Adam Ventures

This past Thursday the Central Indiana Peace Corps Association (CIPCA) played host to Jonathan Pearson, advocacy coordinator for the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA). Jonathan is on a trek across the Midwest to get a feel for what state Peace Corps associations are doing so that as an advocacy director he can inform congressmen of what their constituents are up to. He hopes to show our congressmen just how important the Peace Corps program is by showing that RPCVs are very active members of the community — that the 27 months abroad is only the start of a lifelong commitment to service. Without adequately funding the Peace Corps we are depriving our communities of valuable leaders in the future. In the meantime, though, he was in Indianapolis to see how the CIPCA was faring and to tell us about the NPCA and its plans for the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps.

However, the get-together wasn’t all business. I also met a ton of great people. Most of them RPCVs who have served all over the world and one other nominee, who heading to a Pacific island in May 2011. Many of them gave me great advice (“don’t try to change the world so quickly”, “discover your country and stay with other PCVs”) and many of them told their stories in service.

While there, Jonathan interviewed the other nominee and me to inquire about our decisions to join the Peace Corps. You can read his article at this address: http://www.peacecorpsconnect.org/2010/08/networking-with-peace-corps-nominees/