Wade spent two years in Suriname, a small country north of Brazil. She lived in a rural area about 50 miles east of Paramaribo, the capital city. The country is about the size of Georgia and 80 percent is untouched rain forest. Dutch is the official language. Peace Corps has three goals: to give assistance to countries that want technical or educational assistance, for the people of those countries to learn about America and Americans, and for the Americans to learn more about that country. "I would say I did all of that," Wade said. "In the first year I worked at a rehabilitative clinic funded from Holland for people without family who can no longer take care of themselves. I worked with the kitchen staff on sanitation and nutrition planning. Health education for the staff was an intregal component of that." In her second year she was at a community where there had been an internet cafe. She worked to get it reopened and to teach residents how to use Microsoft Word and Excel. "Some of the people had jobs in the city and this would help them. The internet was an important means of communication for them," she said. She explained the history of that need. "I am in Illinois specifically because I wanted to attend college at WIU and be part of this Peace Corps program in community development," Wade said. The program is designed for people who have completed two years of Peace Corps service. In her first year she took classes on campus, and she continues with two classes (six hours) along with spending 1,700 hours over the next 11 months in Carthage. She will graduate in May but is committed to working in Carthage through the end of July 2010.
Suriname RPCV Jessica Wade is on an 11-month internship in Carthage to help promote and enhance community and economic development of the area
Wade works for economic development in Carthage
By Joy Swearingen, Managing editor
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 5:28 PM CDT
Jessica Wade, a graduate student from Western Illinois University, is on an 11-month internship in Carthage. As an Americore Peace Corps Fellow, she is using the skills and experience gained from serving in the Peace Corps in South America to help serve areas in the United States.
Her focus in Carthage is two-fold: to help promote and enhance community and economic development of the area, and to help people coming to the area from other countries to have as seamless a transition as possible.
Wade has an office in the Carthage City Hall, and is working with interim community development coordinator, Charlie Bair.
"I've been here about a month. The first thing I have wanted to do is get to know people," Wade said. "I am trying to identify opportunities for the kinds of projects that enhance community development."
To do that she is going around to meet business owners on the square to see what ideas and concerns they may have. She is going to lots of meetings such as the Carthage Chamber of Commerce, Chamber Round Table, city council and Kiwanis, to get acquainted and to see what projects are already in the works.
"I hope to create a community profile that tells reasons for economic development in this area, lists retail properties available on the square, and try to find entrepeneurs who would relocate downtown.
"I am working with the Carthage trail group. I'd like to see Carthage better use the internet to show what's going on in town.
"As the marketplce changes, Carthage will continue to experience people coming in from other countries. I want to make that transition as seamless as possible for those people, and for the people of Carthage who have been here for quite some time."
As people move into the area from other countries and cultures, she wants to find home stays that will get these newcomers acclimated to living in Carthage, learning the customs and the differences in laws and cultures.
"What a person assumes to be correct may not be. I want to identify some families as hosts. It is a learning exchange for everyone."
As she looks forward to her work, Wade believes the people of the area are the strongest asset.
"The belief they have that this is a great town, a place they want to live and where people should want to come to do business," Wade said. "Specifically, the lake is beautiful, the Kibbe Museum, the square...it is wonderful, a huge asset."
Wade is originally from Kentucky. She earned a bachelor's degree in nutrition science and worked as a registered dietician for a number of years in Atlanta, Ga., and Louisville, Ken., in public health and as a consultant for a long term care facility.
"I had known about the Peace Corps for a long time. When I was younger I went to a summer camp and one of the counselors was headed to Africa with the Peace Corps. Then when I was in college, there were always recruiters on campus," Wade said. "I worked a few years before going into the Peace Corps. Ultimately, I think that helped my ability to serve."
Wade spent two years in Suriname, a small country north of Brazil. She lived in a rural area about 50 miles east of Paramaribo, the capital city. The country is about the size of Georgia and 80 percent is untouched rain forest. Dutch is the official language.
Peace Corps has three goals: to give assistance to countries that want technical or educational assistance, for the people of those countries to learn about America and Americans, and for the Americans to learn more about that country.
"I would say I did all of that," Wade said. "In the first year I worked at a rehabilitative clinic funded from Holland for people without family who can no longer take care of themselves. I worked with the kitchen staff on sanitation and nutrition planning. Health education for the staff was an intregal component of that."
In her second year she was at a community where there had been an internet cafe. She worked to get it reopened and to teach residents how to use Microsoft Word and Excel.
"Some of the people had jobs in the city and this would help them. The internet was an important means of communication for them," she said. She explained the history of that need.
Suriname was settled by the English and traded to Holland during the colonization of the Americas. They were granted independence from Holland in 1975. There was civil war in 1980, and about half the population fled to Holland. With families split up and on the move, the internet and email is the main way for them to stay in touch.
Wade returned to the U.S. and continued as a dietician in Louisville for five months, returned to South American for some backpack traveling, and then came to Macomb to begin a masters degree program in recreation, parks and tourism.
"I am in Illinois specifically because I wanted to attend college at WIU and be part of this Peace Corps program in community development," Wade said. The program is designed for people who have completed two years of Peace Corps service. In her first year she took classes on campus, and she continues with two classes (six hours) along with spending 1,700 hours over the next 11 months in Carthage. She will graduate in May but is committed to working in Carthage through the end of July 2010.
"I would like to work with any group or individual who has an idea for community or economic development," Wade said.
She can be reached at Carthage City Hall, 217/357-3119, or her cell, 309/363-6906.
