News & Events

Nov 06, 2008

Bill Josephson to Speak about Peace Corps in 21st Century at UMBC on Thursday, November 13

Bill Josephson, one of the Founders of Peace Corps to Speak at UMBC

The Shriver Center Peace Worker Program at UMBC cordially invites you to the 6th annual Peace Corps keynote presentation by Bill Josephson, author of the Towering Task and one of the founders of the Peace Corps.  The event, which focuses on the size, shape, and scope of a 21st century Peace Corps, will take place on the 7th floor at the UMBC Library on Thursday, November 13 (7 PM, desert reception to follow).  For more details, contact Dr. Joby Taylor at: .

Click here to view the flyer.

Nov 05, 2008

Success!! 2,237 signatures on Letter to President Elect Barack Obama on JFK Anniversary

Success!!  Thousands Participate in Nationwide Campus Day of Action

Over two dozen college campuses participated in the MorePeaceCorps Nationwide Day of Action.  Hundreds of letters containing 2,237 total signatures were delivered to the candidates and appropriations subcommittee members.  Thank you so much for taking part!  Now we need you to sign our online petition:

http://www.petitiononline.com/morepc/

Nov 05, 2008

Petition to President-Elect Obama Tops 8,000 signatures - sign it today!

SIGN THE PETITION NOW! http://www.petitiononline.com/morepc/

"To restore America's standing, I will call on our greatest resource- our people.  We will double the size of the Peace Corps by its 50th anniversary in 2011.  And, we'll reach out to other nations to engage their young people in similar programs, so that we work side by side to take on the common challenges that confront all humanity.  The Peace corps has been a key part of meeting those challenges such as overcoming poverty, combating diseases like HIV/AIDS and malaria, and reducing the global education deficit.  This will not be a call issued in one speech or on program.  This will be an important and enduring commitment of my presidency."

President-Elect Barack Obama, Quantum Leap, Worldview Magazine Winter Issue

This is the best opportunity to expand and revitalize the Peace Corps since its founding. 

1. Sign the petition here:  http://www.petitiononline.com/morepc/
2. Go to the More Peace Corps Campaign website here: http://www.morepeacecorps.org, sign up to  receive emails and join the effort!  Write RPCVs to join as well.
3. Donate $25 or $100 online - whatever you can.
4. Tell all you know! Forward this email to ensure a Bigger, Better and Bolder Peace Corps!   We must reach 5,000 sign-ups by the end of the year and we can only do it with your hel

Nov 05, 2008

The Time is Now to Scale MorePeaceCorps all over the Country and all over the World

We must reach 5,000 sign-ups.  Can you help?

Please urge your Peace Corps buddies and family members to sign up at http://www.MorePeaceCorps.org (or sign them up yourselves!).  With a president-elect Obama on record pledging to double and reinvigorate the Peace Corps, this is a historic opportunity to help restore the nation's image.  President-Elect Obama cannot do it alone.  Constituents (you) must write lawmakers to urge the 111th Congress to authorize and appropriate the first infusion of funding. 

This is why we need numbers. 

The larger our coalition, the stronger we will become.  President-Elect Obama is determined to double the Peace Corps but it cannot happen without you.

Now begins our biggest challenge: scaling this campaign to the national stage.  Thank you for all you are doing for MorePeaceCorps.  Whether you are hosting a Holiday House Party on December 6, donating a few dollars, or writing letters to your members of Congress, we appreciate it.

THE TIME IS NOW!!

Oct 28, 2008

100 Holiday House Parties: Saturday, December 6

On Saturday, December 6, 2008, the MorePeaceCorps Campaign will throw holiday house parties with the goal of raising $35,000 to support the MorePeaceCorps campaign in 2009.   We hope you can host one!  It will be fun and easy to pull off.  MPC will use the funds generated to build the campaign, and to hire on-the-ground coordinators in states to mobilize a powerful legislative outreach efforts in 2009.  A coalition of generous MorePeaceCorps supporters will match  a portion of the contributions on a dollar-for-dollar basis!

The MPC holiday fundraisers build on the success of the Hundred House Parties Campaign which rocked the world on September 6th with 2,000 participants in 42 states and 14 countries. We are hoping this initiative is at least as successful as 100 House Parties.

Click here to download the Organizer’s Toolkit for hosts.

Email Campaign Coordinator, Rajeev Goyal (Nepal 01-03) at to learn more.

Oct 23, 2008

Led by the University of Florida, Hundreds Gather on Peace Corps Anniversary to support Growth

On October 14, 2008 at midnight, over 500 students at a dozen college campuses around the country gathered to honor JFK's historic call to action 48 years ago at the University of Michigan.  Shortly after reading JFK's speech, students signed a letter to Senators McCain and Obama urging their leadership in the movement to double the Peace Corps by 2011. 

Nearly 100 students led by former volunteers and MPC activists Amy Panikowski (Malawi 01-02) and Sam Kraegel (Mongolia 03-05) gathered at a local campus meeting place to sign service pledges which will be presented to the transition teams for Senators McCain and Obama next week.

The Nationwide Campus Day of Action showed that this generation is ready to serve in a bigger, better, bolder Peace Corps!  MPC now shifts its attention to raising funds to build up campaign operations in the post-election 2009 phase.

Oct 09, 2008

RPCV Pledges $20,000 Challenge Grant: Donate Today! ($10,200 collected)

Make a contribution to MorePeaceCorps in October and your gift will be matched!

A generous RPCV has pledged to match dollar-for-dollar online contributions to the MorePeaceCorps.org Campaign up to $20,000!  Please make a tax deductible donation via the secure link on this website by November 1, 2008 today!  What do we need funds for?  Running a national campaign costs money.  From renting a car to printing materials, from renting an office to flying to key states - it all takes resources.  A gift of $100 would pay for one hour of website upgrades or flyer designing costs.  A gift of $200 could pay for travel to New England states.  $1,000 would fund an entire week-long outreach trip to a key  states such as Kansas, Missouri, or Louisiana - places we have not been yet.  $5,000 would enable us to hire an intern for several months.  A gift of $10,000 would allow us to organize a major event or conference for the campaign.  $25,000 would allow us to upgrade the RPCV database.  This is a grassroots campaign and even the smallest donation makes a big difference.  Please pitch in what you can.  Remember: it gets doubled!