THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 29, 1994 TAG: 9409290507
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
While volunteering with the Peace Corps in Tanzania last spring, Charles R. Baquet III was confronted by one of the African nation's leaders. The man, looking at the group of volunteers, asked Baquet, ``Where are my black sisters and brothers?''
Baquet was stunned. He knew of the low number of minorities in the organization, but now the problem was being noticed around the world. ``I got angry and concerned,'' said Baquet, who has been deputy director of the Peace Corps since March.
To boost minority membership, which since 1990 has averaged about 13 percent of the Peace Corps' 6,500 members, Baquet has launched a nationwide recruitment drive at predominantly black colleges and universities.
``The Peace Corps is a unique institution that should reflect the unique collage that is America today,'' he said this week during a recruiting visit to Norfolk State University. ``We black people have a place there. These schools produce the men and women we need in the Peace Corps.''
Baquet also visited Hampton University earlier in the week and will be at Elizabeth City State University today.
``Basically what I'm focusing on is the off-track schools. Schools that often the government and private sector look over. We know that there are good students at those schools.''
Baquet, a graduate of Xavier University in New Orleans, joined the Peace Corps in 1965, four years after it was created. He has worked in foreign service ever since and and was recently the U.S. ambassador to Djibouti.
``I wanted to take on the responsibility myself of redressing that diversity,'' he said. ``We're determined to do it. We're small enough and we can do it, and we have to do it.''
At the universities in the area, Baquet and his team talked with students and handed out information. The Peace Corps, he told students, could be the opportunity of a lifetime.
About 20 Norfolk State students - most as part of a business class - listened to Baquet speak on Tuesday. They asked him about everything from the application process, which takes several months, to serving in a country whose government is in chaos.
``We're apolitical,'' Baquet said. ``You're able to work in chaos because your thing is working.''
He also told students that the service defers education loans and offers a Peace Corps Fellows Program that would give them $5,500 upon completion of their service.
``I'm not looking for the `A' students here. I'll take a C-plus or a B-minus student,'' he said.
Those words impressed Mary Murray, a senior majoring in marketing at Norfolk State. ``Not every student at Norfolk State is the `A' student,'' she said.
Murray said it is hard to tell whether more students will become interested in signing up for service. ``But in a group of 30 if you spark an interest in just three . . .''
Michella Troy, a senior who has volunteered with the American Red Cross, said she found out more about the Peace Corps than she expected, but she is not ready to join.
``It did pique my interest. I didn't know about them helping with education,'' she said. ``My plans are to go elsewhere, but if that doesn't work, I'll keep it in mind.''
After college, many of Baquet's friends went onto graduate school or jobs, but a cousin and some friends sparked Baquet's interest in the Peace Corps.
The corps has changed a lot since Baquet first served in the 1960s, he said. Average volunteers now are older and more experienced, and the work they do in the countries is more specialized.
Baquet said he was buoyed by the enthusiasm he saw this week in students.
``African Americans relate very well (to service). It's the volunteer who gets more out of volunteering,'' he said. ``You're able to test abilities with no risk of failure. By and large, the success is immeasurable.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Baquet
by CNB