60 Years of Peace Corps

2021 marked six decades since President John F. Kennedy's executive order started the Peace Corps, but the pandemic put a damper on much celebrating. This summer Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Wisconsin-Madison is hosting a 60th anniversary social to highlight the work of volunteers both in other countries and here in the U.S. promoting better understanding of the world's many nations and cultures. Guest speakers include Manuel Colón (from the Chicago Peace Corps office), along with storytelling. It wouldn't be a party without music; dancehall reggae/pop will be provided by Jimmy Sugarcane. It's free to attend, but an RSVP to 60@rpcvmadison.org is requested.

media release: Peace Corps Volunteers are returning to service worldwide! In Madison, we’re ready to celebrate the 60 years past and the 60 years coming. Friends and family of Peace Corps and Wisconsin Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) are invited.

The celebration will take place on Thursday, July 21, 2022, at the Memorial Union in Madison from 5:30 to 9:00 PM. Sponsored by the RPCVs of Wisconsin–Madison and the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s International Division, this is a free event open to friends of Peace Corps.

Peace Corps was founded in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, and more than 240,000 volunteers have served in 142 countries since then. Over 6,400 from Wisconsin have served, and the UW–Madison with nearly 3,300 recruits currently holds the #1 recruiter position from large universities.

This anniversary is an opportunity to highlight the spirit of international peace and friendship and honor the volunteerism and service embodied by Peace Corps. Along with recognizing the work of volunteers in their countries of service this is a showcase of the work of volunteers after their return, when many endeavor to promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans—an important Peace Corps goal. 

Along with the 60th anniversary, this event celebrates the return of volunteers into service after the March 2020 evacuation of more than 7400 volunteers due to COVID-19. Plans for a celebration in 2021 were put on hold and we are excited to share our stories now! 

This in-person gathering will showcase photography from Peace Corps countries highlighted in past International Calendars and the ‘we all’ posters the Madison RPCVs have created. These fundraising efforts have raised more than $1.4 million for development projects worldwide. Manuel Colón of the Chicago Peace Corps office will be a guest speaker, and Peace Corps reunions and storytelling (formal and informal) will culminate in Nigerian dub-fusion style dance hall music by Jimmy Sugarcane, which will have guests dancing their way out the door at the end of the evening. 

The Madison-area RPCVs have been celebrating Peace Corps’ 60 years in the following ways, with our celebrations culminating in this final gathering in mid-July.

• Jonathan Overby and “The Road to Higher Ground” on Wisconsin Public Radio: Each week, from March 2021 to February 2022, Dr. Overby featured music from the International Calendar’s country of the month
• Freeze for Food Virtual Race: March 6-7, 2021 || In-person Race: March 5, 2022
• Calendar Poster Show on display at venues in the Madison area
• Story Slam November 18, 2021 || theme: “That Was Unexpected!”
• Talking Peace Corps January 22, 2022 || an exhibition of photos at the State Capitol, with RPCVs on hand to speak about their experiences.
• 60th Anniversary Celebration – July 21, 2022 || UW Memorial Union, Madison. Details about the July 21st event will be posted as planning continues, so be sure to check back at the link for updates.