Tori's Last Day at the Peace Corps

A little over five years ago, Tori was miserably unhappy in a job where she was managing eight after-school programs.  Lots of stress and a boss who was very difficult to work for.  She was so overwhelmed at work that she didn't have time to look for another job, so I looked and found the Peace Corps recruiter vacancy.  Since I had previously held that job in San Francisco, I completed the entire application and submitted it for her.  She just had to show up to the interview, and of course she sold them from there.

For five years, Tori went around to college campuses and communities spreading the good word about Peace Corps.  She's always been known for her energetic presentations and would NEVER think to use PowerPoint!  To get a sense of what her co-workers and boss think of her, below is the email that my boss sent out to a few hundred employees within Peace Corps' department of recruitment and selection (it was jointly compiled by a few staff members).

Today TEAM LA bids farewell to Tori.

If Peace Corps opens a recruitment "hall of fame," she will be there.  If we could get her a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, we would.  If she had a jersey number, we'd retire it.  You get the idea (though she probably won't get that last reference).  Arguably one of the best recruiters in Peace Corps' history, Tori Wilson has also become a close friend to all of us at LARO – saying farewell is not easy.

To say farewell to Tori, is to say farewell to a legend.  Five years ago, Tori brought the energy, passion, and enthusiasm she brings to all aspects of her life, to recruiting.  The greater Los Angeles area will never be the same.  Besides nominating an incredible 591 applicants, she turned UCLA into a Tier 1 powerhouse, turned Cal State Long Beach into the top CSU school in 2011, and spearheaded countless retention events, in addition to a myriad of other feats.  As evidence by almost half of her nominees coming from diverse backgrounds, it has always been her priority to see volunteers reflect the diversity of America.

Even more impressive than numbers is her character – she is all heart.  She has captured the heart & minds of thousands of prospects (and fellow staff) with her engaging and compelling presentations.  Her inquisitive spirit has always led to great questions about how we as an agency can do better.  She is naturally warm and inclusive, immediately welcoming all new staff, prospects, and applicants alike.  During her final Long Beach community information session, a former nominee of Tori’s who is now an RPCV, surprised her by presenting a gift from his country of service.  She was taken aback, as she has always been by praise received for her accomplishments.  She doesn’t understand her greatness, because it’s really effortless.  A genuine team player, she is always willing to lend a hand and is excited to collaborate with colleagues. 

And not to be forgotten, she is the master of surface-street routes – avoiding interstate traffic at all costs.

Our office will not be the same.  It will be quieter without her contagious laughter, her fantastically thunderous Patois conversations (the language she learned serving in Jamaica for three years), and her electrifying sneezes.  We’ll have one less cyclist commuter, much less hip fashion sense, and far less originality.  We’ll miss her cooking skills at the potlucks to come, dance moves, limitless number of absurd stories only a “Tori” could find herself in, and the occasional visits from her three beautiful children.  All of these contributions at LARO have happened while becoming a foster-adopt parent to two, and mother to three, co-raising a lively young family.  Service is not something Tori does, service is who she is. 

As she embarks on this “close of service” with an adventure to Costa Rica, we wish her safe travels, relaxing days on the beach, and well-behaved children (as all three will be in tow).  With her background as a PCV, Master of Recreation and Park Administration PC Fellow, program director and manager of youth programs, and now recruiter, there is no doubt she will continue to make incredible contributions (and continue spreading the word about Peace Corps).  Tori will be truly missed and we wish her the very best.  Please join us in thanking her for an extraordinary eight years with Peace Corps.