Peace Corps Community in the News (week of January 12, 2025)

Portrait of protesters

Tim Terry, Goose, Apple, and Ned Powell gather on the corner of Kirkwood and N Walnut Ave Wednesday Oct 9 2024. The four men meet here weekly to vigil for peace.

Fairmount College to induct two into Hall of Fame, By Cheryl K. Miller | Wichita State University News, January 10, 2025.

Mark G. Wentling (Honduras 1967-69); 1970, Bachelor of Arts, Anthropology, Economics and Political Science. Mark spent more than 40 years as an international development and humanitarian assistance specialist, working primarily in Africa for the Peace Corps and the United States Agency for International Development.

Marquis Who’s Who Honors Dr. Emily Moore for Expertise in Physical Education, in 24-7PressRelease | January 12, 2025.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Dr. Emily Moore is deeply involved in civic activities. She has been an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, contributing to scholarship programs that support graduating students. Her international experiences include serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Nigeria (1965-67) during tumultuous times and participating as an ambassador in the People to People Program in South Africa.

‘Stuart Blackburn’s Own Luck of the Draw’ in Female First | January 12, 2025.

As an American living in the US during the 1960s and 1970s, the war in Vietnam was the single most important historical event in my life, and that of many, many others. But, unlike those many others, I got lucky. I was not sent to Vietnam and I did not flee to Canada, as thousands and thousands did. My good fortune was to join the Peace Corps in 1970, which was considered ‘national service’ and became my escape from the draft lottery of December 1969, a televised event that decided the fate of so many who were sent to Vietnam, some to die.” — Stuart Blackburn (India 1970-72), Peace Corps writer.

Amy Laufer thinks this will be the year Virginia enshrines abortion rights, by Emily Hemphill in The Daily Progress | January 13, 2025.

Del. Amy Laufer (Jamaica 1997-99) wants her political legacy to include enshrining abortion rights into the Code of Virginia. And, in order to accomplish that, the Democrat representing the commonwealth’s 55th District says she’s going to need another term in office as she has “so much work to do.” Democrat JJ Singh (Bolivia 2000-02), whom Laufer knows from their overlapping time serving in the Peace Corps, filled Kannan Srinivasan’s vacant seat, beating Republican Ram Venkatachalam.

Building bridges, one letter at a time, by Athanasios “Tommy” K., on PeaceCorps.gov | January 13, 2025.

Through the Peace Corps Global Connections program, we found American educators at two schools in Illinois wanting to give their students a global perspective through a letter exchange. The opportunity was perfect for us. Together, my counterpart and I decided to bring this project to our grade 7 and grade 10 classes. Our goal was twofold: to teach formal letter writing in a practical way and provide our students with the chance to learn about American culture while sharing their own.

South Carolina Technical College System Foundation names nonprofit veteran CEO, by Ross Norton in Columbia Business Report | January 13, 2025.

Naomi Lett (Niger 2001-03) has more than 20 years’ experience in the non-profit sector, driving policy and innovation that improve lives and strengthen communities, including roles with the Peace Corps, the United Way Association of South Carolina, and United Way Worldwide, where she worked with more than 32 states to develop sound policies in areas such as workforce development, financial stability and education, the release stated.

Marquis Who’s Who Honors Dr. Alan J. Goldsmith for Expertise in Nonprofit Administration, in 24/7 Press Release | January 14, 2025.

Alan Goldsmith (Venezuela 1970-71) established the JRF Community Health Center in 2015 and continues to serve as its President. His commitment to health care extends beyond local boundaries, as evidenced by his participation in numerous international medical missions. Prior to these roles, he started in the Peace Corps as a volunteer as well as employed as a teacher in 1970. Currently, Dr. Goldsmith serves as an Assistant Professor with Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.

The Costs of Catastrophe, by Stephen Gottlieb (Iran 1965-67) on WAMC Northeast Public Radio | January 14, 2025.

