Interview with Richard Bourne, August 25, 2023

Interview Summary

Richard Bourne Dominican Republic, 1964-1966, Mental Health and Community Development Pre-Service Trainer, 2/66-8/66, Camp Crozier – Arecibo, Puerto Rico Richard Bourne was raised in Brighton, Massachusetts. He graduated in sociology from Tufts University. JFK’s assassination influenced him to heed the call to serve and he decided to complete one semester of graduate level sociology at Duke University, then apply to the Peace Corps. Dick was initially assigned to work in agriculture in the Dominican Republic. However, during training his refusal to kill chickens he was raising derailed working in agriculture. Instead, Peace Corps accommodated his interest in mental health and developed an assignment at the Mental Hospital (Kilometro 28) outside of Santo Domingo. Dick introduced activities for the patients at the hospital to include showing movies lent by USAID as well as athletics. Dick also worked in his neighborhood giving presentations on health issues, teaching English, and providing baseball equipment. Civil war broke out and Dick had to be evacuated from his site. He was moved to Santiago to work in urban community development.

Interview Keyword

Dominican Republic health community economic development group 11 Brighton, Massachusetts Tufts University McLean Psychiatric Hospital Massachusetts General JFK assassination Duke University sociology public service Eagle Scout application Spanish staging Philadelphia Beatles San Juan Camp Crozier Arecibo, Puerto Rico Pre-Service Training Senorita Lopez Spanish teacher Howard Wiarda country history expert Outward Bound physical safety confidence Tomacito kiosk owner Carolyn Peyton psychologist deselection mental hospital Rio Piedras Santo Domingo Hotel Colon Kilometro 28 Mental Hospital housing work description electric shock treatment Ricardo Gonzales psychiatrist mental health programming community activities English classes health presentations civil war Hotel Embajador safety move food delivery riot blind Volunteer evacuated traumatized Anti-Americanism Israeli Ambassador Abba Eban Steve Honore B.J. Warren Peace Corps staff Latin American trip Bogota Barranquilla Medellin Santiago de Los 30 Caballeros second work site urban community development Universidad be Madre y Maestra English youth club girlfriend Close of Service session challenge memorable moment development perspective cultural influence relationships career influence

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