The Peace Corps

Agency history, current news and stories of the people who are/were both on staff and Volunteers.

1
Review: California Against the Sea, by Rosanna Xia (Mongolia 2009-11)
2
Our legacy, our resilience: A reflection about the Peace Corps, by Diane Glover (Philippines 2018-20)
3
Peace Corps Writers Keep on Writing
4
Rally in Support of U.S. Foreign Aid, Wednesday, February 5.
5
America is great because America is good, by Annē Linn (Senegal 2012-14)
6
Urgent Action Alert: Call your member of Congress
7
Rep. John Garamendi (Ethiopia 1966-68) Statement on Trump Suspending All Federal Grants and Payments
8
Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn passes the baton to Chief Executive Officer Dr. Allison Greene
9
Peace Corps Community in the News (week of December 29, 2024)
10
Santa and Mrs. Claus
11
Leadership, Legacy, and Global Impact: A Conversation with Peace Corps Deputy Director David E. White Jr.
12
Congressional Gold Medal to former Peace Corps Deputy Director
13
Peace Corps Unveils New Strategy to Combat Sexual Violence on Human Rights Day
14
Glenn’s List for Giving Tuesday – Amplify the Peace Corps Community’s Global Impact
15
Peace Corps Park Featured on Global Connections Television

Review: California Against the Sea, by Rosanna Xia (Mongolia 2009-11)

Evelyn la Torre (Peru, 1964-66) reviews Rosanna Xia’s California Against the Sea. This non-fiction book is available from Heyday Books and Amazon. Title: California Against the Sea Author: Rosanna Xia Published: September 26, 2023 (Heyday Books) Review by Evelyn La Torre (Peru, 1964-66) Ocean waves are devouring California’s coastal cliffs and beaches quicker than previously predicted, with an increasing speed and force that many don’t realize. Rich and poor land- and homeowners from Imperial Beach to Marin City are adversely affected. In California Against the Sea, Rosanna Xia, an environmental reporter for the Los Angeles Times and returned Peace Corps volunteer (Mongolia, 2009-11), describes precisely where the increasingly high waves and water levels along the coast are causing damage, amounting to more than that caused by fires and earthquakes in the state. As a California resident, this book spurred me to more actively support environmental causes. The author illustrates the numerous efforts employed in the past and present to ward off . . .

Read More

Our legacy, our resilience: A reflection about the Peace Corps, by Diane Glover (Philippines 2018-20)

There are times when people wonder about the relevancy of a tiny agency whose entire mission is based on spreading global peace and friendship. Then there are moments that remind me why the Peace Corps has endured. Moments that prove our impact is not just measured in years served, but also in lifetimes changed. Pacific country leaders inspired by Peace Corps Volunteers I think back to last year, when I walked into a meeting with Pacific heads of mission (Pacific countries ambassadors and permanent representatives to the UN) at the State Department. It was their final meeting in a long day, and yet the moment the Peace Corps was mentioned, the room came alive. They didn’t just want to talk about policy or logistics—they wanted to share their stories. They spoke of the Volunteers who taught them, mentored them, and became part of their families. Their voices carried admiration, gratitude, . . .

Read More

Peace Corps Writers Keep on Writing

  Since the founding of the Peace Corps in 1961, our incredible network of Volunteers, returned Volunteers, former staff, and host country nationals has made lasting impacts—not only through service but through their voices as writers. Together, they have contributed to a staggering collection of no less than 3,600 books, spanning fiction and non-fiction, and capturing the essence of global engagement, personal growth, and cultural exchange. In this edition, we are thrilled to spotlight a remarkable group of 566 Peace Corps writers who have each authored at least two books. This list celebrates their creativity, dedication, and ability to share compelling narratives with the world. This remarkable achievement has been made possible thanks to the longstanding dedication of John Coyne (Ethiopia 1962-64) and Marian Beil (Ethiopia 1962-64), who founded Peace Corps Worldwide and Peace Corps Writers. Their initiatives have provided invaluable resources, guidance, and encouragement to aspiring writers, fostering a vibrant literary tradition . . .

Read More

Rally in Support of U.S. Foreign Aid, Wednesday, February 5.

