How do you celebrate a life after it’s gone? Some prefer solemn rituals, monuments, and stoic meditation. Others rely on music, celebration, and laughter. In America, generally, it’s an uncomfortable topic to reflect on the life and death of another. Yet we grow as individuals and as a community upon that reflection. This is especially true in the context of Peace Corps Volunteers.

  Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of the National Capital Region, Continue in your pursuit of international engagement by becoming a Community Sponsor at the National Defense University, the Department of Defense’s leading academic institution dedicated to national defense and international security cooperation. Be a fireside diplomat and cultural ambassador to one of the 100+ senior ranking international military officers from 60+ different countries as they spend a year in the United States earning their Master’s Degree from NDU. Community Sponsors do not provide the officer with monetary or lodging support; instead, they form a relationship with the officer, helping them in gaining a nuanced understanding of the United States. Some examples of the role of the Community Sponsor would include inviting the officer over for dinner, celebrating American holidays together, going to a sporting event together, going to a museum together- whatever is of interest to both the Sponsor and the officer.

Do you want access to fun and interesting cultural events? We need your help! 

Participate in the 2017 RPCV/W t-shirt design challenge! Submission is open to current RPCV/W members.  Use your talent to create a design inspired by the RPCV/W mission: To foster a community of RPCVs and friends in the Washington, D.C. area that embodies the spirit of the Peace Corps. The submission phase will run from now through March 3, 2017. Please send your submissions to [email protected].

“Peace requires the simple but powerful recognition that what we have in common as human beings is more important and crucial than what divides us.”

Breaking into International Development during the Federal Government Hiring Freeze There has been a lot of talk lately in DC about how people can still break into the field of International Development despite the current Federal Government hiring freeze that has taken into effect. Below are ten ways you can get into the field of International Development without applying to USAID. 

Happy New Year! Are you looking for a new job? To be promoted at your current job? Maybe looking to move into a new field? Or after this crazy election season, a new planet? While we can't help you with interplanetary moves [maybe Elon Musk can (Elon what ? click here)], the RPCV/W mentoring program can help you improve your job hunting and career development on this planet. 

Dear Members, Our Peace Corps service taught us that free and fair elections have a direct effect on the health and happiness of a nation’s citizens. Furthermore, this health and happiness is dependent upon the willingness of people to unite around common principles in the midst of conflict and discord, then advance as one.

Thank you for helping make Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington such a strong and vibrant community. This year has been particularly outstanding and there is a lot more on the horizon. I’m so proud of everything that you’ve been able to accomplish; here are some highlights.

  Choose venues where people can hear each other talk.   Ask older RPCV/W members to become mentors.   Hold weekend events promoting child-friendly activities.   These are just a few of the suggestions brought up in a discussion at the Former Board Outreach Dinner with new RPCV/W Outreach Director Anna Lena Wonnenberg (Kosovo ‘14-15), at her home last Sunday.