Fires and natural disasters in California and the Southeast have made it hard to get homeowners’ insurance which has led people to think about how to provide it. Homeowners’ insurance has outpriced many. But providing insurance can lead people to stay put in unsustainable places. We can do better than that.”

Meet Michelle Ficara, in Canvas Rebel | January 14, 2025.

“I’m Michelle Aguilar (Panama 2009-11), a documentary filmmaker and the founder and director of the Lake Tahoe Documentary Film Festival. My passion for filmmaking started unexpectedly during my time in the Peace Corps, living with an indigenous community in Latin America. I found it difficult to articulate the depth and richness of my experiences to friends and family back home, so I turned to film as a way to show them instead. This transformative moment not only helped me connect two worlds but also opened my eyes to the power of storytelling through film.”

Meet 45 People Who Are Doing Amazing Things to Make Our Community a Better Place in Sarasota Magazine | January 15, 2025.

At age 79, Alexander Philiphose (Zambia 2021-22) joined the Peace Corps and moved to Zambia to help run a rural clinic that assists people affected by poverty and HIV and AIDS. While his service was cut short by the Covid-19 pandemic, he volunteered to assist with vaccination campaigns in under-resourced areas here in the United States. Today, he serves as an ombudsman, advocating for older individuals who live in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other settings.

Advocating for Immigrant Health Equity in Greater Boston, on Heller.Brandeis.edu | January 15, 2025.

The road to Rebecca Nuernberger’s (Paraguay 2000-02) current role started during her Peace Corps service in Paraguay, where she focused on environmental education and public health. After returning to the United States, she received a master’s in Advanced Practice Nursing from Boston College and became a family nurse practitioner for the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center.

Law Student Spotlight: Lindsey Bressler, in American Bar Association | January 13, 2025.

Upon graduating from Northeastern University, I felt called to spend time doing service work. I had always been interested in large, global problems, but found that the international experiences I had up until the point of my Peace Corps service were limited. Peace Corps Tanzania (2018-19) taught me so much about East Africa, international development, and my own ability to navigate unfamiliar experiences. It ultimately made me realize that my place to make the most impact was in the United States, rather than abroad.

Our Pandemic Study Continues in Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico, by APU Edge Staff | January 15, 2025.

Dr. Kristin Drexler (Belize 1997-99) is a full-time faculty member in the Space Studies and Earth Sciences Department. She earned the Undergraduate Excellence in Teaching Award for the School of STEM (2020) and the Dr. Wallace E. Boston Leadership Award (2021). Dr. Drexler has conducted numerous community surveys in Belize and Guatemala regarding sustainable agriculture and COVID-19 impacts and is a co-investigator for the multi-year research study, “A Case Study Comparison of Pandemic Experience of Indigenous Groups in the Americas.” In the late 1990s, Drexler served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Belize; she co-founded Full Basket Belize, a 501(c)(3) and has served on its Board of Directors since 2005.

MAxT Makerspace hosting grand opening at new Noone Falls facility in Peterborough, in The Monadnock Ledger-Transcript, January 15, 2025.

Schlieben, a Peterborough native and ConVal graduate, is a former Peace Corps volunteer. He and his family spent five years in Thailand, and when they returned to Peterborough, Schlieben began to think about “what the community needed.” After putting together a founding board…and intensive fundraising, the Makerspace became reality. “Trying to make the community better, and helping people realize their dreams. That’s what I do,” Schlieben said.

Rotary Club of Kīhei-Wailea to host speaker of Haleakalā Conservancy mid-day. January 15, 2025

Haleakalā Conservancy Executive Director Olena Alec (Nicaragua 2007-09) will speak at an upcoming meeting of the Rotary Club of Kīhei-Wailea. Prior to Climate Reality, she worked in New York City connecting public school teachers and administrators to resources and partners to further their sustainability goals. She is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, having served in the Peace Corps in Nicaragua, working with her community on issues of environmental education, conservation, and sustainability.