Retired and former USAID and State colleagues, implementing partners, and friends are organizing to protest at the Capitol on Wednesday, February 5, at 11:30 am. We will meet behind the Capitol on the sidewalk near the visitor’s entrance. We want to highlight the devastating impact of the administration’s actions on aid recipients and of Congress relinquishing their responsibilities and power to Trump, as well as the damage of the psychological warfare being inflicted on Federal employees. Related reading: Meeks, Shaheen, Frankel, Schatz Demand Immediate Action to Address Trump Administration Efforts to Undermine American Soft Power, press release from the House Foreign Affairs Committee | January 31, 2025. The Path Forward: A Letter to My Constituents, by Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-8) | February 1, 2025.

Read More

America is great because America is good, by Annē Linn (Senegal 2012-14)

I lost my job on Tuesday. Along with almost 400 talented and committed people who have dedicated their lives to improving the lives and health of people around the world. But this is not about my job. My job is a drop in an immense bucket of suffering that the halt on foreign aid is causing, with cascading impacts beyond what I can describe. There is much out there about the scale of these impacts, so I want to focus on my own experience of these last days and the impact on my specific work. On day 1 of the new administration, one of the executive orders was a halt of obligations, or funding currently with USAID (US Agency for International Development) going to projects. I was worried about this (along with orders about return to the office, since as someone who relocated to be nearer to our families, I . . .

Read More

Urgent Action Alert: Call your member of Congress

Editor’s note: We interrupt our usual programming to share the following message, which is being circulated in the international development community related to the abrupt suspension of U.S. foreign assistance—a move which will ultimately make our country less safe, secure, and prosperous: Please call your Members of Congress hourly and say the following: “The administration must lift the foreign assistance stop work order before it’s too late. In 90 days no implementing partner will exist to restart any foreign assistance activities. Mass layoffs are happening and 173 U.S. small businesses are folding. The USG is not paying its bills. USAID contractors are owed hundreds of millions for work performed in November and December before the stop work order went into effect. This is illegal per the prompt payment act. The stop work order prevents American businesses on contract with the USG to get reimbursed for ANY costs it incurs until . . .

Read More

Rep. John Garamendi (Ethiopia 1966-68) Statement on Trump Suspending All Federal Grants and Payments

January 28, 2025 Press Release WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA-08), issued the following statement in response to President Donald Trump ordering all federal agencies to cease spending on all financial assistance and grants. “Donald Trump’s latest illegal scheme to freeze nearly $3 trillion in federal aid is a reckless and unconstitutional act that punishes American families,” said Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA-08). “This order blatantly ignores the Constitution, which gives Congress the power over federal spending. His action upends the will of the people while spreading chaos across the federal government. Donald Trump has caused a crisis that will cut assistance to firefighters, teacher’s pay at low-income schools, life-saving medical services, funding to food banks, and will prevent veterans from receiving assistance. Trump’s actions also bring a full stop to construction sites in our area, ranging from fixing our highways to strengthening our water infrastructure – putting hundreds . . .

Read More

Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn passes the baton to Chief Executive Officer Dr. Allison Greene

Editor’s note: Personnel changes in the senior ranks of the Peace Corps, like those at all federal agencies, are not uncommon after a presidential election, and non-career political appointees are required to submit letters of resignation. As political appointees, Director Carol Spahn, Deputy Director David White, Jr., and others departed the agency at midday on Monday. The Peace Corps community commends and congratulates this leadership team that oversaw the return to service of over 3,000 Peace Corps Volunteers since March 2022. — Glenn A. Blumhorst, Peace Corps Worldwide Managing Editor January 20 Update From the Peace Corps Agency (announcement on PeaceCorps.gov): The President of the United States appoints the Peace Corps Director and Deputy Director, and the appointments must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The Peace Corps enjoys bipartisan support in Congress. Senators and representatives from both parties have served as Volunteers. The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and . . .

Read More

Peace Corps Community in the News (week of December 29, 2024)

In case you missed it, here are the top online media articles about the Peace Corps community published during the week of December 29, 2024. To receive email notifications, please subscribe to Peace Corps Worldwide. I figured out how to use two-thirds less water — and it only took a week to set up, by Victoria Namkung in The Guardian, December 29, 2024. While droughts are a natural feature of California’s climate, human-induced warming has made them even drier. After Eric Haas (RPCV Liberia 1985-87), 62, moved to Oakland in 2007, California was in a drought so severe a statewide emergency was declared. After experiencing drought conditions for several years, the California professor had a rainwater and greywater capture system installed at his highly efficient urban home to do his part to conserve water. How chocolate, vanilla, and spices brought 7 RPCVs together in Madagascar, By Bill Guyton (DRC 1984-86) . . .

