On March 1 Peace Corps celebrated its 50 Anniversary. Celebrations were held in Washington, DC, and around the country.

The agency traces its roots and mission to 1960, when then-Senator John F. Kennedy challenged students at the University of Michigan to serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries.  President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps on March 1, 1961, by executive order.

Through 2011, the Peace Corps is commemorating 50 years of promoting peace and friendship around the world. Today there are more than 8,000 volunteers serving in 77 countries.

Since 1961, 3,071 Connecticut residents have served as Peace Corps Volunteers. There are 139 Connecticut residents serving as Peace Corps Volunteers today.

The National Peace Corps Association, NPCA, led the organization of Global House Parties around the world to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps on or near March 1, 2011.  Returned volunteers, current volunteers, parents of Peace Corps volunteers, current and former Peace Corps staff and the entire Peace Corps community and friends attended parties organized by hosts in cities and towns around the country.

Catherine Onyemelukwe, Peace Corps Volunteer in Nigeria in the 1960’s, organized a party at her home in Westport. Sixteen former volunteers, spouses and partners, and friends attended.  Guests brought food and drink from their Peace Corps host countries.  Music from Peace Corps countries provided background. Several guests wore clothes from their country of service to mark the occasion.

Offerings for the potluck dinner included delicious dishes from Chile, Guatemala, Ghana, and Colombia, and a cucumber drink (Otai) from Tonga. For dessert guests enjoyed a cake from Stew Leonard’s decorated with "Happy 50^th Anniversary Peace Corps", as well as cake brought by one of the guests.

Maureen Shanley, president of the Connecticut Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (CTRPCVs), said, “Gathering former volunteers is an important part of our work. We remind each other of our commitment to international development and why we joined the Peace Corps.”

She addressed the group, describing the activities of the CTRPCV’s. Support for serving volunteers and local service projects are among the work of the group.

Also attending were Robin Stein, recently retired head of the Land Use Bureau in Stamford, who served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Chile. Dianne Wildman, Peace Corps Volunteer in Micronesia and now  Editorial Services Director at Cablevision Channel 12, was among the attendees.  Dianne is frequently seen delivering editorials on Channel 12.  

Soraya Bilbao-Kuo served as a volunteer in the Kingdom of Tonga. Soraya commented after the party, “It was a wonderful evening with RPCVs. I’m glad people liked the "Otai" cucumber from Tonga!”  She wrote frequent pieces for the Connecticut Post from Tonga while she was serving. She now works for the United Way.

Other guests came from as far away as Farmington, Waterbury, Unionville and Monroe, and nearby New Canaan, Weston, and Easton.

Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Washington, DC, the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) is the nation’s leading 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization supporting Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and the Peace Corps community through networking and mentoring to help guide former Volunteers through their continued service back home. It is also the longest-standing advocate for an independent and robust Peace Corps and its values. 

The NPCA encompasses a network of over 50,000 individuals and more than 140 member groups, including the CTRPCV’s. The NPCA and its member groups produce global education programs and advocacy campaigns, and provide community, national and international services. It is separate from the United States Peace Corps, which is a federal agency.  NPCA concentrates on “bringing the world home” and thereby accomplishing the third goal of Peace Corps: To help promote a better understanding of others on the part of Americans.

The mission of the National Peace Corps Association is to lead the Peace Corps community and others to foster peace by working together in service, education, and advocacy.  NPCA and its supporters advocate on issues of importance to the Peace Corps community.  Staff and interns work with individual advocates, NPCA member groups and coalition partners to provide timely updates and important action opportunities.

Peace Corps is an independent U.S. government agency that provides Volunteers for countries requesting assistance around the world. Director Aaron S. Williams is the fourth director in Peace Corps’ history to have served as a Peace Corps volunteer. Deputy Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet is also a returned volunteer. Peace Corps has always reflected the diversity of America—volunteers range in age from 18–86 and represent all 50 states.

If you are an RPCV living in CT and want to get involved, visit www.ctrpcv.org