Conference Acknowledges Peace Corps as a Leader among Agencies

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Peace Corps was recently recognized as an agency with effective Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and diversity programs within a federal agency at the Examining Conflicts in Employment Law (EXCEL) Conference in Chicago, Illinois. The recognition was specifically given for “substantive best practices” in both Special Emphasis Programs and Complaint Process Implementation.

“I am proud of our agency for earning this award and for being recognized as a leader in diversity programming,” said Peace Corps Director Ronald A. Tschetter. “The Peace Corps strives to promote equal opportunity in every aspect of agency personnel policy and practice in employment, development, advancement, and treatment of employees.”

The Peace Corps Office of American Diversity Programs continues to emphasize the value of pro-actively addressing workplace issues and concerns through its extensive training programs designed for domestic and overseas staff and Peace Corps Volunteers. As part of the information-gathering process, EEO managers throughout the federal government were requested to submit “best practices” relating to Special Emphasis Programs and EEO complaint processing. A “best practice” is an idea that asserts that there is a good operating process that is more effective at delivering a particular outcome than any other good operating process.

“The Office of American Diversity Programs is proud to contribute to the quality of the Peace Corps Volunteer experience and to overall workplace satisfaction. We strive to be proactive in our approach and place a high priority our programs as the demographics of the Peace Corps Volunteers and employees continue to diversify,” said Peace Corps American Diversity Program Manager Shirley A. Everest.

EXCEL is the premier training conference for Federal managers, supervisors and EEO practitioners. The annual conference is sponsored by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency responsible for enforcing EEO laws in the Federal and private sectors. The conference features top-level officials from the EEOC and other federal agencies, as well as nationally known EEO professionals.

The Peace Corps is celebrating a 47-year legacy of service at home and abroad. Currently there are more than 8,000 Volunteers abroad, a 37-year high for Volunteers in the field. Since 1961, more than 190,000 Volunteers have helped promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of the 139 countries where Volunteers have served. Peace Corps Volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment. To learn more about the Peace Corps, please visit our website: www.peacecorps.gov.

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