Peace Corps Polyglot

Nominations Open for Sargent Shriver Award for Distinguished Humanitarian Service

Do you know of a returned Peace Corps volunteer who continues to make a sustained and distinguished contribution to humanitarian causes at home or abroad?  Someone who typifies the best qualities of the Peace Corps community?

If so, nominate him or her for the Sargent Shriver Award for Distinguished Humanitarian Service.  The award was named to recognize the tremendous contributions of the first Peace Corps Director, Sargent Shriver, in the founding and development of the Peace Corps.

We welcome your nomination materials by June 2, 2008 to qualify for consideration.

>> View the Full Listing of Past Recipients
>> Download the Nomination Form

Welcome High Atlas Foundation!

NPCA is pleased to welcome our newest affiliate group, the High Atlas Foundation (HAF).

HAF is a non-profit organization founded in 2000 by returned Peace Corps volunteers as a way for them to leverage the professional relationships and knowledge gained during their years of service for the continued benefit of the Moroccan people.

>> Learn about HAF's Peace Corps Connection and their community-based projects.

Peace Corps Expos Coming to Atlanta, Seattle

They're almost here! NPCA and Peace Corps are working with local groups to bring Peace Corps Expos to the East and West Coasts:

• On March 30th in Atlanta, Georgia in conjunction with the Atlanta Area Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (AARPCV). 
• On May 4th in Seattle, Washington in conjunction with the Seattle Area Peace Corps Association (SEAPAX).

The Expos are open to the general public, returned Peace Corps volunteers, interested applicants, families and friends and will highlight how past, present and future Peace Corps volunteers make a difference in their communities at home and abroad.

Connect, inform and engage with those whose lives have been influenced by the Peace Corps experience. Discover new opportunities to serve the international and local communities. 

>> ATLANTA Peace Corps Expo: Details & Pre-register
>> SEATTLE Peace Corps Expo: Details & Pre-register

SIT Graduate Institute - NPCA Scholarships

SIT Graduate Institute (formerly The School for International Training), a program of World Learning, led by President and CEO Carol Bellamy (PCV Guatemala 63-65, Peace Corps Director 93-95, Former Executive Director, UNICEF, and member, NPCA Advisory Council), announces NPCA academic scholarships of $10,000 to pursue master’s degrees in international programs at the school’s Brattleboro, Vermont campus.

The National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) Scholarship was established in 2000 to recognize the long-standing ties between SIT and the Peace Corps. Members of the NPCA who have one year or more of significant intercultural experience are eligible to apply. Several awards of $10,000 will be made each year.

The mission of SIT Graduate Institute is to prepare students to be  interculturally effective leaders, professionals, and citizens. In so doing, SIT fosters a worldwide network of individuals and organizations committed to responsible global citizenship. SIT fulfills this mission with field-based academic study abroad programs for undergraduates and degree and certificate programs for graduates and professionals.

NPCA members can request information regarding this exclusive scholarship opportunity at 800-336-1616 or 802-257-7751, or on the web at www.sit.edu/graduate.

>> Click here to read the profiles of the 2007-2008 recipients.

Noted Journalist To Write History of The Peace Corps

Tireless Peace Corps community champion John Coyne always has his finger on the pulse of the publishing world when it comes to Peace Corps writers.  Since 1989 he and fellow returned Peace Corps volunteer Marian Haley Beil (both Ethiopia 62-64) have been furthering the Third Goal by fostering Peace Corps writing talent: first with the print newsletter RPCV Writers & Readers and since 1994 with the website PeaceCorpsWriters.org. Somehow John also finds time to maintain a lively blog that "comments on Peace Corps writers, Ethiopia, happenings, current affairs, golf, other people's blogs, etc. etc."

This morning he posted:

Stanley Meisler, an early evaluator at the Peace Corps who has had a long and distinguished career in journalism, before and after his Peace Corps years, has signed a contract with Beacon Press to write a history of the first 50 years of the agency. This is a major development in the telling the story of the Peace Corps, a history that will be written by a talented writer who knows the agency from the inside and from the early days, and a journalist who has observed PCVs at work around the world.

Meisler was with the Los Angeles Times as a foreign and diplomatic correspondent for thirty yers, living and working in Nairobi, Mexico City, Madrid, Toronto, Paris, Barcelona, the United Nations and Washington. He still contributes articles to the Los Angeles Times Book Review. He is the author of the biography Kofi Annan: A Man of Peace in a World of War and United Nations: The First Fifty Years. Today he writes a News Commentary for his website, www.stanleymeisler.com.

Peace Corps celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2011.

Record Number of Lawmakers Sign Peace Corps Letters

Congratulations NCPA advocates!  Some of you made phone calls and sent emails.  Some of you spread the word and got others involved.  Some (including Colorado RPCVs Bille Day, Mike and Ann Moore, pictured left) walked the halls of Congress.  No matter how you did it, your outstanding mobilization and follow-up activities clearly resulted in the largest and most successful National Day of Action to date. 

During NPCA's fourth annual National Day of Action in Support of the Peace Corps, 101 members of Congress signed "Dear Colleague" letters urging support for increased Peace Corps funding in Fiscal Year 2009. 

In the Senate, an impressive group of 28 Senators signed a Peace Corps letter circulated by Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Norm Coleman (R-MN).  This was well above the 20 Senators who signed a similar letter last March.

