Community Benefits

One of the most commonly stated benefits of Coverdell Fellows at the UA is the sense of community. We build community through activities such as:
 
ORIENTATION AND MENTORING
  • Orientation the week prior to the start of classes
  • Coverdell Fellow mentor
  • "Moving to Tucson" guide and weekly emails for incoming Fellows helps with the transition to Tucson and graduate school
  • Social activities over the summer  
  • Connections to 60+ RPCV faculty and staff work at UA and and 700-800 RPCVs in Tucson
  • Leadership and networking with the Desert Doves (Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Southern Arizona)
 
COLLECTIVE SERVICE PROJECTS/SERVICE LEARNING
Fellows plan and participate as a group in three or more community service projects each year in addition to Peace Corps Week. These projects introduce the community to Fellows across disciplines, build community, and provide service to southern Arizona. Examples include:
  • Packing food boxes with Community Food Bank
  • Preparing the Las Milpitas plots for Farm Planting Day
  • Arts and crafts with refugee children
  • Gleaning with Iskashitaa Refugee Harvesting Network
  • Trash pickup on migrant trails 
  • Buffelgrass removal on federal lands
  • Cooking and serving a meal at Primavera Men's Shelter
  • Participating in the AIDSWalk
  • Volunteering at the Desert Food Festival
  • Trail cleaning and/or trash pickup with Arizona Conservation Corps
  • Conducting surveys at Cyclovia
  • Building homes for Habitat for Humanity
  • Volunteering at Fourth Avenue Street Fair with Desert Doves 
 
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND LEADERSHIP
The University of Arizona Peace Corps Fellows Club, open to all RPCVs on campus, meets monthly for professional development, special events, or social gatherings. Fellows are asked to connect to professional development opportunities that are meaningful to the individual fellow. Examples of workshops given by and for Fellows include:
  • Preparing to work internationally
  • Resume writing,  interviewing and negotiating salary
  • Developing academic and promotional posters
  • Video story telling
  • Grant writing
  • Best practices for evaluation 
  • Project management training
 
THIRD GOAL OUTREACH - SHARING OUR PEACE CORPS EXPERIENCE
  • Peace Corps Outreach Showcase
  • Mentor Peace Corps Prep students
  • K-12 school and community organization presentations
  • Campus talks and panels with campus recruiter
  • Participation in the Festival of Books Science City event
  • Peace Corps Fair
  • Peace Pole installation on campus
 
SOCIAL EVENTS
  • PC United Soccer Team
  • Monday night run/walk at Meet Me at Maynard's
  • Ragnar Relay team
  • Softball team
  • El Tour de Tucson
  • Kickball, slacklining, camping, climbing, hiking
  • Social events/potlucks
 
Current events for the upcoming year can be found on our Google Calendar.