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"The vision and scale for the Peace Corps reflected the big ideals of the time, the belief that a grand notion such as world peace was not only attainable, but that the US could play a major role in making it happen."
Gerard T. Rice, Author: The Bold Experiment: JFK's Peace Corps


“Those Peace Corps Volunteers come home, back to the United States. And they bring with them the knowledge of the world. They bring with them an understanding.”
John Garamendi, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Ethiopia 1965-1967 and United States Representative

February 22, 2020, 12:00
History Theatre

12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Documentary Screening

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Post-Screening Discussion
& Reception

A Towering Task is a major new documentary on the Peace Corps

By thoughtfully telling the story of the Peace Corps’ past and present, and then taking a look at its future, we want to equip the American public to redefine what it means for America to join the world community - not as a wager of war, but as a peacemaker and problem solver.” 
— Alana DeJoseph, Director

Minnesota Return Peace Corps Volunteers (MNRPCV) is bringing this film to Minnesota. Glenn Blumhorst, President and CEO, National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) will host, leading a discussion after the film
 
The Documentary, A Towering Task, narrated by Annette Benning:
 
Founded during the Cold War, the Peace Corps stands as an icon of American idealism. From the beginning, its mission of world peace and friendship proved to be “a towering task.”  Signed into law by John F Kennedy and inspired by Minnesota’s own Hubert Humphrey, the story of the Peace Corps is a uniquely American tale. From the establishment of a brand new government agency and concept in international relations, to the growing pains of an agency striving to define its mission, A Towering Task takes viewers on a journey of what it means to be a global citizen. Minnesota has sent some 7,000 of the 230,000 Volunteers on this global mission since 1961.
 
Host country nationals, Peace Corps Volunteers and staff, and scholars and journalists take a closer look at this unique American institution’s efforts with peace building, economic development, and political independence through its history over nearly six decades. The documentary team interviewed over 100 current and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, current and former staff, scholars and journalists, and community members and leaders around the world. The team gathered archival materials, music, graphics, and narration to build out the story of the Peace Corps. 
 
To learn more about the documentary, visit https://www.peacecorpsdocumentary.com/

Minnesota History Theatre, 30 East 10th St., St. Paul, MN 55101, 651.292.4323,
Tickets:  $10 at box office.  Also sold online at the History Theatre.