Peace Corps Park Featured on Global Connections Television
Since my service as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala (1988-91), I have had the privilege of serving the global Peace Corps community in a variety of leadership roles. These days, I am spearheading the creation of Peace Corps Park, a commemorative work to be established on a National Park Service site near the U.S. Capitol and the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Journalist Bill Miller (Dominican Republic 1968-70) recently interviewed me for his Global Connections Television (GCTV), an independently-produced, privately-financed talk show that focuses on international issues and how they impact people worldwide. Bill has interviewed several returned Peace Corps Volunteers on his program.
Click here to view the 20-minute GCTV interview.
More about Peace Corps Park:
Peace Corps Park is envisioned as an enduring commemorative to the spirit of service and global community fostered by the Peace Corps since its establishment in 1961. Authorized by Congress and approved in its design by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, it will fill a void in our nation’s story told in Washington’s tapestry of memorials dedicated to leaders and citizens who served and sacrificed defending America and freedom. It will offer a unique narrative of our ongoing commitment to service and global citizenship.
This welcoming space not only honors the past but inspires future generations to engage in service that transcends borders. The park’s design, with its carved granite benches representing outreaching hands encircling a map of the world, aims to be a physical manifestation of the ideals of friendship, peace, and understanding. It serves as a reminder of the over 250,000 Americans who have carried these values across the globe through the Peace Corps, and who continue to make a difference within their local communities upon their return.
Peace Corps Park’s geofence feature will alert passersby of their proximity to the site, then give visitors access to a smartphone or tablet app serving as virtual guide, docent, and teacher. Inviting them to explore and experience the park, the app will be their on-site interactive portal to informative, inspiring commentary, and imagery. It will weave tales of the Peace Corps’ rich history, the diverse regions served, the impactful projects undertaken, and the personal journeys of volunteers. A virtual explorer, featuring augmented reality, will enable anyone to remotely experience Peace Corps Park from home, the classroom, or anywhere in the world.
Over $5 million has been raised towards the $10-12 million goal, as significant donations have been made toward this noble cause. Just last month, the Cestra Butner Family Foundation made a $500,000 gift commitment; earlier this year philanthropist Jacqueline Mars made a $500,000 gift, matched by the Foundation’s board of directors and others. A $250,000 grant from PepsiCo Foundation, along with other notable gifts from the Sargent Shriver Peace Institute and the Jones Day Foundation, have laid a strong financial foundation for Peace Corps Park.
Approval of the final design by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts on October 17, 2024 marked a pivotal moment in the park’s development, setting the stage for groundbreaking in 2025. Looking forward to 2026, we aim to make Peace Corps Park a centerpiece of celebrations of Peace Corps’ 65th anniversary and the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, symbolizing a commitment to volunteerism and global cooperation – a cornerstone of American ideals and values.
More at PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org
POSTAL ADDRESS FOR DONATIONS:
Peace Corps Foundation
5636 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Suite 42143
Washington, DC 20015
Peace Corps Foundation is a District of Columbia 501(c)(3) charitable organization currently doing business as the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation.
EIN: 01-0554700
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