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Happy 2016!
As we prepare for a new year with new opportunities and challenges, we first take one last look back at National Peace Corps Association advocacy in 2015.
With thanks for all of your contributions, here is our NPCA Advocacy Top Ten!
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1. $30.5 Million More for Peace Corps
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NPCA's leadership helped secure $410 million for FY 2016.
When we were told to wait until next year, we redoubled our efforts and pressed onward, against the odds.
Impact of this magnitude is the result of concerted effort. NPCA led the way in bringing the voices of Peace Corps constituents to the forefront, while Peace Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet and the indefatigable Capitol Hill Peace Corps champion, Congressman Sam Farr, went above and beyond. Together, we scored a major victory for the future of the Peace Corps - the largest dollar figure and third largest increase in the agency's 54-year history.
Help ensure victory in 2016.
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2. Record Number of NPCA District Meetings
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The Peace Corps funding victory is in no small part due to NPCA's grassroots advocates, who held a record number of meetings with lawmakers in their district offices.
Orchestrated by NPCA, the fifth year of our district office meetings initiative saw advocates from 22 states organize over 60 meetings - a new record!
Jacksonville area RPCVs (pictured here) held several district office meetings including this one with Congressman Ron DeSantis. They were not alone. Check out our 2015 District Meetings Photo Album
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3. NPCA Advocates Storm Capitol Hill
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80 NPCA advocates provided a big boost early in 2015 to make the case for $410 million for the Peace Corps when NPCA organized our 11th annual National Day of Action.
For Minnesota NPCA Board Member Jane Bardon (pictured here), six or eight inches of snow is no big deal. But that's not the case in our nation's capital, where a snowstorm shut down the federal government and threatened the cancellation of the Capitol Hill portion of our Day of Action in Support of the Peace Corps. But you turned out. Thank you!
Check out our 2015 Day of Action Photo Album and join us for Day of Action 2016!
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4. A Bigger, Better NPCA Advocacy Program
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When NPCA's Advocacy Program has the resources at its disposal, good things happen. An expanded team enables NPCA to help the Peace Corps be its best.
Funding, reforms, entitlements, and many more community concerns are best served by robust NPCA capacity. In 2015, J.M. Ascienzo (pictured here, far right with Rep. Nita Lowey and her constituents) joined the NPCA team, bolstering our energy and efforts on a broad spectrum of advocacy priorities. Our latest addition enables NPCA to more aggressively lobby for both the expansion and improvement of Peace Corps.
An investment in NPCA ensures the future of the Peace Corps. Donate now!
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5. Progress on RPCV Health Reforms
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2015 marked further awareness raising and activity to address ongoing health challenges.
Challenges are wide ranging and complicated, and there's a long way to go. But 2015 marked some key steps forward to address the needs of RPCVs who struggle with health issues stemming from their service.
A first-ever Health Justice Awareness Day resulted in 10 community forums around the country, and there were more developments by year end.
Read More
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6. NPCA Fields More Advocacy Coordinators
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NPCA's volunteer leaders are connecting with you and building our movement.
Our 2015 goal was to have 40 advocacy coordinators. By year end, there were 42 coordinators in 31 states.
During NPCA staff's trip to Alabama, activities included two district office meetings organized by state advocacy coordinator Sam Ryals (pictured here), one of our newest advocacy coordinators.
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7. NPCA Advocacy: It's In Your Hands
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NPCA is using technology to make advocacy "ridiculously easy" (to paraphrase an RPCV advocate).
In October, NPCA invested in crucial click-to-send software that allows you to contact members of Congress more quickly and efficiently. By the end of 2015, more than 3,100 messages to Congress had been sent. That's a pretty good return on the investment!
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8. And the Winners are...
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It's one of the most unique voices in support of the Peace Corps that NPCA brings to Capitol Hill.
Once again in the summer of 2015, NPCA organized a full day of Capitol Hill meetings featuring the winner of our Harris Wofford Global Citizen Award. This year's winner, Berhane Daba of Ethiopia (pictured here, front row), shared her amazing story along with Mary Myers-Bruckenstein (right), the RPCV who helped change the trajectory of Ms. Daba's life.
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9. Thirty-nine Cities - Sixteen States!
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From Miami, Florida to Madison Heights, Michigan; from Chico, California to Charleston, South Carolina.
NPCA advocacy staff continued its commitment to connect with you.
By the end of 2015, we visited 39 cities in 16 states to continue building our network. A big thanks to the many RPCVs who helped coordinate activities in connection with our visits.
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10. Amplifying Your Voice on Global Issues
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Our Peace Corps community represents a respected, passionate and powerful voice to many global issues. That's why NPCA continues to devote advocacy efforts to promote issues of global concern.
In 2015 we began to identify a global issue of the month (including our current action on clean cookstoves) to highlight key issues. We provided space for the Peace Corps Iran Association to share their call to action on the Iran Nuclear Deal; we promoted international road safety as a member of the Three Star Coalition; and we are circulating this survey to support the emerging affiliate group RPCVs for Environmental Action.
At the close of 2015, NPCA released this statement - with action opportunities - that addresses the need for tolerance, inclusion and diversity.
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You make it happen. Thank you!
For every leader of the Peace Corps community who took action in 2015, take pride in the fact that you made a difference.
- Eight former Peace Corps Directors made a difference when they worked with NPCA in sending a Peace Corps funding letter of support to Capitol Hill
- 101 NPCA affiliate groups made a difference when they signed an NPCA letter urging President Obama to request strong Peace Corps funding in his upcoming Fiscal Year 2017 budget request
- Dozens of Advocacy Coordinators who contributed their time and effort to mobilize the Peace Corps community to action
- Numerous NPCA office volunteers, interns and fellows who worked behind the scenes to support the Advocacy Program
- Thousands of RPCVs - too many to name - took action to help NPCA's advocacy program become bigger and better
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