Peace Corps Worldwide – Page 21 – promoting Peace Corps writers since 1989

RPCV Phil Lilienthal (Ethiopia) holds gala for his Global Camps Africa

Mar 24 2024

In the news — Phil Lilienthal’s (Ethiopia 1964-66) Global Camps Africa will be holding its annual Sizanani Gala on Sunday April 20 at The International Spy Museum in Washington DC from 6-10 pm. This year’s gala honoree is Dr. Anthony Fauci. Also, on hand will be 2022 Honoree MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell, who will introduce Dr. Fauci. For those of you not familiar with Global Camps Africa, here’s the back story. After the Peace Corps, Phil and his late wife Lynn more than met the Peace Corps’ Goal Three of Bringing the Peace Corps Home. They managed his family’s famed Camp Winnebago in Maine, where they prioritized the recruitment of underprivileged and international students. Then in 2003, they decided to something more visionary, and launched Global Camps Africa, a non-profit organization providing thousands of South African children from the townships surrounding Johannesburg with a summer camp experience that includes AIDS education and life skills training. For more than 20 . . .

Sargent Shriver Peace Institute on ZOOM Monday!

Mar 23 2024

A Conversation about The Call with Jamie Price & Judith Guskin Join author Jamie Price and Judith Guskin in a dialogue followed by Q&A The Call looks at the role of the spirit in the life and work of one of the most accomplished American peacebuilders of the 20th twentieth century, Robert Sargent Shriver (1915-2011), founder of the Peace Corps and architect of the War on Poverty. Author Jamie Price knew Shriver personally and served as the Founding Director of several programs dedicated to understanding and advancing Shriver’s approach. On Monday, March 25 at 12:00 PM ET, we’re joining forces with Insight Collaborations International for a conversation about SSPI Founding Director Jamie Price‘s latest book, The Call: The Spiritual Realism of Sargent Shriver. Try clicking https://icischedule.as.me/schedule/5ea46a71 Judith Guskin (Thailand 1961-64) Judith Guskin holds an MA in Comparative Literature and a PhD in Educational Psychology with a focus on history, anthropology, linguistics, and cultural . . .

Review | WORDMAN by P. F. Kluge (Micronesia)

Mar 22 2024

Wordman by P.F.Kluge (Micronesia 1967-69) Peace Corp Writers 204 pages January, 2024 $22.00 paperback Reviewed by Stephen Foehr (Ethiopia 1965-66) • • • So, you want to be a writer, despite the warnings of school counselors, parents who advise to train for a day job, and the realism of making a living in the creative arts. Okay. It may be a long shot, but it’s possible. But, first read Wordman, the memoir of P.F. (Fred) Kluge’s career as a journalist and an acclaimed writer. He took the well-trodden route from journalism to nonfiction to fiction. His first job out of college was editor/writer for The Micronesian Reporter as a Peace Corps volunteer (Micronesia 1967-69). He went on to write features and travel articles for prestigious magazines. Two of his novels became films, Dog Day Afternoon and Eddie and the Cruisers. Kluge’s memoir is a useful primer for making that journey, . . .

How I Got Here: Shari Cohen (Botswana)

Mar 21 2024

How I Got Here: Shari Cohen Explores the World Through Seal & Scribe By Karen Dybis | March 20, 2024 Thanks to jet lag and a lifelong affection for antiques, Shari Cohen (Botswana 1987-89) made her way from a fine arts and consulting career that took her around the world into her own fine jewelry brand that turns intaglio seals into one-of-a-kind pieces. Cohen, who founded Seal & Scribe in 2016, says her foundation in art, photography, and storytelling helped her develop a thriving business. Her family, who also are jewelry lovers, also were significant influences on her interest in restoring and marketing heirlooms for another generation of owners. Her parents had an apparel business that frequently took them from their home in northwest New Jersey into New York City and on business trips to Asia. “My mother always had custom jewelry made when she was in Hong Kong,” says Cohen. “Sometimes we would put . . .

Patti Garamendi (Ethiopia) | Sacramento County Woman of the Year

Mar 20 2024

In the News — Patti Garamendi is Sacramento County Woman of the Year WALNUT GROVE – Patricia Garamendi (Ethiopia 1966-68), the matriarch of a Sacramento County ranching and political family who served in multiple gubernatorial appointments and federal roles, responsible for addressing matters such as world hunger and international trade, has been named Sacramento County Woman of the year by Sen. Bill Dodd. “Patti has devoted a lifetime to public service and I am proud to recognize her for her many achievements,” Sen. Dodd said. “While running her family’s ranch, Patti has worked tirelessly for two governors and held top federal posts responsible for feeding the poor all over the world. She’s a true dynamo and an inspiration for all.” Patti — A Peace Corps Volunteer “learns peace, lives peace and labors for peace from the beginning of their service to the end of their life.” I was inspired by . . .