In the House, not only did a record number of Congressmen/women sign this year's letter, the 73 Representatives signed  circulated by House RPCVs specifically requesting $400 Million for the Peace Corps in Fiscal Year 2009 - a figure well above the President's request, offering the possibility of meaningful program improvement and expansion.

This 43% increase in signers (from last year) would not have been accomplished without the many actions by members of our advocacy network.

Don’t miss next year’s National Day of Action – or further advocacy on Peace Corps funding this year.  Join NPCA’s Advocacy Network today.

CARE and Other Local Agencies Celebrate Peace Corps’ 47th Anniversary in Atlanta

CARE Chief Operating Officer Steve Hollingworth will keynote the Peace Corps 2008 Open House to highlight how past, present and future Peace Corps Volunteers make a difference in their communities at home and abroad. The event, co-hosted by Peace Corps, the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) and the Atlanta Area Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (AARPCV), is open to the general public, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs), interested applicants, families and friends.

We at CARE have appreciated a longstanding relationship with the Peace Corps,” Hollingworth said. “More than 45 years ago, CARE was involved in training some of the first Peace Corps volunteers in
Africa. Today, more than 10% of our headquarters staff were once Peace Corps volunteers, and a large number of our Country Directors began their career in the Peace Corps.”

NPCA President Kevin Quigley, who will emcee the program, commented, “NPCA connects, informs and engages those inspired by the Peace Corps experience.  Atlanta is a natural venue for this special event, given the high involvement of RPCVs with both international development organizations and local  non-profits.”

Three breakout sessions will inform audiences about myriad international and local work and volunteer opportunities derived from Peace Corps service. Following the keynote, attendees will have the chance to speak with exhibitors representing the CDC, CARE, Peace Corps Domestic Programs, NPCA and other local organizations about how RPCVs continue to make a difference in their programs. Light refreshments will be served.

"My feet hurt, but it was fun" - National Day of Action Final Push Underway

NPCA's National Day of Action in Support of the Peace Corps was a long one for intern Leslie Ling (right, pictured outside the Cannon House Office Building with fellow intern Andi Maddox).  But over two days, Leslie and Andi, along with intern Maggie Sheets and RPCVs Sandra Lauffer, Jeanette Frett, Chris Orvin and Russell Faust, hand-delivered NPCA letters to more than 500 congressional offices, urging robust funding for the Peace Corps.

Faust, President of the Maryland Returned Peace Corps Volunteers who served in Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) from 1962 to 64 also noted the tiring but satisfying results a day of walking the halls of Congress brings:  Writing two days after helping out on our Day of Action, Russell said "I know it's Thursday, but I am still stiff. I don't think I did that much walking since I returned from PC duty. But I enoyed every bit of it."

While Faust and others were on their feet, Gloria Levin (Group Leader of Amigos de Bolivia y Peru) was working the phone.  Gloria made more than 150 follow-up phone calls to congressional offices to make sure current actions on the Peace Corps get the attention they deserve.

With volunteer efforts like this, how can you not give 5 - 10 minutes of time to be an advocate for increased Peace Corps funding? 

Only two days remain for lawmakers to sign House and Senate "Dear Colleague Letters" supporting increased Peace Corps funding.  Please visit www.peacecorpsconnect.org/dayofaction right now and make a difference!

"Double the Peace Corps" -- Sen. Dodd Addresses National Peace Corps Association

Things have been hectic around here the during the past week as we've been getting ready for our annual Director's Circle Weekend, Advisory Council Meeting and Spring Board meeting.  These events--which kicked off yesterday--take a lot of work from our small staff, but they are also hugely rewarding in that they bring together some wonderful members of the Peace Corps community, people with a deep, deep dedication to the Peace Corps and the work of the NCPA. 

This morning we had the privilege of being joined by a very prominent friend and member of the Peace Corps community, Senator Christopher J. Dodd, who reflected on his presidential campaign, his call for expanded national service, and his own Peace Corps experience as a volunteer in the Dominican Republic, before members of the National Peace Corps Association's Director's Circle.

Citing the need to "extend its worldwide reach and honor its grassroots past," Dodd called for significant expansion of the Peace Corps as part of an effort to improve U.S. standing in the world. "In the next six, eight, or ten years, we need to aggressively engage the world, or be indicted by history for missing an opportunity."

>>Click here to read Dodd's remarks. (.pdf of text)

>>Click here for Sen. Dodd's website, with his remarks, additional photos and audio/podcast of his remarks.

And....We're Off! March 4th National Day of Action

National Peace Corps Association's fourth annual National Day of Action in Support of the Peace Corps is now underway.  If you don't take any other advocacy action, this is the one time each year you can join thousands of supporters from around the nation urging Congress to be strong supporters of the Peace Corps.

It's Very Easy:  Just visit www.peacecorpsconnect.org/dayofaction for all the information you need.

It's Effective:  Last year, more than 70 Members of Congress took positive action after hearing from constituents.  This year, just a few hours into the action, 20 lawmakers have already taken positive action!  With your help, our 2008 Day of Action can be a smashing success!

Really a Week or Two, More than a Day: While we make a big push for action on March 4th, if you are reading this message at a later date, we encourage you to still take action.  And, you can contact NPCA Advocacy Coordinator Jonathan Pearson at advocacy@rpcv.org for critically important follow-up activities.