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How does Peace Corps service shape a lifetime of creativity and cultural impact?
Join Women of Peace Corps Legacy and the Museum of the Peace Corps Experience for an engaging panel discussion on how Returned Peace Corps Volunteers have transformed their international service into meaningful careers in art, writing, education, and cultural leadership.
The panel brings together professionals from the Smithsonian Institution, as well as artists, writers, photographers, and cultural managers whose work continues to bridge communities and celebrate global connection.
Guests will also have the opportunity to experience the Museum’s acclaimed exhibition, Peace by Design: Posters, Poems, and the Spirit of the Peace Corps, currently on view at the MLK Library. Come for the art, stay for the inspiration—and discover how the creativity sparked by Peace Corps service continues to shape culture around the world.
5:00pm – Exhibition viewing
5:30 – 7:00pm – Panel presentation
Moderator:
Kate Raftery- RPCV Paraguay
Kate Raftery is a leader in service, volunteerism, and youth engagement. Her Peace Corps career includes roles as Country Director, Deputy Director in five Latin American and Caribbean countries, Chief of Operations for the region, and Advisor to the Director. Her journey began as a Volunteer in Paraguay in the early 1970s. She has also held leadership roles with the National Park Foundation, AmeriCorps NCCC, and the International Youth Foundation.
Panelists:
Tiffany Wimenta- RPCV Kosovo
Tiffany Wimenta served in Kosovo as a TEFL teacher from 2017 to 2019. A DC-based singer-songwriter and guitarist, she fronts the band Lost Pennies, which aims to build community through shared experiences of joy, heartache, and connection. After the Peace Corps, she worked as a data scientist and solutions designer at FEMA. Tiffany is now shifting her career toward work focused on the climate crisis and strengthening democracy.
Sarah Erdman- RPCV Cote d’Ivoire
Sarah Erdman served as a Peace Corps health volunteer in northern Côte d’Ivoire. Her book Nine Hills to Nambonkaha won the Paul Cowan Nonfiction Award and was featured in Barnes & Noble’s Discover Great New Writers program. She has spoken about West African culture at the Carter Center, the World Affairs Council, and the World Wildlife Fund. For over 20 years, she has worked in educational travel with National Geographic and the Smithsonian.
Lisa Martin- RPCV Estonia
Lisa Martin has led Silver Spring Town Center Inc. since 2011, producing over 100 arts and entertainment events each year that strengthen community connections. With more than 30 years in arts and cultural programming, she has worked with the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, VSA Arts, San Diego Opera, and festivals in Ireland and Estonia, where she served as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Her honors include two Presidential Lifetime Achievement Awards and the 2025 Civic Circle Art of Service Award.
Molly Fitzgerald- RPCV Togo
Molly Fitzgerald has spent much of her career in public health, combining research and program innovation to create meaningful impact. She is also an artist and founder of ColorTellaVisions LLC, a DC-based company specializing in abstract paintings and upcycled wearable art. Her vibrant work aims to inspire hope and positive change. Molly’s passion for both art and health grew from her experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer in rural Togo, West Africa.
