Interview with Kirby Jones, April 22, 2021

Interview Summary

After college, Kirby Jones was accepted into the Peace Corps. He received training in Outward Bound in Puerto Rico and more training in Los Angeles, California. He was sent to the Dominican Republic for the first Urban Community Development Project. Jones lived and worked in Barrio Simon Bolivar, Santo Domingo. It was the first time he was on his own after college. He started baseball teams for the youth, and eventually met their parents who formed Club Recreativo “El Aljibe.” The club became the vehicle for projects chosen by the community: renaming the barrio to Simon Bolivar, putting names on streets and numbers on houses, the building of a school, and a medical clinic. Volunteers’ work in the city was interrupted by the 1965 revolution. Jones worked with Peace Corps nurses in a rebel-held hospital. PCVs later delivered bulk food to the barrio. Jones returned to work full-time back in his barrio completing his service.

Interview Keyword

Bedford (N.Y.) White privilege William Sloane Coffin University of North Carolina Political science Pre-service training Camp Crozier (Puerto Rico) Los Angeles State College De-selection process Barrio el Aljibe (Dominican Republic) Barrios Neighborhoods Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) Capitals Guest houses Barrio Simon Bolivar (Dominican Republic) Nicholas de Ovando Albert Tomas Small stores Youth baseball Club Recretivo Aljibe Hermanos de la Salle Staff support Visiting dignitaries Revolutions Hospital Dr. Francisco E. Moscoso Puello Hospitals Peace Corps nurses Francisco Caamaño Rebel comandante Food distribution Volunteers’ letter President Lyndon Johnson Dominican Republic (Country of service) 1963-1965 (Date of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Urban Community Development

Interview LC Subject

Peace Corps (U.S.) Peace Corps (U.S.)--Dominican Republic Dominican Republic Acculturation Communication and culture Culture Culture shock Intercultural communication Interpersonal communication and culture Interpersonal relations Interpersonal relations and culture Language and culture Language and languages Lifestyles Manners and customs Voluntarism Volunteers

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