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We hope you are well. This month - virtual events! 

 
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Letter from the President

Hello SDPCA Members,

As I write this, I am wondering what I can make for dinner from the random things that we have been able to snag from limited shopping trips to the store. I am also thinking where I might be able to get out into the fresh air, maybe take a walk while social distancing in the beautiful San Diego sunshine. In thinking about how to tackle boredom that many of us are facing, I am also reflecting on the dire situation of many that the spread and prevention of COVID-19 has caused:

  • Those who have contracted COVID19 and are dealing with a very serious health challenge.
  • Those who are in the service industry, tourism, event planning and many others that have lost their jobs.
  • The 7,000 Peace Corps volunteers that were recently evacuated with a Close of Service status in one fell swoop and are figuring out what to do with their lives.
  • Parents of small children who are now teachers and working from home.
  • Those who are combating the loneliness that social distancing evokes, especially if you live alone.

Whatever situation you may find yourself in, we must remember that this is temporary. We all have one thing in common: we were Peace Corps Volunteers. Remember your service, when you adapted to your circumstances in a new way of life. Use those skills now.

I remember the panic that overwhelmed me the first day in my site thinking: now what am I going to do? (I was calm, cool and collected thinking my new life would be a breeze until it was time to sleep that first night: immediate panic). At first, the days seemed long and actionless. However, by several weeks into service at my site, those days turned from long into normal. Washing clothes by hand, cooking, watching over my host mom’s tiny store and chit chatting was now a way of life.

Take things day by day and remember that you are not alone in this journey. Help where you can and ask for help if you need it. The SPDCA has a facebook page meant for volunteers to connect and communicate with one another. Let us know if we can help out.

Our previously scheduled events have been canceled, of course. We have set up a few virtual events this month and we’ll see how that goes. Let us know if you have some ideas for additional virtual events. In April, there will be a sketch class led by Alia Kroos and a book club led by Sharon Kennedy. These are excellent ways to connect.

Danielle Choi has outlined how we can help the local arrivals of recent Peace Corps volunteer evacuees. She will also host the virtual meet and greet for local evacuees.

Stay strong RPCVs, because you already are. And stay well.

Ashley Smallwood
SDPCA President
Ecuador, 2004-08

UPCOMING EVENTS 
Virtual Sketch party!
Saturday, April 11 from 10:30am to noon
Location: Zoom (login information will be sent to those who RSVP)
RSVP: http://evite.me/PFeu2YvYn9


With these difficult times, art is a wonderful resource and retreat! Please join me in a virtual sketch party! No experience is needed!  I will lead you through the basics of shading and perspective. We will focus on drawing a human face ( since  we miss seeing each other’s so much!)

Required Materials - please bring to your zoom sketch class:  regular pencil 2B, eraser, pad of paper / blank paper, a picture of someone you’d like to draw or a mirror, any art materials you’d like to work with - suggested pencils or charcoals (if you have them): 2B, 4B, 6B,HB, H

Contact Alia, aka Bob Ross,  with any questions:  Aliakroos83@gmail.com
Welcome to San Diego Virtual Meet & Greet!
Friday, April 17th from 6 to 7pm
RSVP: http://evite.me/ZqH6GrshJm  


The SDPCA would like to give a warm welcome to our recently returned volunteers, especially those who were just evacuated. Whether you are new, returning or have been in San Diego for quite some time - let's connect! Now is a great time to show our support for one another and "gather" in the best way we can. 

With your RSVP, it would be great if you could include your country of service and the years that you served.  A zoom link will be sent to those who RSVP so that you can join us either by your computer or over the phone. 
SDPCA Book Club
Wednesday, April 29 from 7 to 8:30pm
RSVP:
http://evite.me/jH6eVBKAR1

Join us for the SDPCA  Book Club! The book is The Barrios of Manta by Rhoda and Earle Brooks. They served in Ecuador from 1962 to 64 and this is one of the first two books written by Peace Corps Volunteers.

This book is available on Kindle for $4.99.  Please finish the book before our meeting date and join us for a lively discussion.

Zoom information will be sent to those who RSVP.
Peace Corps Evacuates all Peace Corps Volunteers
We’re sure you have seen the heartbreaking news that all Peace Corps Volunteers were evacuated from their country of service on very short notice due to COVID19.  Newly evacuated RPCVs have arrived in San Diego and started to contact us. Please see this video diary of a Peace Corps Volunteer’s evacuation to learn how it happened in her situation: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/video-dept/a-peace-corps-volunteers-evacuation-video-diary.