First RPCV to Go to Jail for a President!

Mar 19 2024

In the news Ex-Trump adviser RPCV Peter Navarro reports to prison on contempt of Congress conviction MIAMI — Former Donald Trump adviser Peter Navarro (Thailand 1965-68), who was convicted of contempt of Congress last year, is set to surrender Tuesday at a federal Bureau of Prisons facility in Miami to begin serving his four-month sentence. Before turning himself in, Navarro held a press conference in a strip-mall parking lot down the street from the facility. Near a Papa John’s, Navarro gave an extended speech airing his grievances against the government and his prosecution, painting himself as a victim of political persecution. “I will walk proudly in there to do my time,” Navarro said. “I will gather strength from this: Donald John Trump is the nominee.” Navarro, who was closely involved in Trump’s attempts to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss in the lead-up to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the . . .

GARDENS OF PLENTY by Ron Arias (Peru)

Mar 19 2024

Gardens of Plenty by Ron Arias (Peru 1963-64) Peace Corps Writers March 2023 333 pages $9.99 (Kindle), $19.99 (Hardcover), $16.99 (paperback) • • • In Gardens of Plenty, Ron Arias immerses readers in a 16th-century world that is both mysterious and magical, exploring the rich culture of “Amexica” with a tenderness that is both persuasive and captivating. Following the publication of his previous work, The Wetback and Other Stories, which earned praise from Paul Theroux for providing a compassionate glimpse into an adjacent neighborhood, Arias continues his literary journey with this epic work of historical fiction. A seasoned writer and author with a diverse bibliography, Arias brings his narrative talent to Gardens of Plenty, providing a deeply sensitive, first-person account of one man’s early years in the New World. Drawing on his nomination for a National Book Award with The Road To Tamazunchalc, and his skill in crafting truc survival sagas . . .

FEUD’s Truman Capote by Larry Grobel (Ghana)

Mar 16 2024

In the news — Feud’s Truman Capote Doesn’t Shine Like the Man I Knew Yes, he was a lonely, tormented alcoholic at the end, but he was also a riveting dinner companion and a transcendent writer. by Lawrence Grobel (Ghana 1968-71) Vanity Fair March 13, 2024 Capote does his version of a fan dance to the disco beat at Studio A minute before the Today show’s cameras rolled in February 1985, Jane Pauley smiled and said, “I’ll begin by asking you about Truman’s hate list.” My own smile disappeared, and my eyes widened in fright. I was about to go on national television to promote my first book, Conversations with Capote, and she wanted me to talk about some of the two thousand people Truman Capote claimed to have on his “hate list.” In the seconds before the camera’s red light turned green, my mind whirred through some of those people, and I didn’t feel . . .

The Volunteer Who Has Been Highly Recognized for His contributions to the Creative Arts | Tony D‘Souza (Cote d’Ivoire)

Mar 16 2024

Profile in Citizenship by Jeremiah Norris (Colombia 1963-65) • • • Tony D’Souza served as a Volunteer in Cote d’Ivoire from 2001 to 2002, chronicling his life in a small African village, before, during, and after a Civil War. He was born in Chicago to an RPCV mother (India 1966-68) and Indian father. After graduating from high school, he rode a bicycle across Alaska, then went on to earn a BA in English in two and a half years at Carthage College. Afterwards, he earned a MA in English at Hollins University in Virginia, and then a Master’s in Fine Arts (MFA) at the University of Notre Dame. Tony feels that this degree gave him two years to surround himself with people who loved books, commenting that “most of life isn’t as pleasant as that. Before his time in the Peace Corps, Tony managed to work in a kibbutz in Israel, and . . .

Which RPCV Writer Tells the Best “Peace Corps Story”?

