On April 22, 2025, the Peace Corps Community for Refugees (PCC4Refugees) convened a strategic planning session of volunteers to help us: take stock of the organization’s unique role, accomplishments and continuing challenges after nine years of existence; and chart a way forward in light of significant changes in U.S. immigration policy and our domestic infrastructure to serve the needs of individuals and families seeking refuge in the US.
We affirmed our Mission:
“The mission of Peace Corps Community for Refugees (PCC4Refugees) is to inspire and mobilize the Peace Corps community to help those seeking refuge in our country and to advocate and educate on their behalf.”
Drawing on this mission, we established the following Strategic goals:
- Inspire the Peace Corps community to act
- Educate the Peace Corps Community on immigration and refugee policy and how to effectively advocate to influence these policies
- Mobilize the Peace Corps community to help those seeking refuge
To achieve these goals, we committed to taking the following actions:
- Inspire
- Showcase actions taken by RPCVs and RPCV groups to inspire action, celebrate successes, highlight lessons learned, and provide opportunities for networking
- Maintain monthly informal discussion sessions to inspire, engage, and network members of the Peace Corps Community
- Educate
- Structure each newsletter and restructure the website around our three goals
- Update and promote the use of the online guide to share information about what members of the Peace Corps Community can do and are doing to help new immigrants resettle in the US.
- Mobilize
- Exhibit and present a session at Peace Corps Connect in July 2025 in order to
- network
- publicize the resources we have available
- capture stories
- solicit donations
- add people to our mailing list
- Maximize impact and minimize duplication through information resources from and partnerships with key organizations in mutually advantageous ways, e.g., with Immigration Policy Forum and Refugee Council USA
- websites
- webinars
- advocacy tools
- campaigns around immigration policy and practice
- Exhibit and present a session at Peace Corps Connect in July 2025 in order to
- Recruit new PCC4Refugees team members in the following areas:
- Advocacy – identify action items to promote
- Communications – write newsletter, articles for website, email announcements, provide website updates
- Partnerships – establish and maintain relationships with resettlement agencies and other NGOs that have resources and information we can share with our network, and encourage specific actions
- Database management
We need people to join our team! If you are interested in helping in any of the areas above, please contact us at [email protected].
Thank you to those who participated in our strategic planning process!
Anne Baker, Barbara Busch, Peter Deekle, Christine Madaio DiStasio, Don Drach, Evelyn Ganzglass, Dan Kosten, Kate Pongonis, Naomi Rennard, Judy Rice, Peggy Schaefer