RPCVs in the news – Peace Corps Worldwide

Hometown Heroes: Patterson, CA Honors RPCV For Her Service

Nov 23 2024

As a returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV) how many of you have been asked to stand and be recognized for your service at a sporting or other public event? How many of you have been thanked for your service? How many of you have been honored by your hometown for your Peace Corps service? Patterson, California City Hall recently honored their “Hometown Heroes,” and among the several members of the armed forces, first responders, and frontline defenders recognized for their service was RPCV Kennedy Cassidy. Ms. Cassidy was a Community Health Volunteer in Madagascar (2023-2024). Each honoree received a banner that will be mounted on a streetlight pole in Patterson. See the entire piece and list of honorees in the article by Jessica Wilkinson in the Patterson Irrigator. PS Help lead the way forward for Peace Corps Worldwide by taking this three-minute survey on content preferences.

In That Time of Their Lives — Jeremiah Norris (Colombia)

Sep 18 2024

RPCVs in the news — by Jeremiah Norris (Colombia 1963-65) . . . The Peace Corps came into existence through an Executive Order from the President of the U. S. in March 1961. It had three complimentary goals, the 3rd of which stated: “To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans”. This Goal, often summarized as “bringing it back home”, has always been something of an afterthought—because it lacks documentation, though it is worth documenting …it represents a Return on Investment (ROI) that is unmatched by any other Congressional appropriation. In the decades that followed, it passed through two events of global consequence, either one which could have resulted in its organizational demise: the Viet Nam War and the Covid-19 epidemic. In the past several years, one would have to have been an expert in forensic sciences to find any article in the press or social . . .

$75,000,000 donation from Lin Lougheed (Turkey) to Art Institute

Sep 12 2024

RPCVs in the news — CHICAGO (CBS) — The Art Institute of Chicago is getting a new addition thanks to a $75 million donation. The gift is courtesy of Aaron I. Fleischman and his husband, Dr. Lin Lougheed (Turkey 1968-70) —who have been art collectors for many years. The Aaron I. Fleischman and Lin Lougheed Building will showcase modern art from the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as contemporary art. The design and location of the new building have yet to be finalized, but it will be on the campus of the Art Institute that spans from Michigan Avenue east to Columbus Drive at Adams Street downtown. It will be designed to have views of Millennium Park, the downtown Chicago streetscapes, and Lake Michigan. The gift from Fleischman and Lougheed is the largest single naming gift in Art Institute history. “We are beyond grateful to collaborate with Aaron and Lin . . .

Empowering women and children from Nepal to the Amazon | Lisa Labita Woodson (Nepal)

Aug 22 2024

RPCVs in the news — Lisa Labita Woodson, MPH, PhD Fulbright-Fogarty Fellow: 2022-2023 U.S. institution: University of Arizona Foreign institution: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru Research topic: The effects of COVID-19 on adolescent pregnancy and educational attainment in the Amazon Basin Current affiliation: Editor-In-Chief, Beyond Global Health; Principal investigator in sexual and reproductive health research, Mamas del Río PCV Nepal (2004 evacuated due to civil unrest) Dr. Lisa Labita Woodson’s path to global health research began somewhat by accident. Initially she aspired to be a poet or an ecologist. Her journey took a dramatic turn after she joined the Peace Corps (Nepal 2004). Assigned as a science teacher to Nepal, she witnessed a tragic joint suicide of one of her students and their partner, which was due to an out-of-wedlock pregnancy. This experience compelled Woodson to seek mental health consultations and reproductive health education for her students. She . . .

Educating for the Future with the Marina Orth Foundation

Aug 20 2024

RPCVs in the news — Today we are thrilled to reveal the selection for this round of global grants – the Marina Orth Foundation The Marina Orth Foundation was established by award-winning journalist and former Peace Corps Volunteer, Maureen Orth (Colombia 1964-66), with a mission to improve the education of children and youth from disadvantaged areas in Colombia. This organization is revolutionizing educational opportunities by integrating technology and innovative teaching methods. By creating technology-focused curriculum for children in underserved communities, the foundation aims to bridge the digital divide and equip students with essential digital skills for future success. In addition to technology, the Marina Orth Foundation emphasizes the importance of English language proficiency and leadership development. It also provides training to help teachers establish effective classroom practices, foster collaborative learning environments, and promote community involvement. Andres nominated the Marina Orth Foundation having previously volunteered with the foundation as a teacher to advance STEM education . . .

