2010.10.13: Peace Corps Directors Discuss Impact of Service
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2010.10.13: Peace Corps Directors Discuss Impact of Service
Peace Corps Directors Discuss Impact of Service
The event, titled "Answering Kennedy's Call to Service", included a recording of Kennedy's original speech and news footage of NBC's coverage of the anniversary. The directors including Aaron Williams, Elaine Chao, Gaddi Vasquez, and Mark Gearan praised Kennedy's ability to motivate Americans to serve, but also recognized that today's Peace Corps needs to adapt to a changing world.
Peace Corps Directors Discuss Impact of Service
Peace Corps Directors Discuss Impact of Service
By Nathalie R. Miraval and JUSTIN C. WORLAND, CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Published: Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Caption: Peace Corps Directors Elaine Chao, Mark Gearan, Gaddi Vasquez, and Aaron Williams at Harvard University.
Past and present Peace Corps directors celebrated the 50th anniversary of a speech given by Former President John F. Kennedy '40 announcing his intention to form the Peace Corps in a forum yesterday evening.
The discussion, sponsored by the JFK Jr. Forum at the Harvard Kennedy School, focused on the Peace Corps' past accomplishments and future goals.
The directors discussed the Peace Corps' achievement in connecting Americans with the rest of the world, while making an impact on the everyday lives of the countries it has served.
"In this globalized economic world, it's important we understand people outside our borders and they should understand us," said Former Peace Corps Director Elaine L. Chao.
Current Director Aaron S. Williams spoke of his visit last week to Ghana, the first country to host Peace Corps volunteers, noting that the impact of the Peace Corps is still visible.
"The Peace Corps allows Americans to engage in different cultures, learn another language, and to promote world peace and friendship," he said.
The event, titled "Answering Kennedy's Call to Service", included a recording of Kennedy's original speech and news footage of NBC's coverage of the anniversary. The directors praised Kennedy's ability to motivate Americans to serve, but also recognized that today's Peace Corps needs to adapt to a changing world.
"I think it may be time for those of us who care about the Peace Corps to cast an unflinching eye at the Peace Corps today, to contemporize it for the next fifty years," said Former Peace Corps Director Mark D. Gearan '78.
His suggestions focused on incorporating advancing technology in volunteer work, and increasing funding and scale, allowing for more volunteers.
Former Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez added that the organization should encourage participation from a broader group of ethnic backgro]unds. "One of the aims of the Peace Corps is that it look more like the panel sitting here tonight," he said, referring to the diversity of the speakers.
Over the past 50 years, approximately 1,200 Harvard alumni have volunteered in the Peace Corps, with 19 currently serving, according to Williams.
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: October, 2010; 50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps; Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams; Elaine Chao; Gaddi Vasquez; Mark Gearan
When this story was posted in November 2010, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
| Big Omission in Comprehensive Report The Peace Corps has always neglected the third goal, allocating less than 1% of their resources to it, so when Aaron Williams promised Senator Dodd to provide a "Comprehensive Assessment Report" with ideas to strengthen and reform the agency's operations we expected to see some forceful recommendations to address this critical weakness. Read the report and our commentary on the big omission in the third goal that committee members didn't address, discuss, or even mention. |
| Memo to Incoming Director Williams PCOL has asked five prominent RPCVs and Staff to write a memo on the most important issues facing the Peace Corps today. Issues raised include the independence of the Peace Corps, political appointments at the agency, revitalizing the five-year rule, lowering the ET rate, empowering volunteers, removing financial barriers to service, increasing the agency's budget, reducing costs, and making the Peace Corps bureaucracy more efficient and responsive. Latest: Greetings from Director Williams |
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Story Source: Harvard Crimson
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; 50th; Williams; Chao; Vasquez; Gearan
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