Interview with Phil Lopes, May 4, 2021
Project: Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project
Interview Summary
Phil Lopes was in the first Peace Corps Cohort in 1961 (1961-1963) as a Community Development Volunteer in San Joaquin, Santander, Colombia, which is in the North Eastern part of the Country. PST was held at Rutgers University where they also were able to travel to meet President Kennedy. Phil tells many stories about Peace Corps’ beginnings as well as the difference between being a volunteer and a staff member three months later in Brazil as Associate Peace Corps Director (1963-1965). He also was Country Director in Ecuador (1976-1978), and he and his wife, Pam, were Co-Directors in Brazil from 1978-1980. In fact, he was the last Country Directory in Brazil. He tells a story about turning out the lights and leaving. As a volunteer savvy in both Spanish and Portuguese languages, at the beginning of his tour in Colombia, he traveled to other areas assisting volunteers. He discloses how his tours formed his life in America helping poor people find their way and their voices. Phil finishes telling the story of establishing the RPCV group in Tucson, Arizona called Desert Doves, which raises money for projects in Latin America as well as other PC Countries.Interview Accession
Interviewee Name
Interviewer Name
Interview Date
Interview Keyword
Peace Corps (1961) U.S. PST Rutgers University San Joaquin Santander Colombia (Country of Service) Community Development Peace Corps Program (1961-1963) Associate Peace Corps Director in Brazil (1963-1965) Country Director in Ecuador (1976-1978) Co-Country Director in Brazil (1978-1980) Community Development National Coffee Growers Federation National Community Action Program in Colombia Peace Corps Staff Third Peace Corps Goal Leaving Brazil Meeting President John F. Kennedy Colombia Joining Peace Corps Desert Doves Tucson, Arizona.Interview Rights
All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.Interview Usage
Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.Restriction
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Lopes, Phil Interview by Pamela Estee Watkins. 04 May. 2021. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
Lopes, P. (2021, May 04). Interview by P. E. Watkins. Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.
Lopes, Phil, interview by Pamela Estee Watkins. May 04, 2021, Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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