Read More

Santa and Mrs. Claus

Happy Holidays, everyone! We’ll be taking a break until January 2 (Peace Corps Community in the News will be issued this Saturday). In the meantime, enjoy this story. Santa and Mrs. Claus, by Lee Provost in the Daily Journal | Shawmedia.com | December 24, 2024 . From their home in unincorporated Kankakee, Santa and Mrs. Claus — perhaps better known in these parts as Wayne and Barb Burgess — have been two of the most sought-after people this side of the North Pole for the better part of a month. Wayne, 73, a 20-year employee with the former UARCO Inc., in Watseka, and who also served in the Peace Corps as well as the U.S. Army in the mid 1970s, has been entertaining the young and the not-so-young with his Santa duties for much of the past 32 years, having first started the effort to surprise his then-young son at . . .

Read More

Leadership, Legacy, and Global Impact: A Conversation with Peace Corps Deputy Director David E. White Jr.

“At [the] Peace Corps, we’re calling all Americans, including Gen Z, to turn their passion into meaningful, mission-driven service. And we know that folks can do that through the Peace Corps. If you want to be a diplomat, if you want to be an ambassador, if you want to be a member of Congress, then the Peace Corps is also a fantastic way to start your community, your opportunity, your journey down that path. For example, we look at ambassadors serving around the world. We know that Peace Corps volunteers are represented in the ranks [more] than folks from [any] other backgrounds. If you want to be a business CEO [or] run a business, we have Peace Corps volunteers who have done that. [The] Peace Corps can fit into your own journey, no matter what that path ends up looking like.” David E. White Jr. is the 14th Deputy Director . . .

Read More

Congressional Gold Medal to former Peace Corps Deputy Director

Excerpt from War History Online December 12, 2024 Hundreds of US service members were taken by the North Vietnamese (NVA) and held prisoner during the Vietnam War. What makes Everett Alvarez, Jr. unique is that he was imprisoned for eight and a half years, making him the second-longest held prisoner of war (POW) in American history. Now, decades after his release, the US Navy veteran is slated to receive the highest honor the US Congress can bestow upon him: the Congressional Gold Medal. Speaking about his survival later in life, Alvarez credited his faith in God and the support he had from other POWs. “We had a philosophy that you didn’t ever let your fellows down,” he said. “If they couldn’t take care of themselves, you took care of them because you knew darned well they would do the same. Alvarez served for another 20 years, before leaving the Navy with . . .

Read More

Peace Corps Unveils New Strategy to Combat Sexual Violence on Human Rights Day

WASHINGTON – Aligned with Human Rights Day and the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign, the Peace Corps today published its Sexual Assault Prevention Strategy and Implementation Plan: Fiscal Years 2025-2029, a guide to the agency’s next phase of action in support of sexual assault prevention. Central to the strategy and plan are measures to further cement the agency’s public health approach to prevent sexual violence before it occurs. The strategy and plan underscore the Peace Corps’ commitment to global, societal-level action to prevent sexual violence for the safety and well-being of volunteers and members of communities where volunteers live and work. “Sexual violence directly threatens the Peace Corps’ mission of world peace and friendship,” said Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn. “This new strategy adds a public health lens to more than a decade’s worth of sexual assault risk mitigation and response work. Today, we further dedicate ourselves to . . .

Read More

Glenn’s List for Giving Tuesday – Amplify the Peace Corps Community’s Global Impact

Today is Giving Tuesday. I encourage you to participate by supporting your favorite charity. Below are those that I personally support in 2024 and to which I hope you will join me in making a generous donation. They are all (except NMCS) founded and led by returned Peace Corps Volunteers: Peace Corps Foundation* – It’s time to tell the rest of America’s story of our ongoing commitment to service and global citizenship by creating Peace Corps Park on a National Park Service site near the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The long-term mission of the Foundation is to support Peace Corps community projects. Chijnaya Foundation – Working in partnership with rural communities in Southern Peru to design and implement self-sustaining projects in health, education, and economic development. CorpsAfrica* – Building the next generation of African leaders and changemakers, connecting rural communities, and nurturing entrepreneurs. Volunteers work in host communities to . . .

Read More

Peace Corps Park Featured on Global Connections Television

View GCTV Interview Now 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 . . .

Read More

Copyright © 2022. Peace Corps Worldwide.