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Peace Corps Connect 

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Peace Corps Connect is the Peace Corps community’s annual conference hosted by the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) and its affiliate groups to connect, engage and inspire our community.

At this year’s conference – Peace Corps Beyond – we look forward to celebrating 55 years of Peace Corps and the limitless potential of our community to continue to create change. Click for details.

 



Blog contributions are welcome. Email Brian McMahon with your ideas! More info here.
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We're developing some neat new features at RPCVW.org. Please take a moment to log in and check out this page to make sure your account info is up-to-date. 

If you haven't logged in to the new website yet or aren't sure you have an account with us, click here, put your email under the heading marked "First time login," and click "Send account activation"

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RPCV/W holds multiple events every month. We help people get jobs, find housing, connect to service opportunities and make friends. Our $15 dues haven't changed since 1985. Please consider making donation to keep us going strong!
 

Support 

A Towering Task


A Towering Task is a documentary in development, envisioning a New Era of Possibility for the Peace Corps by igniting engagement of past, present and future stakeholders and advocates for peace.

Join the NPCA

NPCA is the national organization for the Peace Corps Community – the hub of a network of individuals and affiliate groups working together to support PCVs/RPCVs, advocate for Peace Corps and increase our development impact. Join for free today!

Members enjoy special discounts and shape Peace Corps policy at home and abroad. Join today!

HJPCV

With a spirit of compassion and commitment, HJPCV works for health reform for current and former volunteers.

Visit their website
Email them
Like their FB Page

RPCV Federal Employee Group Directory

This resource helps workplace affiliate groups grow their numbers, organize and offer assistance to jobseekers. Post an entry with your group's official email. Add your group

Country Group Directory

Add your group
Open to all country groups with local representatives. 

This resource is intended to help "Friends of" groups grow their membership and support their projects abroad.

Mentoring Program

RPCV/W has partnered with the National Peace Corps Association Mentoring Program to help match RPCVs with other RPCVs to provide career advice, grad school help, or general support with readjustment. Mentors and mentees from all fields, ages, and walks of life are welcome. To learn about becoming a mentor or mentee, please go to http://rpcvw.org/mentoring. Also, follow us at @RPCVMentoringDC for news and insight on DC and the global Peace Corps community!

Event Ideas

Any active member of RPCV/W can propose, facilitate or lead an event, just contact the appropriate Director. 

For community service events, such as volunteering with a local nonprofit, email the Community Service Director

For social events, such as happy hours, group excursions and other fun stuff, email the Social Director

For networking or recruiting events, email our Professional Development Director
Our newsletter goes out every week to 4,807 subscribers. Our combined social media properties reach over 5,000 people in the DC Metro Region. Click here to view enhanced advertising options for promoting ticketed events, creative projects and commercial services that may be of interest to our group. 
Table of Contents


Official Events

 

Peace Corps Night at DC United and Pre-Game Happy Hour

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Wednesday, June 01 - 08:00 PM through June 02, 2016

Details/RSVP

RFK Stadium

Peace Corps’ Employee Resource Group HALO (Hispanic Association for Leadership and Opportunity) and the Office of the Third Goal & Returned Volunteer Services hope to see you at Peace Corps Night at DC United against the Seattle Sounders!

Participate in Peace Corps’ Parade of Nations at the game by carrying a flag from a country where Peace Corps has served. Sign up to be a flag bearer.

Wear your host country’s team jersey and help celebrate the Peace Corps and the Third Goal!

Pregame Happy Hour
6-7:30 pm at Trusty's
1420 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003
(short walk to RFK Stadium)

 

Buy tickets

(use group code: PEACE)
 

For groups of 10 or more, please contact Aaron McCollum at 202-587-5480 or AMcCollum@dcunited.com


D.C. Pride Week Happy Hour and Fundraiser

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Monday, June 06 - 05:00 PM

Details/RSVP

Nellie's Sport's Bar

Join RPCV/W for a special D.C. Pride Week Happy Hour and fundraiser to help support the Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL).

Drink specials and signature cocktails.

