Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of South Florida, Inc.

Changemaking Education Awards - 2025

Early in October 2025, twenty educators were acknowledged, honored and celebrated for the projects they introduced to take learning beyond the classroom to a broader community.  Some examples ...  1) criminology students created and are maintaining a resource guide for formerly incarcerated individuals with the goal of decreasing recidivism, 2) high school students created a photo exhibit reminding the community and themselves that they are much more than a Single Story and 3) students worked with local organizations to preserve our cultural heritage by assisting with cleaning, identifying and cataloging local found artifacts and also trained and worked as Heritage Monitoring Scouts, a state cultural heritage program.

      Changemaking Education Awards - 2024             Changemaking Education Awards - 2023  

Our first celebration event was in 2012 and we have had 11 more (leaving out the Covid years of 2020 and 2021). In those 12 celebrations we have honored 165 educators and presented awards totaling $29,650.  In addition to the Awards, there are event expenses which include facility rental and insurance, main food items, drinks and various needed supplies.
 
In 2025 we were a Finalist for the National Peace Corps Association's Loret Miller Ruppe Award for Outstanding Community Service.  Have a look at our video describing the Changemaking Education Award, its recipients and its impact over the years.      
       
Changemaking Education Award
                                                                                                    

Members of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of South Florida, Inc. (RPCVSF) served overseas in the Peace Corps and continue to serve at home. 

Our projects include:

1) Annual Changemaking Education Awards

2) Annual Everglades Outing to Everglades National Park for over 100 local underserved children.

3) Financially supporting projects of Peace Corps Volunteers currently serving overseas.

We are seeking funding on Give Miami Day for the 2026 Changemaking Education Awards.

Educators adopt Changemaking education strategies in their classes by weaving community experiences into the academic learning.  For example in a college freshman English class, the students partner with a community organization of their choice. They conduct a literature review into the issues faced by the organization to which they add their personal experiences as primary research.  This combination is the focus of the course papers.  So the students learn research and writing skills in the context of a local organization. 

RPCVSF believes that this type of teaching and learning increases the students’ community awareness and commitment to meaningful civic engagement while sparking a sense of agency in them.  Many teachers report the continued community involvement of their students long after the class has ended.  We feel strongly that educators who take the extra steps to incorporate such learning should be acknowledged and honored.  

Nominations are solicited from South Florida K-12 and college/university educators.  Over a dozen are chosen to receive an award package which includes a check (amount depending on funds available).  We enjoy a celebration evening, introducing each award recipient and their “Changemaking” teaching to RPCVSF members and each other.  The adjective “inspiring” describes the evening!

Our other major project is the Everglades Outing, held each winter for over 20 years. RPCVSF hosts several busloads of underserved children for a day in Everglades National Park.  Most have never visited the park before. They enjoy a walk, seeing alligators, learning about the Everglades and a picnic lunch. This event is funded by our organization, individual members and community organizations. 

Please help us reach our fundraising goal of $5,000.