Interview with Byron L. Williams, August 20, 2021

Interview Summary

Byron L. Williams volunteered in the Peace Corps twice and also was a staff member. He served in Lesotho, 2003-2005, working in Youth in Development; Ukraine (with his wife), 2011-2013, working in Education; and as a staff member in New York City and Washington, D.C., 2014-2019, working in recruitment. In Mohale's Hoek, Lesotho, Williams felt he was fully accepted into the community when he gained facility with the national language, Sesotho. This broadened many people’s perception of what a “real” American was. In Lviv, Ukraine, Williams taught English language and culture to university students and created instructor-focused capacity-building programs. After gaining his community’s trust, people loved learning about him and his wife as Black Americans. As a diversity outreach specialist with the Peace Corps, Williams focused on under-represented groups and increasing focused recruitment around intersectionality. He views Peace Corps service as a job first, a responsibility, and an opportunity for professional development internationally and meaningful cultural exchange.

Interview Keyword

Lesotho (Country of service) Ukraine (Country of service) 2003-2005 (Date of service) 2011-2013 (Date of service) 2014-2019 (Date of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Youth in Development Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Education Peace Corps Job: Diversity Outreach Specialist Peace Corps (U.S.)--2000-2010 Peace Corps (U.S.)--2010-2020 Peace Corps (U.S.)--Management Peace Corps staff Sesotho (Language) Ukranian (Language) Diversity in the Peace Corps Black Americans United States (Country of service)

Interview LC Subject

Peace Corps (U.S.) Peace Corps (U.S.)--Lesotho Lesotho Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ukraine Ukraine 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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