Yamiche Alcindor at the Washington Post writes: "Dozens Rally for Peace Corps"



Yamiche Alcindor writes: "Dozens of Peace Corps volunteers rallied downtown yesterday, urging Congress and the Obama administration to expand the program."

Yamiche Alcindor at the Washington Post writes: "Dozens Rally for Peace Corps"

Dozens Rally for Peace Corps

By Yamiche Alcindor
Washington Post Staff Writer

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Dozens of Peace Corps volunteers rallied downtown yesterday, urging Congress and the Obama administration to expand the program.

"We want to help the president adhere to his vision," said Harris Wofford, a former Democratic senator from Pennsylvania who helped launch the Peace Corps in 1961.

Organizers said they hoped to prod President Obama to make good on his promise to double the number of Peace Corps volunteers and allot $450 million to the volunteer program, up from about $373 million the administration already has proposed.

"The time is now for the Peace Corps," said Kevin Quigley, president of the National Peace Corps Association.

The Peace Corps sends thousands of Americans around the world to work for two-year stints.

The event's speakers included several former Peace Corps volunteers; Anthony Johnson, Jamaica's ambassador to Washington; and Timothy Shriver, son of Sargent Shriver, the first director of the Peace Corps.
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The group walked three blocks to the White House, chanting "President Obama, we need the Peace Corps. A bold, new Peace Corps!"

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: June, 2009; Presidents - Obama; Expansion; Congress; Budget; Appropriations

When this story was posted in June 2009, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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May 30, 2009: Peace Corps' Roadmap Peace Corps' Roadmap for the Future 26 May Who are the Candidates for Peace Corps Director? 24 May Have French Atomic Tests put PCVs at Risk? 1 May Obama asks Congress for 10% increase in PC Budget 7 May Guy Consolmagno debunks "Angels & Demons" 22 May Obama praises Dodd at credit card signing 22 May John Garamendi front runner in California primary 22 May Al Kamen writes: New management structure at PC HQ? 22 May Damian Wampler's play Twin Towers opens in NYC 21 May Michael Volpe learns that DC is networking capital 21 May Dr. Mike Metke returns to Costa Rica 10 May Jesse Fleisher Lives well on less 14 May Al Kamen writes: PCVs peak at 11,000 under Obama Budget 11 May James W. Kostenblatt is making a difference in Mozambique 10 May Karen and Warren Master host Kyrgyzstan teen 9 May Alberto Ibargüen writes: The Future of Newspapers 9 May PC Monitor 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus in Mexico 1 May Paul Theroux writes: Obama and the Peace Corps 1 May Johnnie Carson to head State Department African Affairs 29 Apr Michael O'Hanlon writes: Grading Obama's First 100 Days 29 Apr Amy Potthast writes: The Peace Corps Lottery 23 Apr Read more stories from April and May 2009.

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PCOL's Candidate for Peace Corps Director Honduras RPCV Jon Carson, 33, presided over thousands of workers as national field director for the Obama campaign and said the biggest challenge -- and surprise -- was the volume of volunteer help, including more than 15,000 "super volunteers," who were a big part of what made Obama's campaign so successful. PCOL endorses Jon Carson as the man who can revitalize the Peace Corps, bring it into the internet age, and meet Obama's goal of doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011.

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Director Ron Tschetter: The PCOL Interview Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter sat down for an in-depth interview to discuss the evacuation from Bolivia, political appointees at Peace Corps headquarters, the five year rule, the Peace Corps Foundation, the internet and the Peace Corps, how the transition is going, and what the prospects are for doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011. Read the interview and you are sure to learn something new about the Peace Corps. PCOL previously did an interview with Director Gaddi Vasquez.

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