When President Obama asked Americans to start giving back–to their country, to their planet–in order to foster a climate of community service, he mentioned the Peace Corps as a viable and effective vehicle for such efforts. And it seems that his words did not fall on deaf ears.
Peace Corps applications are up 40%, and officials are saying it’s because of the “Obama Effect.” Enrollment itself is up 16% as well–7% of which is coming from people over 50, a demographic that typically accounts for only 4% of volunteers. (more…)