Interview with Karen A. Blackbird, July 22, 2023
Project: Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project
Interview Summary
Karen Blackbird served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic in 1996 to 1997, in the Community Education Sector. As a young girl, Karen was fascinated her uncle’s stories about his Peace Corps experience in Bolivia. Karen worked in early intervention at a Blackfoot Indian reservation in Montana after college. She applied to the Peace Corps but didn’t hear from them for over two years. Dominican Republic training was conducted near Santo Domingo. It focused on Spanish language, culture, health, and safety. Karen’s assignment was La Majagua de Sanchez (19.2624679556551, -69.70318714818568). Karen oversaw construction of an elementary school, although she had no construction experience. The project was successfully completed in 14 months. Secondary projects included participation in Women in Development group, and service on the HIV/AIDS Prevention Committee. Karen also taught informal English and cooking classes. Since completing her Peace Corps service, Karen has returned to the DR three times. She helped to build an addition to the elementary school with support from Rotary International. She has served on the board of the Phoenix Peace Corps Association for many years.Interview Accession
Interviewee Name
Interviewer Name
Interview Date
Interview Keyword
Peace Corps (U.S.) Dominican Republic (country of service) 1996-1997 (date of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Community Education Peace Corps (U.S.)--1990-2000 Peace Corps (U.S.) – Training (cultural, language, technical) Spanish (language) Santo Domingo La Majagua de Sanchez (assignment) school construction Women in Development HIV/AIDS prevention teaching English teaching cooking Rotary International Phoenix Peace Corps AssociationInterview 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
Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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.
Add this interview to your cart in order to begin the process of requesting access to a copy of and/or permission to reproduce interview(s).
Blackbird, Karen A. Interview by Julius Sztuk. 22 Jul. 2023. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
Blackbird, K.A. (2023, July 22). Interview by J. Sztuk. Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.
Blackbird, Karen A., interview by Julius Sztuk. July 22, 2023, Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
Persistent Link for this Record: https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt716vz12s3xp