THE SDPCA IS HERE TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL PEACE CORPS EVACUEES 
Our hearts go out to the newly COSed RPCVs as we understand that you wanted to complete your service, have time for proper good-byes, and prepare for readjustment to the US.  The board and members of the San Diego Peace Corps Association would like to help out as much as possible. During normal times, we would host get-togethers to welcome you and help you network for jobs. For now, we will have to do this remotely.    

Please email us at Connect@sdpca.org and let us know how we can help you specifically.  A board member will respond to you and then reach out to our wider community to see if we have a member who can help out.  Some of our members were evacuated during their service and would be happy to talk with you. Or perhaps you would like to connect with someone who served in your Country of Service.  Contact us and let us know how we can help.
 
We are also in the process of compiling a list of evacuee needs and are creating a list of people in the area that may be able to offer resources/assistance. If we are finding that many people have the same needs/concerns/questions, we will start to think about ways to address those on a larger scale. Maybe through an “event” or organized virtual gathering. Since this is a very unique situation, we are going to take each day as it comes and try to be as creative as we can! We also ask for your patience as this is all new to us. 
 
If you haven’t already done so, please feel free to check out the SDPCA Support Website for more information. 
 
For general information, please refer to the following resources:  
HOW MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY CAN SUPPORT PEACE CORPS EVACUEES
 
We are currently collecting information on what our evacuees might need upon their return to the community. If you would like to be a mentor or if you have specific resources that you can provide, please let us know. We are hearing that the most urgent needs are housing, transport, and job search assistance. 
 
If you are an SDPCA member that is interested in supporting our local Peace Corps evacuees, here are a few tips on how to get connected: 
  • Let us know how you can help! We are gathering specific needs of our evacuees as they contact us and will do our best to respond! If we find that we can match up an evacuee with a community member that has reached out to us to provide their services, we will do so. 
  • Join the SDPCA LinkedIn Group. Many of the evacuees will be looking for work and the SDPCA LinkedIn Group is a great way for them to see where we local RPCVs work (or used to work). Go to LinkedIn => groups, search for the San Diego Peace Corps Association and request to join. Please help our newly returned volunteers to network!
  • Advocate for evacuee support now and for the future health and safety of Peace Corps volunteers. To email your members of Congress directly, please click here.
  • The Returned Peace Corps COVID-19 Evacuation Support Facebook Group is already compiling a lot of information and mobilizing! 
SDPCA will also keep you updated on what we are doing as an organization and what is needed as we move forward. Please keep an eye out for posts on our Facebook Page, look for updates on our Website and continue to read our monthly newsletter to stay abreast of news, requests and upcoming events. 

ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE NOW TO SUPPORT PEACE CORPS!
 
Action to Congress: Protect Peace Corps and Support Evacuees
On Friday, March 27th the President signed into law the emergency $2.2 trillion stimulus package that includes $88 million for Peace Corps. This will help cover the cost of evacuating 7,300 volunteers from 61 countries and will support initial transition assistance. That’s just the first step in a long-term effort to keep Peace Corps funding strong while supporting evacuees. The NPCA is issuing a challenge to our community to send 100,000 messages to Congress. Learn more on the NPCA’s webpage and take action now! 
 
To email your members of Congress directly, please click here.
 
Mobilize your Facebook Community
Encourage your networks to comment on Senator Harris & Feinstein’s Facebook pages, thanking them for supporting extra funding to help Peace Corps in safely bringing home and supporting approximately 7,300 volunteers. Urge them to provide continued support to evacuated volunteers.
 
Dear Colleague Letter: Urge Senator Harris to sign on
While action on the annual House Peace Corps funding letter has concluded, opportunities for Senators to sign onto their version of this important letter will continue. This is a bipartisan Senate letter asking for robust funding for Peace Corps in fiscal year 2021. Please thank Senator Feinstein for co-authoring the letter and urge Senator Harris to sign on! Go to the following page to get more information. To access the e-letter, please click here.

From our local Peace Corps Recruiter:
Great news – the RPCV Non Competitive Eligibility (NCE) vacancy announcement has been re-posted for 2020. If someone is interested in applying for a Peace Corps position for which they are qualified, and have NCE, they must apply to the link below. Once added to the RPCV/RPCV Non-Competitive certificate, they will receive notifications from hiring managers for open positions. 

To view the new announcement, please use the following link:   https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/558485000

RPCVs with NCE, please add yourself to this list by April 9th for some upcoming vacancy announcements.
Thank you,
Rachel Y. Satoh
Regional Recruiter Returned Volunteer, Nepal 2015-2017

PAST EVENTS

Taste the World. March 7, 2020. 
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