Campus news

Media Advisory: Peace Corps' 50th to be celebrated this Saturday at UC Berkeley summit

By Yasmin Anwar

ATTENTION: International affairs, business, general assignment reporters, weekend news desks and broadcast media

WHAT

A conference at the University of California, Berkeley, on the successes and challenges of the Peace Corps, in commemoration of the agency’s 50th anniversary. At least 300 people, including many returned Peace Corps volunteers, are registered to attend. The Bay Area is home to one of the nation’s largest communities of Peace Corps alumni. UC Berkeley holds the distinction of being the all-time top producer of Peace Corps volunteers.

WHEN

This Saturday, Feb. 26. The symposium will run from 1 p.m.- 6 p.m.  From 2-3 p.m., the media is invited to interview past and future Peace Corps volunteers about their experiences overseas.

WHERE

International House, 2299 Piedmont Avenue, Berkeley. The hour-long media availability with Peace Corps volunteers will be in the Great Hall. For campus map, see http://www.berkeley.edu/map/maps/large_map.html

WHO

Speakers will include:

  • C.D. Glin , director of intergovernmental affairs for the Peace Corps
  • Kevin Quigley , president of the National Peace Corps Association
  • Bob Haas , chair emeritus of Levi Strauss & Co. and returned Peace Corps volunteer (Ivory Coast 1964-66)
  • George Breslauer , executive vice chancellor & provost, UC Berkeley

DETAILS

The Peace Corps was founded on March 1, 1961, through an executive order signed by President John F. Kennedy to promote peace, social and economic assistance and intercultural understanding around the world. Since then, more than 200,000 Americans, including 3,400 UC Berkeley graduates, have represented the Peace Corps in 139 countries. This month, UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau renewed the call for UC Berkeley students to join the Peace Corps and keep it strong for the next 50 years.

For more details, visit: http://peacecorps.berkeley.edu

A related story on UC Berkeley and the Peace Corps is available online.