2023 Winner of the Peace Corps Writers’ Publisher’s Award

Building Community:
Answering Kennedy’s Call

Harlan Russell Green
(Turkey 1964–66)

2023 Publisher’s Award

Building Community: Answering Kennedy’s Call, Harlan Green’s memoir of his years working to build successful communities at home and abroad, shows what is possible when communities come together to improve their lives.

He describes his work as a Peace Corps Volunteer in a rural community development program in a Turkish village teaching vocational skills and convincing the villagers to develop new agricultural methods.

Green also worked as a photographer and filmmaker for the USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) in its earliest days lobbying communities to implement the Clean Air and Water Acts that were enacted to mitigate the growing air and water pollution.

Harlan R. Green

He joined Cesar Chavez and the United Farmworkers of America during its mid-1970s struggle organizing seasonal farm workers to better their living conditions; and documented the grape and lettuce boycotts, and Cesar’s charismatic leadership using non-violent methods to fight violent opposition by growers and the Teamsters Union.

Hardan then brought what he learned home. There he found in his own community similar needs, and lead a neighborhood planning effort that resulted in the formation of a livable city safe for children as well as adults.

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Building Community: Answering Kennedy’s Call
Harlan Russell Green (Turkey 1964–66)
Peace Corps Writers
148 pages
$9.99 (paperback), $8.95 (Kindle)