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The Peace Corps to Celebrate 61st Anniversary
The anniversary will be commemorated during Peace Corps Week from February 27 to March 5
WASHINGTON – The Peace Corps will commemorate its 61st anniversary with a week-long virtual celebration, Peace Corps Week, from February 27 to March 5. This year’s theme is “Meet the Moment,” in recognition of the imperative to come together as a global community to tackle the historic challenges driven by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In honor of the anniversary, Chief Executive Officer Carol Spahn will address the Peace Corps network and provide updates at a virtual event, “The Peace Corps Reimagined: A Keynote Address and Forum,” on March 3 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. (EST). The event will also include three breakout sessions focused on the agency’s efforts to reimagine service, advance equity and deliver quality. Those interested in attending this public event can register here. Recordings of the address and breakout sessions will be made available following the event.
“This time has taught us just how interconnected we all are,” said Spahn. “We ‘meet the moment’ when we harness that global connectedness in service of each other.”
During the celebration, the agency will lead a virtual exploration into how the Peace Corps is evolving and contributing both at home and abroad. This will include a glimpse into how posts are preparing to welcome volunteers back to service as well as how the Peace Corps has continued to deliver on its mission through a virtual service pilot, the domestic deployment of volunteers to aid in the United States’ COVID-19 response and the continued work of the agency’s many overseas staff members and partners during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During this historic time, in which we are all called upon to challenge the status quo, lean in and adapt, the Peace Corps has stepped up to meet the moment.” said Spahn. “We look forward to joining hands with communities around the world, in the spirit of world peace and friendship, to meet their expressed needs for support following the massive disruptions caused by COVID-19.”
For more information about Peace Corps Week 2022, visit peacecorps.gov/peacecorpsweek.
About the Peace Corps: The Peace Corps is an international service network of volunteers, community members, host country partners and staff who are driven by the agency’s mission of world peace and friendship. At the invitation of governments around the world, Peace Corps volunteers work alongside community members on locally-prioritized projects in the areas of education, health, environment, agriculture, community economic development and youth development. Through service, members of the Peace Corps network develop transferable skills and hone intercultural competencies that position them to be the next generation of global leaders. Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, more than 240,000 Americans have served in 142 countries worldwide. For more information, visit peacecorps.gov and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
