National Peace Corps Association

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National Peace Corps Association
Founded1979
FounderJohn F. Kennedy
Type501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization
FocusReturned Peace Corps Volunteers, Peace Corps Community
Location
  • Washington, D.C.
Area served
Global
Employees
10
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata

National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) is a North American nonprofit organization supporting the Peace Corps community. Founded in 1979, the NPCA is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

They have approximately 150,000 records of volunteers, including former Peace Corps staff, host country counterparts, and family and friends of the Peace Corps.[1] They have played an advisory role to Peace Corps volunteers. Their stated goals are "encouraging the lifelong practice of Peace Corps ideals and advocating to support, expand, and improve the U.S. Peace Corps".[2]

History

In the mid-1970s, at conferences of global educators in the Midwest, a handful of returned Peace Corps volunteers began meeting regularly to discuss the lessons they learned during their service. They adopted one of the Peace Corps' goals as their mission, as articulated by President John F. Kennedy in 1961: "Come home and teach your neighbors about the communities where you served". They aimed to offer the growing numbers of returning Peace Corps Volunteers in America a continuing mission and communal identity as Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs).[3][4]

In 1979, this group joined with RPCV community leaders in New York and Washington, D.C., to form the National Council of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, which was incorporated in 1981. In 1993 the name was changed to the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA).

In response to the Rwanda Genocide in 1994, NPCA created the Emergency Response Network (ERN) of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers willing to respond to crises when needed. Peace Corps Director Mark Gearan modeled the Crisis Corps (later renamed Peace Corps Response) after this program.

In coordination with the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington, D.C., NPCA organized 200 RPCVs to march in President Barack Obama's Inaugural Parade[5] on January 20, 2009, also that year the National Peace Corps Association launched Peace Corps Connect, a website and online social networking platform to help current and returned Peace Corps Volunteers connect and share ideas about projects, events, careers, and advocacy issues.

In 2002, NPCA was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, along with the Peace Corps.[6]

Advocacy

Members of the organization continue to testify on U.S. Peace Corps legislation and key issues like safety and security.

In 2005, NPCA successfully coordinated the removal of Peace Corps references from military recruitment legislation.[citation needed]

Awards and recognition

NPCA has encouraged and recognized the service of members of the Peace Corps community by awarding over 20 Sargent Shriver Awards for Distinguished Humanitarian Service.

Programs

Peace Corps Connect is the annual conference of the Peace Corps community.

Africa Rural Connect (ARC) is an online collaboration tool aiming to address some of the challenges in rural African communities. This project introduces and encourages collaboration to identify creative, new plans to deal with the fundamental problems of agricultural development and rural poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa. The ARC project is supported by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as part of the foundation's Agricultural Development initiative to provide millions of small-holder farmers in the developing world with tools and opportunities to boost their yields, increase their incomes, and build better lives for themselves and their families.[7]

RPCV Mentoring Program assists returning Peace Corps Volunteers with their transition from service. The program aims to connect recently returned Peace Corps Volunteers with RPCV mentors one year after their service ends. Mentors supply advice, and key networking contacts, share experiences and adjustment issues, offer guidance on further education, review resumes, assist with career planning, and promote resources available to RPCVs to transition them from serving abroad to serving at home.

Publications

NCPA publishes Worldview magazine four times a year. The magazine shares a Peace Corps perspective on global issues through articles authored by and about Peace Corps Volunteers, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, and people who "Share the global values of the Peace Corps experience".[8]

NPCA also produces email newsletters including the monthly NPCA News; GlobalEdNews on global issues; and NPCA Advocacy on action alerts and news on legislation impacting the Peace Corps community.

History of conferences and events

Since the year before its founding, the NPCA has planned annual events. These events include large conferences, celebrations for major Peace Corps anniversaries, and general meetings to satisfy bylaws requirements.

