Join us in celebrating - Peace Corps 50th Anniversary

This year the National Peace Corps is celebrating its 50th Anniversary.  

Master Event Calendar

In collaboration with the U.S. Peace Corps, NPCA is hosting an comprehensive anniversary
calendar at http://www.PeaceCorpscConnect.org/50. The public is invited to use the site to locate
events and publicize events.

Key Dates

June 30-July 11, 2011: The Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the Mall in Washington will feature
the Peace Corps, with more than a million people expected to attend. More information will be
available at http://www.festival.si.edu/2011/PeaceCorps/.

September 22-25, 2011: NPCA’s major 50th anniversary celebration will take place in
Washington, D.C. The four-day series of events recognizes September 22, 1961 as the date
Congress approved legislation formally authorizing the Peace Corps.

Group Activities, September 22-25, 2011: Member group events (receptions, lunches, dinners,
and get togethers) are ongoing throughout the entire weekend. Visit the 50th anniversary master
event calendar to see all events and to post your own.

Advocacy Day Orientation Wednesday, September 21, 2011 6:00 – 8:00 pm: Begin the 50th
anniversary celebrations in Washington, DC by advocating for a bigger, better, bolder Peace Corps
and expanded opportunities for global volunteerism. To prepare, join an important advocacy
orientation session on Wednesday evening. Registration is required for this event.

Advocacy Day Thursday, September 22, 2011 8:00 am – 8:00 pm: 50 years to the day of
Congressional passage of the Peace Corps Act, join NPCA advocates for a full day of
congressional meetings, a rally on the grounds of the Capitol featuring notable political !gures,
an end-of-day event and more. Registration is required for this event.

NPCA Service Day Friday, September 23, 2011 9:00 am – 8:00 pm: Join NPCA in a day of
service. This day will begin with an opening ceremony at one of the site locations in Washington,
DC. The !nal list of service locations will be provided the week before the event. Can’t join us in
DC? Show your Peace Corps pride by participating in a service activity in your local or global
community. If you are planning a service day outside of DC, we want to hear from you. We will be
totaling the service hours for the day and circulating the information to the entire community.
Registration is required for this event.

Conversations: The Future of Peace Corps Saturday, September 24, 2011 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm:
How will the Peace Corps community continue to grow and strive for a world of peace and
prosperity for the next 50 years? A panel of thought leaders and global !gures will discuss their
experience with the Peace Corps and discuss pressing topics with the community. The second
session will feature competitive proposals for a global community project. A select group of prescreened
projects will be presented to the audience for review and questions. The audience will
vote for the most deserving project and that project will be awarded with a grant that day.

Promise of the Peace Corps Gala Saturday, September 24, 2011 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm:
Saturday will culminate with a formal Gala to celebrate the past 50 years of the Peace Corps and
energize the community for the next 50 years. NPCA is honored to have Chris Matthews, Host of
Hardball and RPCV Swaziland as the event Emcee. Event location: The Ronald Reagan
International Conference Center, Washington, DC. Tickets will be available for sale May 2011 –
$250 per person for NPCA members/$300 per person for non-NPCA members.

Arlington National Cemetery Presentation, Wreath Laying & Parade of Flags, Sunday, September
25, 2011 10:00 am – 12:00 pm: Sunday’s activities will begin with a sequence of events
sponsored by the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington DC. The program will include a
parade of "ags, a wreath-laying ceremony at the gravesite of JFK, a program at the Arlington
Cemetery Amphitheater honoring Peace Corps’ accomplishments and fallen Returned Peace
Corps Volunteers. Keynote speakers representing the full spectrum of the Peace Corps experience
will share re"ections on the future of the community. The wreath-laying ceremony will be
followed by a processional past JFK’s gravesite and a march with Country of Service "ags across
the Memorial Bridge to the National Mall.

NPCA Closing Ceremony, Sunday, September 25, 2011 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm: NPCA will end
the weekend’s activities with a festive get together highlighting the community through mini
demonstrations, booths and entertainment. NPCA will announce details regarding the closing
ceremony including the location at a later date.

Register for events.