Create a Bigger, Better, Bolder Peace Corps? Yes We Can!

The Presidential campaign of 2008 brought national service, and in particular the Peace Corps, to center stage.  Both candidates advocated a stronger and bigger Peace Corps for a better and more diplomatic America.  We knew that whichever candidate won there would be big promises and bigger grassroots efforts to make the Peace Corps a priority.

We're happy to say that President-elect Barack Obama made some exciting promises about the future of the Peace Corps.  Throughout his campaign he showed a commitment to making national service a priority and in an article written for Worldview Magazine he outlined his plans for the future of the Peace Corps. 

Obama said that an integral part of his plan for expanding national service in this country is to grow the Peace Corps.  Noting President Kennedy's hope that the Peace Corps would eventually have 100,000 volunteers, Obama says he will "call on our greatest resource--our people" to increase the size of the Corps.  He says in no unclear terms "We will double the size of the Peace Corps by its 50th anniversary in 2011." 

But his agenda isn't just about expanding the size of the Corps, it's also about expanding its possibilities.  "We'll reach out to other nations to engage their young people in similar programs, so that we work side by side to take on common challenges that confront all humanity," he said.  Additionally, he mentions that initiatives to recruit Volunteers over 50 in addition to the expansion of the Peace Corps will "open new opportunities for service to young and old, and help move America closer to the day when voluntary service... becomes the common expectation and experience of all Americans."

And Obama encourages us that his promises to Peace Corps are more than just rhetoric.  "This will not be a call issued in one speech or one program," he said, "this will be an important and enduring commitment of my presidency." 

We applaud this commitment and encourage you all to get involved in reminding Obama of his promises. The MorePeaceCorps campaign has created a petition for you to sign, asking Obama to act on his promises to the Peace Corps.  Tell your friends about this effort and ask them to sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/morepc/