Mar 15 2024

Which Peace Corps writer in the 62+ years of the agency has made the biggest impression on you by what they have written about their Peace Corps tour? You pick your writer from the book (s) she or he has written. The winner will be awarded a special ‘Peace Corps’ prize Peace Corps Writers and we’ll profile who it is on our site. Post on our website your ‘best’ Peace Corps writer and email me the writer’s name: jcoyneone@gmail.com Also tell why you think your person is the best of all our wonderful writers in the Peace Corps. Thank you, John & Marian

Peter Navarro (Thailand) going to jail

Mar 15 2024

In the news WASHINGTON (AP) — An appeals court denied Trump White House official and RPCV Peter Navarro’s (Thailand 1965-68) bid to stave off his jail sentence on contempt of Congress charges Thursday. Navarro has been ordered to report to a federal prison by March 19. He argued he should stay free as he appeals his conviction for refusing to cooperate with a congressional investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Review | YET TO BE REVEALED by Geri Marr Burdman (Bolivia)

Mar 15 2024

Yet to be Revealed: Finding Paths to Meaning by Geri Marr Burdman, Ph.D. (Bolivia 1962-64) GeroWise Books November 2023 124 pages $16.95 (Paperback) Reviewed by Gary D. Robinson (Colombia 1962–64; El Salvador staff 1967–68; DC staff 1969-71) • • • In Yet to be Revealed: Finding Paths to Meaning, Dr. Geri Marr Burdman takes the reader on an enlightening journey to discover meaning and purpose in life. This exploration, she suggests, becomes increasingly important as we age. The book encourages readers to reflect deeply on when they last contemplated what gives their lives significance, introducing the idea that the quest for meaning is a lifelong journey for some. In contrast, others may not embark on this path until a personal or family crisis strikes. Drawing on her extensive experience in health and gerontology education, as well as her international efforts starting with her time as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bolivia . . .

Libby Bennett (Zambia) | New Executive Director of Groundworks Collaborative

Mar 14 2024

RPCVs in the news Groundworks, a homeless shelter in Brattleboro, Vermont Promotes Libby Bennett (Zambia 2006-09) To Be New Executive Director March 13, 2024 BRATTLEBORO—The Board of Directors of Groundworks Collaborative has announced that Libby Bennett, formerly the agency’s Director of Development & Communications, has accepted the offer to lead the organization as its new Executive Director. Bennett has been on staff with the agency since joining the Morningside Shelter team in 2012. Previously, she served as an intern for the organization in 2011 while completing practicum work toward her master’s degree in non-profit management from the SIT Graduate Institute. Bennett points back to volunteering for overnight shifts at Brattleboro’s Seasonal Overflow Shelter in 2010/2011 as her earliest interaction with the agency—inspired to volunteer after hearing a presentation from the founder of Brattleboro Area Drop-In Center, Melinda Bussino. A lifelong resident of Brattleboro and graduate of Brattleboro . . .

WORDMAN by P.F. Kluge (Micronesia)

Mar 13 2024

Wordman by P.F. Kluge (Micronesia 1967-69) Peace Corps Writers Publishers January 2024 204 pages $22.00 (Paperback) • • • The summation of a distinguished career in writing fiction, writing for film, travel writing, and teaching, P.F. Kluge’s Wordman is a source book for emerging writers and a memorable set of reflections upon a life spent as a journalist, author, and teacher. Kluge’s service in the Peace Corps in the early 1960s provided an unexpected geographic focus that has accrued to a lifetime of novels and creative nonfiction. Of the many successful Peace Corps writers, P.F. Kluge (Micronesia 1967-69) is recognized as one of our most accomplished, having published seven novels, two books of nonfiction, and countless articles for The Wall Street Journal, Life, Playboy, Rolling Stone, and Smithsonian. With his Master of Arts degree and a PhD from the University of Chicago, he has been for the last ten years the . . .

Returned Peace Corps Volunteers visit Belize

Mar 12 2024

BELMOPAN, BELIZE March 7, 2024 Seven Returned Peace Corps Volunteers visited the Peace Corps headquarters March 6, 2024. They are in country to visit decades after having served as volunteers and to learn about the work that Peace Corps Belize is currently doing in the education and youth development sectors. The group was led by former Ambassador Frank Almaguer. Frank Almaguer is an American retired diplomat and career Foreign Service Officer. Almaguer served in the Peace Corps as a volunteer in Orange Walk Town, Belize from 1967 to 1969. In 1999, Almaguer served as United States Ambassador to Honduras from August 1999 to September 2002. The returned Peace Corps Volunteers had worked in the education sector during 1960s and 1970s. Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps by executive order on March 1, 1961, more than 240,000 Americans have served in 143 host countries. Peace . . .