In-Person Event Cancellations
All in-person SEAPAX events are canceled until further notice.
However, some of our events are able to continue virtually! See the calendar at the bottom of this newsletter for upcoming virtual events.
Peace Corps Connect 2020 Conference Cancellation
We are very sorry to announce that the NPCA/SEAPAX team has decided to cancel this year’s Peace Corps Connect Conference in Seattle.
In light of the current and projected COVID-19 situation in Seattle and throughout the U.S., we feel this is the right decision to make when considering the health and safety of our local, regional, and national communities.
We would like to thank all those who were involved in the planning along with those who provided input and ideas on how best to organize this year’s conference. We greatly appreciate your contributions; your support and dedication to our RPCV community is truly inspiring.
We apologize if the cancellation of this year’s conference causes disruptions to your summer plans. The current COVID-19 pandemic was an unforeseen event. We ask that you focus your attention to supporting family, friends, and community in this difficult time. This includes providing support to the 7,000+ PCVs who are being evacuated from their countries of service (see more below).
Planning for next year’s conference, which will take place in Washington, D.C. to help celebrate Peace Corps’ 60th anniversary, is already underway.
Peace Corps Operations Suspension
On March 15th, Peace Corps Director Jody Olsen ordered a temporary suspension of all Peace Corps operations in response to growing concern around the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 7,000 PCVs have been evacuated from their countries of service.
If you have ideas for how our community can support evacuated PCVs returning to the greater Seattle area, please email us.
Currently, we are directing these evacuated volunteers to the SEAPAX Facebook group, which is one way for us to directly interact with the evacuees and learn how best we can provide support. If you are not already part of our Facebook group, we hope you will consider joining now to show you are here for the PCVs forced to return home due to COVID-19.
The following resources are also available to evacuated RPCVs:
Peace Corps COVID-19 updates
NPCA information
For assistance navigating your Peace Corps benefits, please contact Beth Alhstrom, SEAPAX Advocacy Co-Chair.
Advocacy
The SEAPAX Advocacy team needs your support! On March 27th, Congress allocated $88 million to Peace Corps for emergency needs. However, our 7,300 evacuated volunteers still need more support, and Congress needs encouragement to restore Peace Corps after this crisis is over. We are asking you to take five minutes to send a letter to your elected officials. Take action here. As of March 31st, nearly 6,000 messages have been sent, but the NPCA wants Congress to hear from 100,000 RPCVs! Let's all pitch in to hit that target!
The emergency stimulus package that was signed into law includes the "Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Act,” which could potentially help evacuated RPCVs unable to find work. Senator Van Hollen of Maryland, who co-sponsored the act, is preparing a letter to Labor Secretary Scalia to make sure RPCVs will be eligible for this emergency measure. Be on the lookout for more updates and information on this endeavor!
Introducing the SEAPAX Mentorship Program
SEAPAX's new Mentorship Program is open to newly returned PCVs AND not-so-newly returned PCVs! How we can offer support:
-
Finding housing
-
Job/career/professional development
-
Social networking events
-
Reintegration and readjustment
-
Graduate school
-
Service/volunteer opportunities
-
Navigating Seattle
-
Talking about the Peace Corps experience
If you are interested participating as a mentee, sign up here.
Open Board Positions
Would you like to get more involved with SEAPAX and our local RPCV community? There is no better way to do so than to serve on our Board. We would like to fill the following non-elected Board position immediately:
If you are interested and/or would like to learn more, please email us.
Join us for the next VIRTUAL book club meeting!
