Mother, daughter share Peace Corps connection to the Dominican Republic
You are here Feb. 18, 2021
There are many families with a tradition of Peace Corps service. It’s not hard to find generations of mothers, daughters, fathers, sons, and siblings who have all volunteered.
It s rare, though, to connect with a mother and daughter who served on the same island nearly 30 years apart. One held onto the idea of Peace Corps service for decades, and the other wasn’t sure it was part of her plan. In the end, both served and both have unique experiences to share.
Ella Cheri Bennett, a 2020 Franklin H. Williams Award recipient, was born and raised in tiny Lilesville, North Carolina, a town of 537 about halfway between Charlotte and Fayetteville. Despite the small-town surroundings, Cheri, as she’s known by her Peace Corps family, had big dreams of seeing the world. When she saw a Peace Corps ad on TV as a teenager, she knew it was her route to doing just that. She e
December 15, 2020
WASHINGTON – The Peace Corps honored six returned Peace Corps volunteers (RPCVs) and one non-RPCV with the 2020 Franklin H. Williams Awards in a virtual ceremony today. Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, former U.S. ambassador to Malta, spoke about the importance of international service and Peace Corps Director Jody K. Olsen congratulated the awardees on their achievements.
The Franklin H. Williams Award honors RPCVs from ethnically diverse backgrounds who exemplify an ongoing commitment to community service and the Peace Corps’ third goal of promoting a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.
The Franklin H. Williams Director’s Award honors a non-RPCV for their outstanding commitment and steadfast support of peace and civic involvement and their commitment to the mission of the Peace Corps and current and returned volunteers.