SMYAL supports and empowers lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth in the Washington, DC metropolitan region. Through youth leadership, SMYAL creates opportunities for LGBTQ youth to build self-confidence, develop critical life skills, and engage their peers and community through service and advocacy.

Come out to see old friends, make new ones and support a great cause!


Community Service with Upwardly Global

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Tuesday, June 07 - 06:30 PM

Details/RSVP

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library

Join RPCV/W and Upwardly Global for a workshop with skilled immigrants. We'll be helping them with jobs search, resume, and interview skills. RPCVs will work one-on-one with job seekers to help draft and revise resumes and provide job search advice.

Upwardly Global works to eliminate employment barriers for skilled immigrants and refugees and integrate this population into the professional U.S. workforce.


Evening of Service with Atlas Corps and YALI

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Wednesday, June 08 - 06:00 PM

Details/RSVP

Atlas Corps Headquarters

Atlas Corps is thrilled to partner with the U.S. Department of State, Meridian International Center, and Entrepreneurs' Organization on the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Professional Fellows Program.

The YLAI Professional Fellows Program empowers entrepreneurs and civil society leaders to strengthen their capacity to launch and advance their entrepreneurial ideas and to effectively contribute to social and economic development in their communities and societies. This Department of State program will bring 250 entrepreneurs to the U.S. in October and November 2016 for a four week customized fellowship.

We need REVIEWERS to read and evaluate applications - you will be trained at the event!
 

Sign up to be a reviewer

 

Come out and enjoy food, drinks, and great company as you contribute to this exciting change-making initiative!

 


Pride Run with DC Frontrunners

Friday, June 10 - 07:00 PM

Details/RSVP

Congressional Cemetery

Join us for the 4th DC Front Runners Pride Run 5K, an Official Event of Capital Pride. The chip-timed 5K race will be followed by a Finish Line Party, featuring beer for race participants, a live DJ, entertainment, and awards for the race's top performers.

Funds raised from registrations and generous donations will go to benefit SMYAL (supporting LGBTQ youth in the metropolitan region), a new DC Center youth literary scholarship, and Capital Pride.

RPCV/W's team name: "RPCV W"

Sign-up now

Registration includes a party at the finish line, beer for participants, and a live DJ + entertainment.


March with Peace Corps in the Capital Pride Parade

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Saturday, June 11 - 03:00 PM

Details/RSVP

For the 5th year in a row, we'll be teaming up with Spectrum, Peace Corps’ LGBTQA employee resource group to celebrate love at the Capital Pride Parade and Festival

Contact spectrum@peacecorps.gov to participate in the parade and/or carry a flag!


Save the Date: Columbia Heights Day 2016

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Saturday, June 18 - 10:00 AM

Details/RSVP

Columbia Heights has more RPCVs per capita than any other neighborhood on the planet, so naturally we'll be out with our banner and our member flyers spreading the word about RPCV/W and creating connections in the community. Save the date! More details and volunteer sign-up form to follow!


The Connector

 

Jobs

REACT is looking for a new Ukraine Support Manager.

The REACT Ukraine Support Manager:   

  • Must be a U.S. citizen and eligible to hold a security clearance.

  • Accurately and efficiently oversees and implements administrative processes to meet REACT contract obligations in Ukraine, providing support for related activities in the Balkans, Central Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia, as needed.

  • Designs and implements recruitment and outreach strategies to expand and maintain network of human rights, rule of law, former military, and democratization contacts.

  • Identifies and deploys Election Observers for election monitoring missions, prepares briefings, and maintains and disseminates training materials.

  • Provides project management support to include issuing employment contracts, coordinating pre-departure materials and processing reimbursements.

  • Answers contract inquiries from the public.

  • Periodically represents PAE internally and to the OSCE Client, the State Department Customer, and the public.

  • Is available for international travel to ensure effective functioning of REACT’s Vienna, Austria office and to participate in election observation missions.

See more about this exciting opportunity at https://www.pae.com/career under the Vacancy Number: R0005408. If interested, please reach out to Katrina Leggat at Katrina. Leggat@pae.com or call (703) 717-6180.

