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"Bringing
The World Back Home"
About CAPCA
The Chicago Area Peace Corps Association (CAPCA) brings together more
than 400 returned Peace Corps Volunteers who live and work in the Chicago
area. Organized in 1979 and incorporated in 1991 as a non-profit organization,
CAPCA is affiliated with the Washington, D.C. based National Peace Corps
Association.
CAPCA 's primary objective is to fulfill, in the Chicago area, the mission
of the National Peace Corps Association: Continue to work for world peace,
understanding, and well-being, with an emphasis on bringing the world
back home. The group works for this objective by funding Peace Corps Partnership
projects, supporting youth programs that offer leadership and cross-cultural
experiences, and providing speakers to organizations interested in the
Peace Corps and international development. In addition, CAPCA coordinates
a variety of volunteer projects that benefit local community service agencies.
During the past year, CAPCA continued to organize monthly dinners at international
restaurants in Chicago and nearby suburbs and several special events.
In May, CAPCA members traveled to Milwaukee to attend a Cubs v. Brewers
game (the Cubs won!) with members of the Milwaukee Peace Corps Association.
CAPCA also hosted the annual Founder’s Day Dinner in June, which
featured Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez as keynote speaker. Proceeds
from this event, our major fundraiser, enabled CAPCA to support Peace
Corps Partnership Projects in Ecuador, Kenya and Senegal. Due to the success
of our annual holiday potluck, which we again hosted in December, we added
a second potluck to our annual activity calendar – a summer evening
picnic at Ravinia. In addition our activities, CAPCA publishes a bi-monthly
newsletter, has a well-utilized electronic list serve, and maintains a
frequently-visited website.
CAPCA already has most of these popular activities on the calendar in
2003, but we always welcome new ideas and new energy to carry them out!
We welcome your suggestions for local community volunteer projects –
as long as YOU are willing to coordinate the activity – and we also
invite suggestions and coordinators for our monthly international dinners
and other activities.
Please contact CAPCA President Trina Janes (cjanes1999@kellogg.northwestern.edu) with your ideas.