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Local man joins Peace Corps workers heading abroad

BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

Scottsdale resident Justin Cohen is due to ride the �irst wave of Peace Corps volunteers heading overseas since the pandemic began in March 2020.

Back then, the Peace Corps pulled more than 7,000 out of over 60 countries and now it has decided it’s safe for them to return. Cohen, who joined the Peace Corps in May, will spend the next two years in Colombia. where he will work as a community economic development “connector.” “I’ve always been interested in the public service sector and I think that the Peace Corps was just the next step for the things that I’ve previously done,” Cohen said.

Cohen graduated from Horizon High School in 2016 and then headed to Emory University to pursue a career as a paralegal. He spent his time between his studies working with a student government group, interning for the ACLU and the Georgia House Democratic Caucus. But after landing a job as a paralegal with a �irm in New York and working in that position for over two years, Cohen felt moved to volunteer with the Peace Corps.

While he admits some apprehension about moving to a new country and facing a lot of uncertainty, Cohen said he also is excited about the venture.

“Working in an unstructured and kind

of ambiguous environment might be more challenging, but we’re given goals and we’re given the tools to achieve those goals,” he said. “And at the end of the day, we’re the ones that have to try to �igure out how to best incorporate that into the community that we’re a part of. But I’m excited for sure and I’m sure those nerves will go away once I become more familiar with my daily life in Colombia.” Before heading off to Colombia, Cohen hopped on a plane to Washington D.C. to meet other Peace Corps volunteers and members of his cohort before �lying off to Co-Scottsdale resident Justin Cohen is one of the fi rst Peace Corps volunteers to return overseas and will spend the next two years volunteering in Colombia. lombia. He said he could either end up volunteer(Special to the Progress) ing in the Andean region of the country or near the Caribbean coast. However, he added that once he lands in Colombia, his �irst three months will be spent in “pre-service training,” honing his Spanish, familiarizing himself with Colombian customs and norms and learning Peace Corps internal operations and how to interact with community economic developers. Upon completion of the training, Cohen will be formally sworn in and get to work in working with economic and social government staff, women and youth groups. He also will engage with the Colombian Ministry of Education and work closely with other nonpro�it organizations and government agencies. Overall, Cohen is optimistic about his excursion overseas to promote peace among the community. “The Peace Corps doesn’t just send volunteers to places that they’re not welcomed,” he said. “The Colombian Government has worked with the United States on this and, as far as the Peace Corps is concerned, I think they’re just looking for places where they view a need can be met and where our services can be of value. Following his two years of service, Cohen plans to attend law school and continue his work in the government and nonpro�it sectors, but in the meantime he is excited to learn more about Colombian culture and act as a liaison between the United States and Colombia. “I hope to learn more about Colombian culture to learn more Spanish and work on my Spanish,” he said. “And then I hope to improve some of the conditions in Colombia and I hope to be able to act more as a liaison between some people in Colombia.”

Marking Constitution Week

Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega recently met with, from left, Regent Stephanie Hill Troth, Ambassador Barbara McConnell Barrett and Vice Regent Yvonne Henricks Savage during a recent meeting of the Grand Canyon Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, which originated in Scottsdale 39 years ago. Ortega presented a Proclamation declaring Sept. 17 - 23 Constitution Week. As the 26th Secretary of the Air Force, Barrett set up the United States Space Force – fi rst new military service in 70 years – and managed a $205 billion annual budget. She also served her country as ambassador to Finland, deputy administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, and vice chairman of the U.S. Civil Aeronautics Board. Nancy Arnold, Chairman of Constitution Week, plans to visit Hohokam Elementary School second grade to educate on the Constitution. Information: grandcanyonchapterdar.org. (Special to the Progress)