Temporary Solutions, Inc.

Temporary Solutions, Inc. is looking for a Program Assistant in Washington, DC. The ideal candidate must be proficient in Microsoft Office 2013 or 2016 software, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

  • Communication skills are critical!

  • Proficient typing skills of at least 45 wpm are essential

  • An outgoing personality is a plus

If interested, please reach out to Peter Maher at pmaher@eeihr.com or by calling (703) 649-0832. Tell him that you are an RPCV!

Atlas Corps News

Evening of Service with Atlas Corps and YLAI



 

JUNE 8, 2016
6-9 PM
ATLAS CORPS - 641 S STREET NW, WASHINGTON DC, 20001


The Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Professional Fellows Program empowers entrepreneurs and civil society leaders to strengthen to build capacity, advance entrepreneurial ideas, and contribute to social and economic development in their communities. Led by the U.S. Department of State, the YLAI program will bring 250 entrepreneurs to the U.S. in October and November 2016 for a four week customized fellowship.

We need your help as reviewers to read and evaluate applications - you will be trained at the event!

Come out and enjoy food, drinks, and great company as you contribute to this exciting change-making initiative!

Learn more and sign up: https://atlascorpsvolunteerforylai.splashthat.com/


Volunteer with Atlas Corps: Become an Atlas Corps Local Ambassador!

Serve as a "first friend" to an Atlas Corps Fellow in your city. You can be a part of our network of changemakers by giving one-on-one support to, and connecting with, one of the world's best non-profit leaders from overseas. [Watch this amazing video of our experience!]

Time Commitment: The Local Ambassador role is fairly flexible. We ask that our ambassadors check in with their Fellow once a month, which could be anything from grabbing a coffee to going to a museum; it’s up to you.

Interested? Please fill out our Volunteer Interest Survey and start your journey to becoming an Atlas Corps Local Ambassador!.
 

Community News and Events




Peace Corps will make an announcement on June 1, and we want you to be the first to hear about it! Join NPCA, Peace Corps’ Office of Third Goal & Returned Volunteers Services, and Peace Corps’ Office of Communications at 3:30 EST on June 1, for a virtual event just for RPCV Group Leaders. You’ll get the inside scoop on the big news and have a chance to ask questions and get ideas about how you can communicate the news to your group.

RSPV for Virtual Panel


Peace Corps Storytelling Contest


This year will be Peace Corps' first-ever Storytelling Contest. Storytelling usually evokes images of huddling around a campfire or childhood bedtimes, but in recent years it has developed an exciting new image. The expansion of “Story Slams” is revitalizing the ancient tradition of storytelling to spread culture, ideas, and thought provoking experiences through spoken word. This summer, returned Peace Corps Volunteers are invited to submit their stories in video form. DC has such a robust storytelling community we are counting on RPCV/W to represent!

Learn more: http://goo.gl/ctJANW

Watch storytelling training video: https://goo.gl/woVmVc

Or watch these example stories: https://goo.gl/C0JSZA

 

Refugee Forums

 

June 2, 2016 at 7pm - 8:30pm


St George’s Episcopal Church in Arlington, Virginia will host a three-part forum series in June to facilitate a dialogue with the local community on the global refugees crisis. The three sessions will inform the community on refugee migration realities, reflect on the responsibilities of faith communities towards vulnerable populations, and highlight organizations and opportunities for action for anyone who is interested in engaging in long term support.

Click here to RSVP. Contact  welcomingrefugess@saintgeorgeschurch.org for more information

 



Volunteer at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival

The 2016 Smithsonian Folklife Festival is still in need of volunteeers!

Visit www.festival.si.edu/volunteer or email CFCH-Volunteer@si.edu or call (202) 633-7488.

Basque, Spanish, and French speakers encourage to apply!

Volunteer application deadline June 12.

