Today we’d like to introduce you to Teresa Crockett.
Hi Teresa, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve been involved with US Servas since 1990 but the history of the organization goes back more than 70 years. After the devastation of WWII, Bob Luitweiler founded US Servas and together with like-minded friends in Europe they formed what became Servas International with US Servas and other member countries as part of it. The thinking is that as we travel more as global citizens having meaningful cultural exchanges with people all over the world rather than seeing places as strictly tourists, we will build cross-cultural understanding and a more peaceful world. Servas has grown slowly through an expanding network of friends, eventually gaining consultative status with the United Nations (UN). The core model of cultural interchange is through homestays. Members Traveling from all over the world can contact member hosts and inquire about staying with them for a visit. The standard visit is two nights because it gives people a chance to get to know each other and share meaningfully without it becoming an imposition. Day hosting is also an option for people to connect even if a host is not able to accommodate travelers in their home or if visitors only have a short time in an area but still want to engage with someone on a different level than is common for most tourists. This can take the shape of simply meeting at a coffee shop or spending the whole day together on some kind of adventure. There are special programs for youths and extended stays. Other connections aimed at specific types of experiences are also possible. All Servas members share a strong commitment to international friendship, hospitality and world peace.
Prior to COVID, we had roughly 15,000 member households in over 120 countries, with 2300 households in the US. So you see, we are a pretty small organization which has been advertised almost exclusively by word of mouth. With COVID, those numbers have dropped but are now starting to recover quickly.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
You can imagine that for an organization that is based on people traveling all over the world and routinely staying in other people’s homes, the pandemic hit us really hard. At the start of it, we had a small office in northern California. We kept the office open as long as we dared but had to make the switch to a virtual office, fully staffed by volunteers and with essentially no money coming in. It was a very rough transition but we are finally to a point where we have reasonable processes and sound technological platforms in place. One of the good things that came out of everything going virtual though, is that we still were able to visit people, lots of people. We had online discussion forums, book clubs, movie nights… we found all kinds of new ways to connect with old friends and to meet new ones and in ways that we hadn’t before. We were able to hear directly from Syrian refugees halfway around the world. We heard first-hand from someone who had just experienced the massive explosion at the Beirut port. A Servas summer Peace School in Turkey was opened up to children and teachers all over the world to share in cross-cultural fun activities. Children from Bountiful made and sent pictures to cheer children in Turkey who were victims of a devastating earthquake. Like most everyone else, we adapted best we could, but we are definitely enjoying being able to start to travel and host in person again. Another challenge we face is finding that balance between widely marketing the organization to keep some vibrant growth, and struggling with having people flock to Servas thinking that it is just a cheap way to travel. While other options have their place, and Servas is often an inexpensive way to travel, our membership is really focused on peacebuilding through cross-cultural exchange; equity and inclusion; and, sustainability. Sustainable travel in itself is a challenge and we are always looking at ways to lighten our footprint.
As we look at growing, we want to make sure we are gaining members such that it’s a good fit for everyone’s sake. The process of joining is more than what many people have become accustomed to where you enter your basic information, pay your money, click “enter” and you’re done. We require references, a photo, a short self-introduction, and an interview which can be in-person or virtual. New members need to complete an online profile then, after approval, they are free to roam about the globe and invite the world into their homes. It sounds more cumbersome than it generally is in practice, but folks should know about the process heading into it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Most of our “work” is through travel and hosting although, as I mentioned above, we do have other ways of engaging with others. We do like to join efforts with other like-minded organizations as well. Servas International is listed as an official non-governmental organization (NGO) under the UN with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). We have representatives at the UN in Vienna, Geneva and New York City. We participated locally in the 2019 UN Civil Societies Conference focused on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals that was held here in Salt Lake City. This was a fabulous and unique opportunity as it has been the only time such a UN conference was held in the US in any place other than New York City. There were so many large and small NGOs from all over the world doing amazing work that getting to learn about it from trailblazers was truly inspirational.
The Salt Lake City area has an active local group. We just hosted the 2022 annual US Servas national conference where we had engaging speakers talk with us about transforming a polarized society into inclusive communities; the state of the Great Salt Lake and why it matters; recreation for all abilities; what one person can do to help Ukrainian refugees; sustainable travel; an update on issues from our UN representatives and much more. Groups went to the Tabernacle Choir rehearsal, on local hikes and to Antelope Island – many of the visitors stayed in our homes for at least part of their visit. It was a busy few days.
The Salt Lake area members also have held a monthly potluck for years. Even during COVID, we met virtually or took camp chairs and picnics to meet in the International Peace Garden for a socially distanced gathering. People who would like more information on local (Salt Lake City area) events can contact me at VoyageUtah@usservas.org. US Servas is a 501(c)3 organization.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I spent my early childhood in Los Angeles. My family would go to downtown LA to places like Olvera St, Chinatown, and Little Tokyo, especially during festivals. I remember being captivated by the colorful dress, dancing, lanterns, music, art… the communities seemed so vibrant. Growing up, we always had National Geographic in the house along with other literature about life around the world – in fact, I still do. I’ve always appreciated and been intrigued by other cultures, customs, and ways of living whether from a different part of the country or halfway around the globe. When I was 10 years old, my family moved to a very remote part of Idaho. That was quite an adventure and I learned how different life can be only a few states away. I attended school in one building that was for all of K-12. I knew everyone in town including some of the very early settlers, but never lost my yearning to see even more places and meet more people first-hand. At 14, I traveled to Japan with 4-H and stayed with a host family for a month. Over the next couple of years, our family hosted youths from Japan.
With my family, it was customary to invite people to share a meal at a campfire or in our home. So when I learned of Servas from an older co-worker that had so many stories of people he knew from all over the world, I knew I had to join, and that was over 30 years ago. Since then, I have had guests from all over the world come to visit me and my family in our home. It became clear quickly that children don’t need to speak the same language to have a great time together. We’ve also made lifelong friends who are now very much part of our extended family. Although we have mostly served as hosts, I have taken each of our daughters on adventures abroad where we have met up with Servas hosts in Kathmandu who were activists for people with disabilities and who had disabilities themselves, women attorneys in Zagreb who took us on a walking tour of lesser-known sites, and a family in Istanbul who had two young girls. In all of our Servas visits, we learn about similarities just as much as we do about differences in our lives; we have meaningful conversations; we share meals and favorite places; and, we simply have a really nice time together.
Pricing:
- $33/year for Servas membership
Contact Info:
- Website: https://USServas.org (US site. US applicants apply on this website.)
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/us_servas/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/usservas/
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/usservas
- Other: https://www.servas.org (international site)
