, in New York’s East Village.

Set in the Bush Era, Twin Towers "explores the struggle between natural law and positive law - what we know in our hearts to be right versus what society and our government tell us."  Trevor and Jamal, the "Twin Towers" of the title, were once inseparable schoolyard buddies. Now, years later, Trevor has returned from Iraq a war hero, while Jamal has returned from years of overseas work in the Peace Corps searching for purpose. "The two clash as the fantasy of their childhood innocence fades to reveal the truth of their character."

The play benefits the New York based non-profit ENACT, which uses professional teaching artists to inspire and education urban youth using drama therapy techniques. “ENACT really embodies what the play Twin Towers is all about,” says Suzanne Lee, the play’s liaison at ENACT and a returned Peace Corps volunteer herself.  “ENACT shows that everyone has the power to make change in the world, as long as they recognize that the skills they have are valuable. It might take creativity, collaboration and patience, but everyone can do their part to improve the lives of others."

You can learn more about the play at the Twin Towers website:  http://www.twintowersplay.com
You can see a video clip on the Twin Towers YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/TwinTowersPlay.

SHOW TIMES: Friday, June 12th, 5:30pm, Sunday, June 14th, 9:0pm, Wednesday, June 17th, 4:00pm, Thursday, June 18th, 4:00pm, Friday, June 19th, 7:30pm, Sunday, June 28th, 1:00pm. 

Robert Moss Theater at 440 Studios
440 Lafayette, 3rd floor
TICKETS: $18 adult 212 352-3101 or www.planetconnectionsfestivity.com

Reality Show Looking for Returned Peace Corps Volunteer

Here at the National Peace Corps Association we never know what we'll find in our inboxes late on a Thursday afternoon.  Budget announcements... submissions for WorldView... 

And the there is this message from a Peace Corps Public Affairs Specialist in one of the regional offices:

"Hello there...I was contacted today by a casting director who was looking for a “wholesome, service-oriented” RPCV for their new reality show. Basically you have to be a single female between 28-40 and you have to be cute!"

Yes, it's always interesting.

So, as a "public service" to the Peace Corps community, we're passing this "important information" on to you:

ABC Media Productions

NOW CASTING SINGLE WOMEN who are looking for LOVE anywhere but here!!!

Are you a woman age 25 to 40 who is successful in every aspect of life except one...finding love?

You got the looks, the career, the car, the social network, etc.
Yep, you've got it all...everything except "Mr. Right!"

What if he's looking for YOU in a different city?

Let us treat you to a romantic holiday!  We provide the new city, the new digs, the new guys...
You just have to believe in love...and get on board!

To apply, please email
adiamond@me.com

Some additional information from the casting director.

"This is NOT A COMPETITION SHOW, no eliminations, catches or surprises.  Just a genuine search for love!

Here's a general scoop on time commitment. We start filming in the next couple weeks through mid August. We choose 2 girls from 2 different states per episode. Crews go to their city for 1 week and the girls need to be available for about 3-4 days. We give each girl $500 total for their time.

Time is of the essence, so we like to get in touch with anyone interested ASAP! Please forward this info to volunteers, friends and family!

If you are interested or would like to nominate someone, email the info below to adiamond@me.com :

1. Recent photo (face and full body)
2. Full name, age, occupation, city of residence
3. Phone number(s)
4. Tell us a little about yourself. Why do you want this opportunity? Be as SPECIFIC as possible...everyone has their own story."

Peace Corps Community Online on MSNBC

A few months back, MSNBC producer (and Poland RPCV) Thomas Snowden approached NPCA about doing a story on the future of Peace Corps under the new administration.  He interviewed NPCA President Kevin Quigley, MorePeaceCorps Campaign coordinator Rajeev Goyal, acting Peace Corps Director Jody Olsen, Sen. Harris Wofford and others. On the morning of the Inauguration he tagged along with the marchers to do some additional interviews. He got so much great material that he ended up producing not just one but three segments.  You can now see them online at MSNBC (there is a short commercial segment beforehand):

March 26: Former Peace Corps volunteers express their hopes that President Barack Obama will keep his pledge to double the size of the agency within four years. NBC's Tom Snowden reports.

March 26: Peace Corps volunteer Rajeev Goyal speaks about how he represented America for most of the villagers he met while working as a Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal from 2001 to 2003.

March 26: Sunaree Marshall speaks about having to learn to rely on herself and others while working as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mongolia from 2005 to 2008.

Thank you to Tom for these great stories!  They are a wonderful way to introduce people to Peace Corps and the returned Peace Corps community. 

My Peace Corps "Peeps"

Yes, we know that you know that the Peace Corps Community marched in the Inaugural Parade this past January. You've seen the photos, watched the videos, read the blogs, gotten the latest issue of WorldView magazine....

