Thank you for sharing Georgia Hartness’ Peace Corps story (“Islander fulfills lifelong dream of joining Peace Corps, June 27. ) In my experience as a Peace Corps volunteer in 1970, Georgia is in for a life-changing experience. The most impactful element for me was living with the Mesa family on the U.S.A./Mexican border in San Ysidro, California, during training. Little did I know at the time that by sharing a home with Mexican immigrants, I would develop a lifelong respect for the Latino culture. That respect resides in me today and frames my thoughts about today’s immigration debate.

While most of us will not be serving in the Peace Corps, we do share Vashon Island with a number of Americans that originated in Mexico or Central America. If you have an opportunity to meet some of these individuals please do so. Perhaps by doing so you can help to fulfill goal #3 from the Hartness article: “Help to promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of America.”

— Bruce Jackson