  • Oct. 1978: Omaha, Nebraska (Red Lion Hotel)
    • Gathering predates the founding of NPCA.
  • Oct. 1979: Omaha, Nebraska (Red Lion Hotel)
    • Marked as the founding of NPCA. At this gathering, charter members formalized and signed the bylaws.
  • Oct. 1980: Omaha, Nebraska (Red Lion Hotel)
  • 1981: Washington, DC (Red Lion Hotel)
    • The 20th Anniversary of the Peace Corps and the first of the major anniversary conferences (always held in Washington, DC.)
  • June 1982: Los Angeles, CA (University of California-Los Angeles)
  • 1983: Denver, CO (Denver University)
  • 1984: Boston, MA (Emmanuel College)
  • 1985: Atlanta, GA (Georgia Tech)
  • July 1986: San Antonio, TX (Trinity College)
  • Sept. 1986: Washington, DC (National Mall)
    • 25th Anniversary of Peace Corps
  • 1987: Madison, WI (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
  • 1988: Boulder, CO (University of Colorado)
  • 1989: Kent, OH (Kent State University)
  • 1990: Eugene, OR (University of Oregon and Hilton Hotel)
  • Aug. 1991: Washington, DC (National Mall)
    • 30th Anniversary of Peace Corps
  • 1992: Fayetteville, AR (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville)
  • 1993: Berkeley CA (University of California-Berkeley)
  • 1994: Atlanta, GA (CNN Center and Omni Atlanta Hotel)
  • 1995: Austin, TX (University of Texas-Austin)
  • Mar. 1–3, 1996: Washington, DC (Mayflower Hotel)
    • 35th Anniversary of Peace Corps
  • 1996: Shawnee-on-Delaware, PA (Resort Hotel)
  • July 10–13, 1997: San Diego, CA (Town & Country Hotel and Conference Center)
  • 1998: Columbus, OH (The Ohio State University)
  • 1999: St. Paul, MN (University of Saint Thomas)
  • Aug. 11–13, 2000: Shawnee-on-Delaware (Resort Hotel)
  • Sept. 21, 2001: Planned for Washington, DC
  • June 20–23, 2002: Washington, DC (Omni Shoreham Hotel)
    • Postponed celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Peace Corps
  • Aug. 1–3, 2003: Portland, OR (University Place Hotel and Conference Center)
  • Aug. 5–8, 2004: Chicago, IL (Palmer House Hilton)
  • 2005: Annual General Meeting in Washington, DC
  • Sept. 14–16, 2006: Washington, DC
    • 45th Anniversary of Peace Corps
  • June 30, 2007: Annual General Meeting in Washington, DC
  • Oct. 3–4, 2008: San Francisco, CA (Jewish Community Center)
  • June 30, 2009: Annual General Meeting in Washington, DC
  • June 26, 2010: Annual General Meeting in Washington, DC
  • Sept. 21–25, 2011: Washington, DC (Georgetown University)
    • 50th Anniversary of Peace Corps
  • June 27–July 1, 2012: Minneapolis, MN (Minneapolis Convention Center)
  • June 26–29, 2013: Boston, MA (Harvard University Medical School)
  • June 20–21, 2014: Nashville, TN (Vanderbilt University and Country Music Hall of Fame)
  • June 4–6, 2015: Berkeley, CA (University of California-Berkeley)
  • Sept. 21–25, 2016: Washington, DC (George Washington University) 55th Anniversary of Peace Corps
  • August 4–6, 2017: Denver, CO (University of Denver)
  • August 23–25, 2018: Shawnee-on-Delaware, PA (Resort)
  • June 20–22, 2019: Austin, TX (University of Texas-Austin)
  • Sept. 26, 2020: "Peace Corps Connect to the Future" (Virtual Conference)
  • Sept. 23–25, 2021: Washington, DC (Virtual Conference)
    • 60th Anniversary of Peace Corps
  • Sept. 24, 2022: Washington, DC (Virtual Conference)
  • Sept. 8–9, 2023: Washington, DC (Virtual Conference)

Starting in 1990, affiliated group leaders held the NPCA Presidents' Forum in conjunction with each annual meeting at Kent State University. In 2005, these meetings were renamed the "Group Leaders' Forum."