Florida post office named after RPCV Pamela Jane Rock (Guatemala)

Aug 17 2024

RPCV in the news — Mauled Florida mail carrier who died from 5-dog attack to be honored with post office naming A post office in Florida will soon be renamed for a mail carrier who died in 2022 after being viciously mauled by dogs. The Pamela Jane Rock Post Office at 859 North State Road 21 in Melrose will be dedicated on Monday, Aug. 26, the United States Postal Service said in a release. Rep. Aaron Bean, R-District 4, and Rep. Kat Cammack, R-District 3, sponsored a bill to dedicate the facility to her and President Biden signed it into law in May. “Pam had a servant’s heart, and it was obvious in the way she lived her life. While her time on this earth was tragically cut short, she served the U.S. Post Service with passion and integrity,” said Congressman Bean. “I’m looking forward to this special renaming ceremony where we will be able . . .

Alexandra Bell (Jamaica) — Department of State: Senior Policy Director at the Council for a Livable World

Aug 17 2024

RPCVs in the news— Alexandra Bell (@atomicbell) served at the State Department from 2010 to 2017, most recently as senior advisor to the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. She is now the Senior Policy Director at the Council for a Livable World. Before joining the State Department, Bell was the Project Manager at the Ploughshares Fund and a Research Assistant for Nuclear Policy at the Center for American Progress. Bell received a Master’s degree in International Affairs from the New School and a Bachelor’s degree in Peace, War and Defense from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. From 2001-2003, she was a Peace Corps Volunteer in in Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica Bell is a Truman National Security Fellow, a Term Member with the Council on Foreign Relations, a 2017 Munich Security Council Young Leader, a member of the Project on Nuclear Issues Mid-Career Cadre . . .

Emily Brandt (Armenia) | Program Manager for CEPA

Aug 09 2024

RPCVs in the news — Emily Brandt (Armenia 2013-15) is the Program Manager for Business Development at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA). The Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, public policy institution based in Washington DC. Prior to joining CEPA, Emily held similar business development and fundraising roles of progressive responsibility at various local organizations, IREX, and Freedom House, mostly focusing on civil society, democracy, rights, and governance programs in Europe and Eurasia. She also worked for Peace Corps for six years (2013-20), including two years as a volunteer in Armenia. She is the founder of the Peace Corps Virtual Recruitment team. Emily holds a PhD in Public Policy and Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington, and a Master’s Degree in International Studies with a focus on Eastern Europe from the University of North Texas. .

Phoebe Cohen (Mongolia) | Guest Writer for Huffington Post

Aug 09 2024

RPCV in the news — By Phoebe Cohen Aug 7, 2024, 07:56 AM EDT Phoebe Cohen (Mongolia 2005-07) has walked many paths in life including living in the Gobi Desert as a Peace Corps Volunteer and working as a paramedic in several states. Cohen’s work has been featured in Graphic Medicine, Mutha Magazine, and BorderX. She regularly posts on her website Merry Misandrist. Cohen is a part-time cartoonist, writer and nursing student. She has been known to go up to five hours without coffee. . . . As a paramedic, I treated women who had illegal abortions. Here’s a dangerous truth JD Vance isn’t going to like.”The nurse and Exchange a glance. We know the probable reason why our patient stuck part of a vacuum cleaner up into her vagina.” It’s 2015. I’m working as an inter-facility paramedic. Currently, I’m standing in a small rural clinic in a large conservative state. . . .

Suzy McKee Charnas (Nigeria), writer of feminist science fiction, dies at 83

Aug 08 2024

RPCVs in the news — She was best known for the Holdfast Chronicles, a series about a dystopic world in which once-enslaved women conquer their former male masters. By Richard Sandomir New York Times Published March 10, 2023 Suzy McKee Charnas, an award-winning feminist science fiction writer who in a four-novel series created a post-holocaust, male-dominated society called the Holdfast that is liberated by an army of women, died on Jan. 2 at her home in Albuquerque. She was 83. Her cousin David Szanton said the cause was a heart attack. Her death was not widely reported at the time. Ms. Charnas, whose books were well regarded but who by her account did not make a living from her writing, was best known for her science fiction. But she also wrote vampire fiction, young-adult fantasy novels with women as central characters, and a memoir about taking care of her father . . .