But you haven't seen this!  Bea Tijerina (Ghana 97-99, Zambia 06) just sent us a photo of her entry in the Washington Post's 2009 Peeps Diorama Contest.  Contestants were told to:

"make a diorama of a famous occurrence or scene or concept. It can be a historic, current or future event. It can be a nod to pop culture. It can be an evocation of an idea or abstraction. The one rule is that all the characters in the diorama must be played by Peeps, those marshmallowy chicks and rabbits plaguing checkout lines in every convenience store this season."

Bea the RPCV naturally thought of her Peace Corps "peeps" marching and came up with the wonderful entry you see below:

And here is the original inspiration, from a photo as it appeared in the Washington Post (naturally):

Bea's entry was one of over 1,000 entries. It didn't win a prize from the Post, but we LOVE it!

Coming Soon to a Computer Near You... PEACE CORPS CONNECT

The online networking site created by you, for you and with you is coming January 20, 2009!

The platform that is currently in development is going to help you to connect, inform and engage the Peace Corps Community and people around the world inspired by Peace Corps.

For the first time, easily find the people you served with--maybe even your host family!  Share your stories, photos, projects, and best practices.  Create groups around your areas of personal or professional interest--whatever they might be.  Learn what's happening in your Peace Corps country today...or what it was like years ago.  And more.

PeaceCorpsConnect will be an inspiring and easy way for people who share the values of Peace Corps to connect with one another.

This is one of the most crucial times in history to make these connections and to help create mutual understanding and respect for other countries, cultures and religions.  Be part of it.

Check back here for more updates, or join the newsletter to get the newest information sent straight to your inbox!

Watch RPCV David Schweidenback on CNN Heroes

David Schweidenback's (Ecuador 77-80) Pedals for Progress first caught CNN's attention in July of this year when he was featured as a CNN Hero (which we blogged about here).  Now he's back on for more as CNN.com interviews him about how his work is going and how being featured helped his cause. 

Pedals for Progress takes bikes that would otherwise be discarded and ships them to developing countries where transportation on a bike often makes a huge difference in people's lives.  Because many people in developing nations have to walk everywhere, their access to services, resources, and jobs is significantly hindered.  Simply owning a bike can provide people with the ability to get the things they need and work more effe ctively.  Since 1991, P4P has rescued over 115,000 bikes shipped them to impoverished people in 32 countries in Latin America, Asia, and Africa.

In the interview Schweidenback says that support from CNN viewers has helped his cause and that help is needed now more than ever as raising diesel prices cause shipping costs increase.  Still, Schweidenback emphasized that the work he does, inspired by his Peace Corps service, is going strong and will continue as long as there are people whose lives can be improved by owning a bike.

To watch Schweidenback's interview, visit http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2008/09/23/herores.special.6.cnn.  His interview begins at minute marker 19:50 and continues until 25:52. 

ServiceNation Summit: News Media Roundup

Yesterday's ServiceNation summit generated an enormous amount of press.  Rather than trying to recap it all, I'll send you to this Google News page, which has a complete list of links.

Peace Corps Facing Tough Budgetary Times

An August 22 article in the Washington Post's "In the Loop" section corroborated what we've been hearing from a variety of resources:  That the Peace Corps is facing a budgetary crunch caused in part by rising travel costs and currency fluctuations.  Just when the agency should be poised for growth, it finds itself cutting recruiting offices and volunteer positions.   

Read the article, "Peace Corps to Pare Ranks of Volunteers:  Despite Bush's Goal of Doubling Program's Size, Tight Budget Forces Cuts."  A letter to the editor entitled "Fully Fund the Peace Corps" appeared a few days later.

The Post story was picked up by several newspapers and prompted several blogs, articles and editorials in support of Peace Corps:

• Facing Budget Cuts, Time for Peace Corps to Think Again? - Foreignpolicy.com
• Cuts Likely as President Bush Falls Short of Peace Corps Goal - Los Angeles Times
• Tight budget cuts into Peace Corps: Dollar's decline, high energy costs add to woes for volunteer agency - Houston Chronicle
• Peace Corps Cuts:  U.S. Should Fully Support Agency's Mission - Watertown Daily News
• Budget Cuts Shrink Peace Corps - UPI
• Let's Fund the Peace Corps - Miami Herald (Original article not available online)
• Facing Tough Times:  Strengthening the Peace Corps to spread good will overseas is in our nation’s best interest - Las Vegas Sun
• Keep Peace Corps Strong - NJ.com (The Times of Trenton)

It's stories like these that are helping to fuel our MorePeaceCorps campaign, which seeks to create a grassroots legislative movement for greater support for Peace Corps.  The kick-off for the campaign's 100 House Party events takes place on September 6.  Visit the website to see how you can get involved in supporting a bigger, better and bolder Peace Corps!