Interview with Art Flanagan, October 31, 2023

Interview Summary

Abstract for Art Flanagan Peru,1968-1970, Agriculture Extensionist, Community Developer and Teacher. Art Flanagan was raised in Chicago. He went to a Franciscan grade school and graduated from Illinois Benedictine University in sociology and philosophy. He tutored inner-city Latino/Mexican immigrants and worked on a community service project in Mexico. In 1968 Arthur was invited to serve in Peru as a non-matrix, independent placement, spouse. Art worked with the Ministry of Agriculture on a dairy herd improvement program and taught at the first co-educational Agriculture and Nutrition high school. In the high School he served as a physical ed. instructor. He also conducted secondary community service projects such as; alfalfa tests, school construction, a theatre annex that was used to show commercial movies in order to raise funds for school classroom constructions. He also used the projector and theater to show USAID technical movies about agriculture and nutrition. Art noted that development begins by showing respect and faith in all members of the community and recognizing their priorities. He also shared about the importance of studying the communities’ social structures in order to find and work with leaders in the community.

Interview Keyword

Peru agriculture extension community development Chicago Franciscan school tutoring Mexico Maryknoll Conference on Inter-American Student Projects Illinois Benedictine University sociology philosophy application non-matrix spouse generalist individual placement Pre-Service Training Toluca, Mexico Spanish Co-Education High School of Agriculture and Nutrition Chiwawensa bus line Jack Vaughan Peace Corps Agency Director selection psychiatrist Paulo Freire golpe coup General Velasco Pampacolca work site Arequipa volcan Corapuno volcano Incan ruins Hiram Bingham house Camilo ElilarioEngineer Jose Llerena supervisors dairy cattle physical education secondary activities Bob Blake PCV San Antonio SPA small project assistance grants Majes valley irrigation project vacations Peace Corps staff memorable moments social network mestizo indigenous population development change leadership cultural elements Achilles PC staff

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