WASHINGTON, D.C., October 2, 2000—As the Peace Corps salutes the achievements of Latino volunteers during Hispanic Heritage Month, Peace Corps Director Mark Schneider has established the recruitment of more Hispanic Americans as an agency-wide priority.
"The Peace Corps takes its responsibility to reflect a true picture of America very seriously," said Schneider. "It is imperative that our volunteers offer not only a variety of skills to the people we serve around the world, but that they enrich overseas communities with the glorious diversity and cross-cultural understanding that make our nation great." Peace Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C., and the agency\'s regional recruiting offices across the nation, will sponsor special events to broaden awareness of the benefits of Peace Corps service among the Latino community.
Currently, over 200 Hispanic Americans serve as Peace Corps volunteers in more than 60 nations in every region of the globe. They hail from 35 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. "We proudly applaud the valuable contributions Latino volunteers have made to developing nations throughout the Peace Corps\' history. I urge more Hispanic Americans to join the Peace Corps and experience this extraordinary opportunity for personal and professional enrichment," said Schneider.
The Peace Corps has been a launching pad for the careers of many prominent Latinos, including Mestiza Leadership International President Juana Bordas, television personality and home improvement expert Bob Vila, and Miami Herald Publisher Alberto Ibargen.
For more information about the Peace Corps, or to apply on-line, visit the Peace Corps Web site at www.peacecorps.gov, or call 800-424-8580.