The Pen or Pencil Movement of the National Alliance of Faith and Justice (NAFJ) is a social action and educational movement designed to influence the lives of youth at greatest risk of academic failure and potential incarceration. “Pen" is short for penitentiary while "Pencil" refers to education. This initiative was designed to help youth make the choice for education over a life of crime through heightened awareness and by cultivating resilience through a variety of exercises and approaches. The Pen or Pencil curriculum series targets youth in grades 5 and higher using 8 of 10 thematic strands of the National Standards for the Social Studies.

NATIONAL B.U.S. BOYCOTT CAMPAIGN

Whether the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the American Jewish Community in the 1930s and 1940s, or the United Farm Workers led by Cesar Chavez in the 1960s, we are rapidly approaching an era and generations are now in place which cannot fully relate to or appreciate the gravity of sacrifices and accomplishments of historic boycotts.

The National Alliance of Faith and Justice (NAFJ) has conceptualized and proposed the Pen or Pencil National B.U.S. Boycotts to impact attitudes, provide an environment for public interest and education, and reignite a spirit and reason to make change by America’s youth. Consistent with the Semester and Summer of Service philosophy, this project will tap into the amazing energy, idealism, creativity, and commitment of 40-day cycles of 40 youth per site to address one of the most intractable problem faced by many youth of our nation, the reduction of violence and crime.

This culturally competent and sensitive approach offers the benefit of neutrality to promote unity and a broader range of participation; it respects and uplifts historic sacrifices; and it offers criminal justice, education, service, faith, family, and business a framework in which to operate which transcends generational and other divides.

JUSTICE SUNDAY NATIONAL CONTINUUM

The national observance of Justice Sunday is trademarked by NAFJ and occurs on the day prior to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday. On that day, religious institutions and other hosts extend an invitation to their constituents to BEGIN a year of service (the continuum) as a volunteer while they educate the broader public about pressing issues in justice. Justice Sunday pays tribute to the location where many assembled for meetings and rallies during the civil rights movement, and most of all honors the faith tradition of Dr. King as a clergy and icon of selfless service.

On Justice Sunday, men, women, and youth are encouraged to bridge racial, denominational, geographic, and other divides to form and strengthen volunteerism which enlists the armies of faith, justice, and compassion into a united force.