Interview with John Weed, August 10, 2023

Interview Summary

John Weed served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic in a Forestry program from 1985-87. He joined the Peace Corps to experience another culture and learn another language. He praises the technical and language training he received. He talks about working with a local college in Cotui starting and managing an energy farm while absorbing the Dominican culture. The farm used student interns to plant fast growing trees and work with local farmers to plant these trees to reforest land where trees had been cut down for charcoal. He also taught English at the college. He thinks the farm was successful, that he had a positive impact, and that he gained self-confidence because of his experience. Because of his experience, he got a social work degree and has worked with community-based organization in the Bronx, New York for more than 30 years serving low-income Dominicans and others.

Interview Keyword

Peace Corps (US) Dominican Republic (Country of Service) forestry (Peace Corps program) 1985-87(years of service) Barahona (site of forestry training in the Dominican Republic) Los Alcarrizos (site of language and cultural training in the Dominican Republic) Contui (town in which he lived) Santo Domingo (capital of the Dominican Republic).

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