WASHINGTON, April 19, 2002-Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez will speak to the Latino Youth Leadership Institute today during their first annual “Empowering Future Latino Leaders” conference in Anaheim, California. In his speech to two workshops with 500 students attending each session, Director Vasquez will deliver a multi-media presentation and remarks underscoring the importance of volunteer service and conveying volunteer opportunities for service with the Peace Corps.

In Los Angeles, Director Vasquez will meet with the leadership of several returned Peace Corps volunteer (RPCV) groups. Representatives from the Los Angeles, Orange County, Santa Barbara and San Diego RPCVs have been invited to attend.

While he is in Los Angeles, Mr. Vasquez will serve as keynote speaker on Monday, April 22nd at the Los Angeles County’s 20th Annual Volunteer of the Year awards luncheon to recognize their commitment to public service. The county’s honorees range in age from 14 years old to 84 years and represent a volunteer corps of over 52,000 County volunteers who donated over 3 million hours to the County of Los Angeles in the year 2001.