The Selma Redevelopment Authority hires new executive director, by Staff Reports, in The Selma Times Journal | January 15, 2025.

The Selma Redevelopment Authority (SRA) has hired Sarah Aghedo (Lesotho 1987-89) as executive director effective January 1….Aghedo’s resume highlights volunteering with the Peace Corps, work with Selma’s Long-Term Recovery Committee, acquiring over $95,000 in historic preservation grants and earning master’s degrees in public administration and in arts in international affairs from Ohio University. She has been a teacher, research analyst and financial consultant, which can all play roles in moving SRA and downtown Selma forward.

Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore Gets in There Early, Announces That He Would Like to be Your State Senator in 2026, in Lost Coast Outpost | January 16, 2025.

Family and service intertwined during his Peace Corps service in the South American nation of Bolivia (2003-05) when James Gore and his future wife, Elizabeth, met while helping local communities build water management systems, improve agricultural practices, and develop a campaign that linked seven isolated communities medical & dental care and education.

Seven Inaccuracies about US Support for Somaliland, by Joshua Meservey, in Horn Diplomat | January 16, 2025.

Joshua Meservey (Zambia 2006-09) is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute where he focuses on great power competition in Africa, African geopolitics, and counterterrorism. He was previously a research fellow for Africa at the Heritage Foundation. Before joining Heritage, he worked at the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center and at the US Army Special Operations Command. He also worked at Church World Service and traveled extensively in East and Southern Africa interviewing refugees. He is a returned Peace Corps volunteer who served in Zambia and extended his service there to work for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A memorable 63-year journey and the way forward, by Devandra Gautam in The Annapurna Press, January 16, 2025.

Devendra Gautam and Ramkala Khadka of Annapurna Media Network caught up with Katie Donohoe (Madagascar 1999-2001), mission director at the USAID in Nepal, to discuss different facets of the agency’s 63-year-long partnership in Nepal and plans for the future. “I actually started as a Peace Corps volunteer, as a teacher in Madagascar a long time ago. And that really made me want to keep doing this type of work. I’ve also worked in Zambia, Pakistan, Egypt, Nigeria, and now here in Nepal.”

Because They Walk”: Kevin McCoy’s Changemaker Journey, on CWS Global | January 16, 2025.

Inspired by his father, Kevin studied Art History and later received his Master’s in Counseling. While his studies enriched him profoundly, he discovered his passion for serving others internationally when he volunteered for the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic (1986-88). During his volunteer work, Kevin was moved by the “hope and spirit” of the local communities, despite their daily challenges in accessing basic necessities. “That’s the kind of person I want to be,” he recalled, recognizing the profound impact of these experiences on his life’s direction.

Standing for Peace: The quiet persistence of Bloomington’s locals, by Mackenzie Lionberger; photos by Mikayla Owens; design and development by Kelsey Pease | January 16, 2025.

Tim Terry (Nigeria 1968-70) was a member of the Peace Corps who served in Nigeria during the Biafran War. The war began in 1967 due to the attempt at secession from provinces in Nigeria. During the war, Tim and his wife Barbara served as teachers. After serving in the Corps, he became a jeweler, cultivating his designs in New York until moving to Bloomington in 2003 with his wife, Barbara. Soon after moving to Bloomington, he joined the protesters outside the courthouse.

Vin (Jin) de Casă – Moldovan House Wine, by David Smith in Moldova Matters | January 16, 2025.

The best wine in the world is always made wherever you are in Moldova…Back in June 2012 I arrived in Moldova along with 55 of my soon-to-be best friends for 27 months of service in the Peace Corps. As part of our training we were sent to live with local host families for the first 3 months. During the day we would take classes in Romanian (or Russian2) as well as technical trainings around your planned area of work. In the evening you live with a family who doesn’t speak any English and you try your best to figure things out.” —David Smith (Moldova 2021-23).

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