Our Inspirational Peace Corps Director

Our Inspirational Leader

        It was inspirational to meet our Peace Corps Acting Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet who was in town congratulating the University of Minnesota for moving from 20th to the 10th as largest Peace Corps Supporting University with 57 Graduates presently serving in the Peace Corps. Since the Peace Corps began in 1961 1,427 Alums have served in the Peace Corps making it rank #17 as a all time Producer of Peace Corps Volunteers. It was fitting that we met at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs since Hubert Humphrey had submitted a bill promoting the Peace Corps three Years before President Kennedy ran to be President. 206 Minnesota Residents are currently serving in the Peace Corps with overall, 6,387 Minnesota Residents having served since 1961. Although I grew up in Iowa, went to School in Chicago and Topeka, Kansas, spent 23 years living in Kansas, I feel proud to consider myself a resident of Minnesota for the last 8 years because of Minnesotan's support of the Peace Corps.

       Our Peace Corps Director inspired us with examples of how our Peace Corps Volunteers are making a difference in the world.  She shared how one Peace Corps Volunteer has made a difference by partnering with Local Agencies within the country he serves to change the methods of fighting Malaria by not just rationing out two Mosquito nets per household but making sure that everyone in a household had a mosquito net.  When that method did not keep a friends niece from coming dying from Malaria he and his friend organized the whole community to do scientific research by setting up regular home visits to every home within the community to identify any individuals who showed any symptoms of Malaria, testing them on the spot, giving them medicine or sending them to the Hospital for treatment when needed.  They impressed the local government so much by showing that through these methods lowered Malaria Infections within their community by 80% compared to neighboring communities that the government is supporting using those methods for the whole District and then State.  Through using these methods they are hoping to eventually Malaria free Zone within their country that they can expand through out the country.  She also shared how in unexpected ways Peace Corps Volunteers can can make a difference in their community by sharing the example of one older 50+ Peace Corps Couple where the Husband taught High School Math and the Wife was a Community Health Nurse.  They both worked together to make a difference in the community but it was their example of sharing in the household responsibilities of cooking, cleaning, and washing clothes that brought the biggest complement from one of his male students who said that when he get's married he wants to love and respect his wife the way his teacher treated his wife.  She shared how even when we wonder what we have accomplished, Peace Corps Volunteers find that their friendships and examples can have an effect on those they work with.   

     What inspired all of the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and Peace Corps Volunteer Nominees like me is how much she appreciated and supported all of us as Peace Corps Volunteers.  In talking with us privately she impressed us with how many people she remembered meeting and how much she appreciated all the work that our Volunteers do.  I asked her about how our Peace Corps Volunteers are doing in the Ukraine with all of the Political unrest there and she assured me that all our Volunteers there are safe and doing well.  Almost all of them are out of Kiev and spread throughout the country side.  I expressed my appreciation for all of the support the Peace Corps has been doing to make the Peace Corps a safer and more supportative place especially for our Female Volunteers.  I also expressed my appreciation as to how many Volunteers are now able to know when they are nominated what they will be doing, when they will leave, and where they will be serving.  When I expressed my own frustration with having been nominated in May and I still did not know when, where, or what I would be doing in the Peace Corps, our Acting Director volunteered to check on my application to see what was happening.  I then did get a response from my Peace Corps Placement Recruiter letting me know what she was waiting for to be able to let me know what my opportunities I may have for placements in the Peace Corps.  When I asked what we could do to make sure that she was able to become our permanent Peace Corps Director she said if anyone was friends with Speaker of the House John Boehner‎ they could put in a good word for her.  Our Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet has had Bipartisan support from our local Federal Legislators and is an example of how the Peace Corps Mission has had the historic support of both Political Parties.  Hopefully that support will come through and allow us to keep our excellent inspirational Peace Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet as our fearless leader no matter which Political Party is in control of the Peace Corps Director Appointments.