February 28, 2011
SoN celebrates 50 years of Peace Corps, 20 years of school’s Peace Corps fellows
The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing is this week honoring the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps and the 20th anniversary of the school’s Peace Corps Fellows Program.
President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961 to promote world peace and friendship, and in 1991, the school started its Peace Corps Fellows Program for returned Peace Corps volunteers. The program was the first of its kind at a school of nursing, and since its inception, Johns Hopkins has graduated more than 300 returned Peace Corps volunteers.
The Hopkins Nursing Peace Corps week will feature events showcasing the returned volunteers’ experiences, including a poster display highlighting their countries of service; and students sharing stories about how the Peace Corps influenced their career choice, in podcasts on the school’s website. The event culminates with a keynote speech by Sheila Davis, director of Global Nursing at Partners in Health and a former faculty member at the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions, whose specialties include domestic and international HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases. The celebration will also feature a tribute to the late Sargent Shriver, a driving force behind the creation of the Peace Corps and its first director.
The events are as follows:
• Today, Feb. 28, through Wed., March 2, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Carpenter Room. Countries of Service Poster Display, including artifacts, photos and videos. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., SoN Cafe. Winners of the Women’s Stories from Around the World Photo Competition.
• Today, Feb. 28, noon, Carpenter Room. “Tell Your Story” open mic event and celebratory cake.
• Tues., March 1, noon, Rooms 9 and 10. Returned Peace Corps volunteers give brief presentations about their service and answer questions. 7 p.m., Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. “Bringing the World Home” celebration in partnership with the University of Maryland. Returned volunteers will share stories from Albania to Zimbabwe, and friends of Sargent Shriver will recount memories of the founding days of the Peace Corps. Refreshments, music, photo and artifact displays, and an open mic storytelling booth. Tickets, $13, will be sold at the school on Feb. 28 and March 1.
• Wed., March 2, 4 to 6 p.m., Alumni Auditorium. Keynote speech by Sheila Davis, director of Global Nursing at Partners in Health, who will speak about her work in global nursing, the current work of Partners in Health and strategies for nurses interested in a career in global nursing and global health.