Affiliate Groups

The network includes over 180 affiliate groups. Affiliate groups may be geographic (i.e. Chicago Area Peace Corps Association); based on the country of Peace Corps service (i.e. Friends of Guatemala); associated with workplaces (i.e. RPCVs at USAID); driven by social action (i.e. Peace Corps Community for Refugees); or defined by affinity (i.e. the Peace Corps Oral History Project). Groups advocate in line with the stated goals of the organization.

Country of service groups

Listed alphabetically (by country or region):

Geographic groups

Organized by region or city, listed alphabetically (by U.S. state):

  • A: Anchorage AK, Fairbanks AK, Birmingham AL, Phoenix AZ, Tucson AZ
  • B: Boston MA
  • C: Los Angeles CA, Northern CA, Orange County CA, Sacramento CA, San Diego CA, Santa Barbara CA, Inland Southern CA, Ventura County CA, Denver CO, Connecticut
  • D: Delaware, District of Columbia
  • F: First Coast FL, North FL, South FL
  • G: Atlanta GA
  • H: Honolulu HI
  • I: Idaho, Chicago IL, Northeastern IL, Central Indiana, Iowa
  • K: Kansas City Area, South KS, Kentucky - Statewide, KY/IN-Kentuckiana
  • L: Louisiana
  • M: Maryland, Boston MA, Central MO, Kansas City MO, Southeastern MI, West MI, Minnesota, Saint Louis MO, Big Sky MT, Western MT
  • N: Nebraska, New Jersey, Southern Nevada, New Mexico, Charlotte NC, North Carolina, Western NC, Wilmington NC, Winston-Salem NC, Long Island NY, New York NY, Northeast NY, Rochester NY, Western NY
  • O: Athens OH, Central OH, Cincinnati OH, Northern OH, Southwestern OH, Oklahoma, Eugene OR, Portland OR
  • P: Bethlehem PA, Philadelphia PA
  • R: Rhode Island
  • T: Austin TX, Dallas/Fort Worth TX, Houston TX, San Antonio TX
  • V: Vermont, Hampton Roads VA
  • W: Inland Northwest (ID/WA), Seattle WA, Madison WI, Milwaukee WI

Nationwide groups

  • Alliance for Intercultural Understanding[9]
  • Black RPCV in the DMV[10]
  • LGBT Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Association (1991–2021)[11][12]
  • LGBTQI+ RPCVs[11]
  • Women of Peace Corps Legacy[13]

References

  1. ^ Stay Connected (peacecorps.gov)
  2. ^ "NPCA Mission & Goals". Peace Corps Connect. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  3. ^ Anon., Title 3 of the Code of Federal Regulations (Washington, D.C.: Office of the Federal Register, 2011), pp. 12–13.
  4. ^ Hellstrom, T., Unofficial Peace Corps Volunteer Handbook (Morrisville: Lulu, 2010), p. 185.
  5. ^ "Behind the Scenes: Peace Corps Community at the Inaugural Parade | National Peace Corps Association". www.peacecorpsconnect.org. Archived from the original on 2011-01-05.
  6. ^ "Nobel Peace Prize Nomination". National Peace Corps Association. Archived from the original on June 27, 2002. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  7. ^ "NPCA Launches Africa Rural Connect — Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation". Gatesfoundation.org. 2009-07-21. Archived from the original on 2012-02-17. Retrieved 2012-05-15.
  8. ^ "WorldView Magazine". npca.whitmoyer.com. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
  9. ^ "Alliance for Intercultural Understanding". PeaceCorpsConnect.org.
  10. ^ "Black RPCV in the DMV". PeaceCorpsConnect.org.
  11. ^ a b "LGBTQIA+ RPCVs". PeaceCorpsConnect.org. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  12. ^ "Breaking Barriers: How RPCVs Advocate for LGBTQ Volunteers Here and Overseas". PeaceCorpsConnect.org. 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  13. ^ "Women of Peace Corps Legacy". PeaceCorpsConnect.org.

External links

Retrieved from "https://mdwiki.org/wiki/National_Peace_Corps_Association"