Interview with Eric Juzysta, July 19, 2023

Interview Summary

Eric Juzysta Dominican Republic, 1991-1993. Community Economic Development Eric Juzysta was born and raised in middle class Port Huron, Michigan. He graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in economics and operations management. Shortly afterwards, he became aware of the Peace Corps business sector program and then saw Peace Corps as a career step through learning a foreign language, engaging with other cultures to eventually working in international business. Eric was assigned to Fundacion de Salud y Beinestar in Poster Rio in the Southwest of the D.R. He advised various grantees of Fundacion in accounting, record keeping, and operational management through working with producers’ groups of honey, coffee, and grapes. Eric engaged with a youth group planting Neem trees throughout the community. He painted wall murals of the DR, world and solar system, with students and teachers at local school. Eric also worked with another PCV to survey the population of an endangered crocodile species. Eric made friends of neighbors, farmers, teachers, youth, etc. through discussions of life’s perspectives in the U.S. and the D.R.

Interview Keyword

Dominican Republic community economic development Detroit, Michigan Kalamazoo, Michigan Western Michigan University economics operations management Peace Corps flyer international business career interest application interview staging Miami diversity poignant expectations Pre-Service Training Entrena training center Los Alcarizos training neighborhood host family HIV/AIDS projects Poster Rio Dessert on the River work site Neiba city Fundacion de Salud y Bienestar Foundation of Health and Well-being NGO assignment Mapio Executive Director Dutch grant health issues safety weapon house town layout Spainard recruiter young women typical day apiary coffee fields grape association marketing operational management youth group tree nursery and planting Lago Enriquillo Lake Enriquillo elementary school teachers murals maps neighbors vacation Howard Wallack Peace Corps staff PCV Advisory Committee Barahona meeting site dog tags safety peer group funerals memorable moments change process elements relationship elements cultural influences coming home Peace Corps service influence relevance of Peace Corps connections to Peace Corps diaspora

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