December 30, 2005: Headlines: COS - Honduras: Service: Hispanic Issues: Richmond Times-Dispatch: Honduras RPCV Peter Von der Lippe created a Hispanic advisory committee at the Red Cross chapter, then a multicultural committee
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December 30, 2005: Headlines: COS - Honduras: Service: Hispanic Issues: Richmond Times-Dispatch: Honduras RPCV Peter Von der Lippe created a Hispanic advisory committee at the Red Cross chapter, then a multicultural committee
Honduras RPCV Peter Von der Lippe created a Hispanic advisory committee at the Red Cross chapter, then a multicultural committee
With the Red Cross, he began telling Hispanics about available services and also sought them out as volunteers. He has displayed a commitment to help, often on his own time, that has earned him respect in the community.
Honduras RPCV Peter Von der Lippe created a Hispanic advisory committee at the Red Cross chapter, then a multicultural committee
Volunteer includes diversity in preparedness
BY JUAN ANTONIO LIZAMA
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Dec 30, 2005
Peter and Elicet Von der Lippe trained with the American Red Cross to volunteer as cardiopulmonary-respiratory and first-aid instructors.
Five hours a day for a week, Peter Von der Lippe interpreted during training for his recently arrived Honduran wife.
Then came the tests.
"Even though she did well on the hands-on techniques, she didn't pass the written test," said Von der Lippe, who lives with his wife in Short Pump. "Imagine how she felt -- terrible."
His wife's disappointment fueled Von der Lippe's desire to have the Red Cross reach out to the Hispanic community. The Red Cross' Greater Richmond chapter hired him two years ago on the condition that he find funding for his initiative. That money came as a grant from the Community Foundation.
Hanging on his office walls are pictures of deserts and camels from Niger and the blue waters of Amapala in Honduras, where he met his wife while volunteering with the Peace Corps.
Von der Lippe graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a degree in forestry and the intention to be a forest ranger like his father. Instead, he enlisted in the Peace Corps.
With the Red Cross, he began telling Hispanics about available services and also sought them out as volunteers. He has displayed a commitment to help, often on his own time, that has earned him respect in the community.
"Peter is an apostle," said Carmen Williams, a lay leader at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Chesterfield County.
Von der Lippe created a Hispanic advisory committee at the Red Cross chapter, then a multicultural committee.
Initial discussions resulted in the formation of Colaborando Juntos (Working Together), a network of businesses, universities, nonprofit organizations, schools and government agencies to advocate and work with Hispanics on educational, health and legal issues. Von der Lippe has also coordinated CPR and first-aid courses in Spanish and sessions to prepare St. Augustine as a disaster shelter.
He's also working to get more involvement in the Red Cross among black, Asian and Middle Eastern groups.
"My goal is not only to include minorities to make sure we really are prepared to help them in case of emergency," he said, "but also to prepare them for an emergency."
Contact staff writer Juan Antonio Lizama at jlizama@timesdispatch.com or (804) 649-6513.
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Story Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Honduras; Service; Hispanic Issues
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