Bonita Schwan (Samoa) | Marco Island City Council candidate

Aug 07 2024

RPCV in the news Bonita Schwan (Samoa 1990-91) is a candidate for Marco Island (Florida) City Council on November 5th general election. Schwan has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas, Austin, and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Drake Law School, Des Moines, Iowa.Schwan served on Iowa Governor Terry Branstad’s personal staff when he was in office, where, she said, her responsibilities included providing recommendations to the governor regarding budget and policy matters for The Department of Revenue and Finance, The Department of Health, The Department of Human Services, The Department of Civil Rights and The Department of Human Rights. As an attorney, Schwan specialized in legislation and administrative rules and volunteered with the United States Peace Corps in Western Samoa. She currently serves on the board for the Cape Marco, Cozumel Building HOA. She serves as membership chair for the Marco Island . . .

New US Ambassador Mark Christopher Toner (Liberia)

Aug 05 2024

RPCV Ambassador Mark Christopher Toner Arrives in Liberia Months After US Senate Confirmation Hearing By Jaheim T. Tumu August 5, 2024 Monrovia:| New U.S Ambassador to Liberia Mark Christopher Toner arrived in Liberia on Friday, August 2. Amb. Torner is expected to present his official credentials to President Joseph Boakai, and to commence his duties. Ambassador Toner, who will succeed Amb. Michael McCarthy, who was noted for his strong stance against corruption during his tenure, arrival signifies an important moment and era in US-Liberian relations. Toner, a career Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, served as the Minister Counselor for Public Diplomacy at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, France before his appointment as Ambassador to Liberia. Previously, he was a Senior Advisor at the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe and a Senior Faculty Advisor at the National Defense University. Earlier, Toner held positions as the State . . .

Lisa Einstein (Guinea) | at Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

Aug 03 2024

RPCVs in the news CISA names Lisa Einstein as Chief AI Officer CISA said Thursday the appointment reflects the agency’s commitment to advancing the responsible use of AI to meet its cyber defense mission and assist critical infrastructure operators and owners in pursuing the secure and safe development and adoption of AI tools. CISA Director Jen Easterly said Einstein has played a central role in helping the agency understand and respond to rapid AI advancements, which have significant implications for CISA’s critical infrastructure security and cyber defense missions. “Beyond her technical expertise, she’s an inspirational leader who has brought together colleagues across the agency around a clear and impactful vision. I could not be more thrilled to have her take on this important new role, which will help us continue to build AI expertise into the fabric of our agency and ensure we are equipped to effectively leverage the . . .

Foreign Policy Reporter Bryant Harris (Morocco)

Jul 30 2024

Bryant Harris (Morocco 2011-13) is a freelance reporter in Washington covering the nexus of foreign policy, national security and US politics. He has years of experience covering Congress for Defense News and Al-Monitor with additional bylines in Foreign Policy, and IPS News. Prior to that, he covered the White House for Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan’s largest newspaper. He is on Twitter @brykharris_ALM Of his Peace Corps assignment, Bryant writes: I collaborated with the Moroccan Ministry of Youth and Sports and counterparts from the town of Ben Guerir to promote positive youth development and lifestyles. After researching and analyzing challenges facing the community in a Community Needs Assessment Report, I began work with approximately 100 youth to create programming at the local youth center and coordinated language immersion camps in my site as well as in other locations throughout the country. Most notably, I worked with several community counterparts and organizations . . .

Margaret Seufert obituary (Paraguay)

Jul 28 2024

Margaret Rose (Peggy) Seufert died on July 21, 2024 in Alexandria, Virginia. Born on November 1, 1954, in St. Joseph, Missouri, Peggy was the daughter of Henry Seufert and Colleen (Delaney) Seufert. Peggy’s mission in life was to help other people, especially the less fortunate. She sought to help people find and apply local human and financial resources to solve the problems they faced. Peggy served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay (1977-79) and subsequently served in senior positions with the Peace Corps in Poland, Romania, Thailand, and the agency’s headquarters in Washington. In Romania, Peggy was instrumental in supporting the initial development and subsequent spread of “Girls Leading Our World” (GLOW), a Peace Corps program where Peace Corps volunteers encourage girls to become active citizens by building their self-esteem and confidence and increasing their self-awareness. More than 25 years after GLOW began in a single country, it . . .