Film Discussion- A Towering Task: The Story of the Peace Corps
Channel: Jimmy Carter Presidential Library
Date: 31/03/2021

Join us for a discussion of the first big picture documentary about the Peace Corps and explores the program's history and legacy, told through interviews, archival materials and more.  The panelists and their bios are listed below.

Alana DeJoseph (Director of A Towering Task):
Alana has worked in video and film production for nearly 40 years as producer, director, and videographer. She was associate producer of the PBS documentaries The Greatest Good (about the U.S. Forest Service) and Green Fire (about conservationist Aldo Leopold). Alana is also a returned Peace Corps volunteer, serving two years in Mali, West Africa.

Mary Ann Peters (U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh):
Ambassador Peters is an American career diplomat and the former executive officer of the Carter Center. A member of the U.S. Department of State for nearly 30 years, Peters served in a variety of postings before becoming a National Security Council staffer and United States Ambassador to Bangladesh. While she was Ambassador to Bangladesh, there were 70 Peace Corps volunteers serving in the country.

Glenn Blumhorst (President & CEO, National Peace Corps Association):
Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Washington, DC, NPCA’s mission is “to champion lifelong commitment to Peace Corps ideals.” During his tenure, Glenn has led NPCA’s historic transformation from a dues-based alumni association to a community-driven social impact organization. Glenn is also a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, serving  in Guatemala from 1988 to 1991.

Jason Carter (Returned Peace Corps Volunteer):
The grandson of President Jimmy Carter, Jason followed in the footsteps of his great grandmother, Lillian Carter in serving in the Peace Corps. After graduating from Duke University, Jason joined the Peace Corps, where he worked on education issues in rural areas. He learned to speak Zulu and Siswati. He wrote a book, titled Power Lines, about his experiences there. An attorney and former state legislator, Jason is currently the chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Carter Center.

Mariana Cubillos (Returned Peace Corps Volunteer):
Mariana served as a community business advisor in Panama from 2018 until the Covid-19 pandemic forced the Peace Corps to evacuate volunteers  in 2020. In Panama, Mariana worked in a rural community which had road access but had no electricity or running water. Her work during her 20 months there was focused around building/improving fundamental finance and leadership skills. She worked primarily with local artisan women, as well as other community members, helping them organize an artisan cooperative and raised roughly $13,000 USD for a multi-sport court that was postponed because of Covid.

Date: March 29, 2021