Interview with Douglas Wade, May 19, 2021

Interview Summary

Douglas Wade served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Brazil, 1964-66 in Community Development. At Carleton College, he learned that Peace Corps (PC) welcomed liberal arts majors. Pre-service training at Arizona State University included training in the Portuguese language, public health, and physical fitness. A third of the trainees were deselected. After arriving in Rio de Janeiro, his site was changed to Taguatinga near the new capital of Brasilia. He lived with two Brazilians, near another volunteer. Wade worked in community development and helped establish a library, build a playground, put on festivals, and coached soccer. Topics discussed include close friendships with Brazilians, PC staff support, gender and race issues, JKF’s assassination, vacationing in country, and challenges understanding Portuguese. He learned persistence, reaching out to people, and openness to new ideas. After service, while earning a MPA at Cornell, he married an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer. Three of their four children spent a year as public service volunteers. Their fourth child spent ten years working with youth in his church. Wade also mentions that he returned to his site for a visit thirty-eight years after his service ended.

Interview Keyword

Brazil (Country of service) 1964-1966 (Date of Service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Community Development Pre-service training Deselection Brazilian history

Interview LC Subject

Arizona State University Arizona Training Gender Race Staff Brazil Peace Corps (U.S.) Peace Corps (U.S.)--Brazil Taguatinga (Brazil) Brasilia

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Interview Usage

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