In these troubled times, I often find myself downhearted about the state of the world and the prospects for peace for future generations. My heart was lifted on August 18 during Peace Corps Connect (sponsored by the National Peace Corps Association and held at American University in Washington, DC.), as I sat among people who have not given up. Imagine being in a huge convention space with former and returned Peace Corps volunteers (RPCVs) and those affiliated with the organization and what it stands for, an entire room of hundreds of people who each prize service and human connection toward peace, friendship, and understanding around the planet? 

As I listened to one speaker after another and conversed with new acquaintances, I felt inspired to join in and re-commit myself to help in the rural communities of Morocco through the High Atlas Foundation. My head was swimming with new ideas as their enthusiasm stirred me to action. I felt so gratified for the liberty to work toward fulfillment of our nation's highest ideals regardless of what negative rhetoric I hear in the media. I came away from the experience with renewed hope.

The highlight of the day was witnessing my dear friend, Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir, receive a very well deserved honor as the 2026 winner of the Sargent Shriver Award for Distinguished Humanitarian Service. Anyone who has met him or read about him knows that he has committed his entire adult life to participatory, community-led development. 

As a co-founder and current president of the High Atlas Foundation, he has been instrumental in supporting people's stated goals and promoting their development projects in ways that have literally transformed communities across the nation of Morocco. I swelled with pride to see him recognized and know that I have partnered with HAF as a volunteer in recent years. The audience was rapt during his acceptance speech about the power of participatory development and the need to continue this valuable work. With his rousing words, he encouraged those in attendance to keep building local partnerships that have embodied the legacy of the Peace Corps for the past 65 years.