We are a group of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) living in the metropolitan region of Columbus, Ohio. Some of us served in the Peace Corps during its early days and others returned just a few months ago.

All of us have a strong feeling about our connections with our Peace Corps experiences and the importance of a strong global community.

Our stories are varied, but each contain a message of the people in other countries who became our friends and the places where we've lived--often in situations that few Americans have experienced. Read the newsletter for the latest info.

Welcome to The CORVA Communicator Special Edition 2025 

Newsletter Vol. 1 Number 2.

CORVA will celebrate the 64th anniversary of the Peace Corps with a screening of the documentary “A Towering Task:” The Story of the Peace Corps. The event will take place on March 2,2025 Upper Arlington Public Library, Friends Room, located at 2800 Tremont Road, Upper Arlington. The library doors will open at 1:00 p.m., with the program running from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  

 Movie is Free and Open to the Public  - Seating Limited to 75 People 

Special guests are: 

The Honorable Ukeme Awakessien Jeter, Mayor of Upper Arlington. Mayor Awakessien Jeter was first elected to City Council, then selected by City Council to serve as mayor, becoming the first Black mayor of Upper Arlington.  She emigrated to the U.S. from Nigeria to study engineering. After working as an engineer, she earned degrees in law and business administration and is now an attorney in a national law firm.  She has published a book, "Immigrit: How Immigrant Leadership Drives Business Success," writing that immigrants have leadership qualities that help them succeed in the workplace and sometimes have to adapt very quickly to new cultures. She lives in Upper Arlington with her two children.  

Michael Roman served in the Peace Corps in Kiribati.  He was also an AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer and a Fulbright Fellow at Waikato University in New Zealand. He earned a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Pittsburgh, furthering his commitment to address the human dimensions of climate change.  For more than 24 years, he has collaborated with governments, international media, nonprofits, and citizens across the world to raise awareness about the climate crisis.  As an advocate for climate-related legislation, he has collaborated with Climate Reality and Citizens' Climate Lobby organizations.   

Mike integrates his passion for global issues into his teaching, mentorship, lectures, and TEDx talks to worldwide audiences with stories of courage, displacement, and environmental justice. He is a member of the National Peace Corps Association Board of Directors. 

Saturday, March 8th - Dayton International Peace Museum Tour 

Peace Corps Poster Exhibit and museum tour   

Group exhibit & museum tour: $8 per person                                  

Lunch afterwards at Gulzar Indian Cuisine.    

Contact event and carpooling coordinator, Jamie <jrhein@hotmail.com> 

Black History Event in Northland 

Woodward Park will  host a Community Event on February 27, 5:30-7:00 PM, at the Rec Center, 5147 Karl Rd, to celebrate Black History Month. Monique Mapp of Gillie Rec Center,Columbus Recreation and Parks, will give a presentation on the Buffalo Soldiers and the Ohio connection. Crafts, entertainment, and soul food will be served.   Hope to see your there. 

 Buffalo Soldier: Adversity and Valor 

Save the Date 

 CORVA annual Peace Corps send-off 

 Monday, April 21st at the 4 H Center 

 On the OSU campus at 2201 Fred Taylor Dr., Columbus.           

 Support our new Peace Corps Volunteers   

 Contact Valerie at peacecorps@osu.edu for more details. 

Advocacy: 

Ben Bloom, RPCV Philippines and Stuart Moskowitz, RPCV Ecuador CORVA are your legislative advocates.  We need your help to visit your legislative offices in April.  

Please contact us:  smoskow22@gmail.com if you can join us.   

News from National Peace Corps Association 

Peace Corps Connect 2025 in Washington, D.C. 

Resilience is defined by how we adapt to challenges and change, and no group is more resilient than Returned Peace Corps Volunteers. At a time of great division, we invite you to come together and reconnect at what will be the most critical Peace Corps community gathering in over five years. 

Peace Corps Connect 2025, July 19 & 20: “Reimagining National Service: Building Bridges at Home and Abroad” – PCC25 brings together thought leaders, changemakers, and advocates to explore innovative solutions to pressing social challenges. Fostering dialogue and collaboration, the conference inspires action and empowers participants to drive meaningful change in their communities. Sign up now. 

The Peace Corps Legacy Project: 

NPCA in collaboration with the Peace Corps Legacy Association invites you to become part of the Peace Corps Plaza project.  Here is the link below: 

https://www.fundraisingbrick.com/online-orders/rpcvplaza/ 

Peace Corps  Community Refugee Project: 

Peace Corps Community for Refugees are Returned Peace Corps Volunteers who are concerned about the plight of refugees and asylum seekers.  Here is the link for more information. 

https://pcc4refugees.org/ 

Let Us Know: 

If you have a story to tell, a photo to share, or have an organization that could use a small amount of funding, or an event we shouldn’t miss, PLEASE “communicate” with us! 

CORVA Website        CORVA’s on Facebook        National Peace Corps Association affiliation  

Please Contact the newsletter editor: Stu Moskowitz at   smoskow22@gmail.com