Interview with Michael Benson, October 31, 2023

Interview Summary

Michael Benson, Dominican Republic, 1972-1974, Community Economic Development. Michael Benson was raised in Windom, Minnesota. He lived in an idyllic environment with liberal parents and international experienced friends. He graduated from the University of Minnesota/St. Cloud in business administration. He gained work experience that shaped his perspective on life’s issues across the U.S. Michael’s application to the Peace Corps was a spur of the moment act with a quick turn-around. He felt his Pre-Service Training prepared trainees as best they could. Michael was assigned to San Francisco de Macoris as a small business advisor working out of the Office of Community Development. He had 17 small business clients living in various towns around his home base. The program was supported by a revolving loan fund from USAID. Unfortunately, due to fraud accusations within the program, Michael was moved briefly to the Fundacion Dominicano de Dessarollo (FDD) and finally to the Volunteers in Technical Assistance (VITA) supported by the Ford Foundation. Michael married a Dominican woman and ultimately returned to engage in entrepreneurial initiatives in the Dominican Republic.

Interview Keyword

Dominican Republic community economic development Iowa Windom, Minnesota parents Eagle Scout University of Minnesota/St. Cloud business administration B.J. Warren RPCV application Bruce Potter PC desk officer U.S. Federal Health Clinics research study Nixon Pre-Service Training Ponce, Puerto Rico Rincon Marisol music festival 28 April 1972 revolution anniversary PCVs arrival in D.R. Steven Ortiz PCV San Francisco de Macoris work site pension guest house Dona Agila house renovation business clients typical day ODC Office of Community Development Jose Vasquez entrepreneurial fund manager worksites Cibao Valley San Francisco de Macoris Salcedo Villa Tapia Cotui Nagua La Terranas Samana Sanchez Los Cacaos Diamante fraud Matos Berido esquierdista leftist communista communist USAID investigators Camano rebel commander Playa Caraoles landing area vacations Quita Espeula check points FDD Carlitos Negrin supervisor Federation for Dominican Development VITA Volunteers in Technical Assistance grant Bread for the World vaccination Perdenales girlfriend wife botella “bottle” government appointment Inter-American Sports Games Avestruz pizza restaurant development perspective relationships social stratification

Interview 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.