Festival Dates
June 29 -- July 4 and July 7 -- 10, 2016
National Mall between 4th and 7th streets
(north of the National Air and Space Museum)


 

Nominate yourself or someone else to attend the United State of Women Summit

Are you or someone you know doing innovative things to improve the #StateofWomen? Share your story and you or those you nominate could receive tickets to attend all summit events! CConvened by the White House, the United State of Women Summit brings together people from all over the world to celebrate the work that has been done to advance gender equality for women, both domestically and internationally and how to take action moving forward. Consider nominating you or someone you know who is furthering gender equality within their communities. Are you or someone you know doing innovative things to improve the #StateofWomen? Share your story and you or those you nominate could receive tickets to attend all summit events! Learn more about the United State of Women Summit.
 

What You Can Do To Help Refugees

According to UNHCR, there are 60 million forcibly displaced people around the world. We can all spare some time to read, discuss, and act. "One who saves a single life saves an entire world." The following action list is adapted from guidance by First Hand: Refugee Talks, our partner for the May 14th Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon on refugee issues.
1. Talk to one person: Talk to at least one person and share a story of aspect of the global refugee crisis. Ask them what they know about it. Bonus edition: talk to someone who you think has never met a refugee. 2. Read an article: https://storify.com/theIRC/syria-a-regional-crisis http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-26116868 https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/world/lesbos/
3. Visit UNHCR's homepage: http://www.unhcr.org/
4. Donate: aid for food, shelter, medical care, and legal services is massively underfunded. International Rescue Committee and Sea of Solidarity are recommended organizations in need of contributions.
5. Join First Hand: Refugee Talks for one of their upcoming talks! Have ideas? Know any refugees or advocates to speak? Connect with them at https://www.facebook.com/firsthandrefugeetalks/

 


 

Member-Led Events

 

Monthly RPCV/W Kiddie Happy Hour!

Saturday, June 18 - 03:00 PM

Details/RSVP

Purple Patch

Do you have a child or grandchild, and a desire to hang out and reconnect with fellow RPCVs that also care for "little ones"? We are confident that more than a few of you do. Our first Kiddie Happy Hour in May at Johnny Pistolas was a blast, and we hope you'll now join us in June! Our next gathering will be on June 18, at Purple Patch in Mt. Pleasant, from 3pm - 5pm. This coincides with Purple Patch's own "Kiddie Hour" (which features drink and food specials).

This gathering will be hosted by Adam Rosenberg (RPCV-Lesotho), Allison Rosenberg (RPCV-Paraguay), and their 11-month old daughter. Join us for as long or as little as you can, and feel free to contact Adam with questions at adamrosenbergpcls@gmail.com.


 


You must be a logged-in member to post to Member Led Events


 

The Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington D.C. (RPCV/W) was founded in 1979 and incorporated in 1990 in the District of Columbia. RPCV/W is an independent 501c3 nonprofit organization representing more than 2,500 returned Peace Corps volunteers, Peace Corps staff, and Peace Corps families and supporters in the greater Washington D.C. area. RPCV/W is governed by an elected board of directors and membership is open to all, regardless of Peace Corps service.

Our Mission 

To serve as a resource to RPCVs and friends in the Washington DC area through social events, community service projects, and professional development programs that embody the 3rd Goal and spirit of the Peace Corps.


Why Join RPCV/W?

Benefits of membership in RPCV/W for only $15 a year:

  • Membership open to all. First year is always free.

  • Members are eligible for discounts to special events.

  • Members are granted access to our online directory to search for and contact other members.

  • Members can register for and attend restricted "Members Only" events.

  • Members shape the organization by organizing clubs, electing the board of directors, and assuming leadership roles.

  • Sign up for a joint membership with NPCA and support Peace Corps at both the local and national levels.

Community Service: Mapathon Recap

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Our mailing address is:
1629 K St NW, #300,
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Click here to join RPCV/W 
Newsletter Policy: Our newsletter goes out every week to 4,807 subscribers. It is filled with upcoming events, special notices, community news, and other items of interest. Only RPCV/W Members can submit an item for publication, provided it is not a commercial advertisement or political in nature. Please submit items via this online form.  Include a short blurb, 50 words or less, a point of contact, and an image (optional). Contact newsletter@rpcvw.org with any questions. Deadline is 5PM each Saturday. Advertising space available with sponsorship.