Students Across New Jersey ‘Speak Out for Peace’ in Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and President Barack Obama
statewide non-profit organization dedicated to expanding afterschool
opportunities for
issued jointly by President
tribute to the peaceful community actions demonstrated by Dr.
King Jr.
a statewide service learning project organized by NJA3 that engages students
in its afterschool programs in meaningful examinations and positive actions
towards peace and hope in their schools, communities, and the world at large.
“Speak Out for Peace” projects will kick off during the week of the Dr.
Luther King Jr.
dozens of afterschool programs statewide.
NJA3 has created an integrated project that will engage youth in thinking
about creating change in their local communities from Dr.
Jr.
NJA3 disseminated over 200 service learning kits to their extensive statewide
network of over 100 afterschool programs.
Afterschool sites throughout the state will have the opportunity to look
at themes of hope and peace during the celebration of MLK Day of Service using
“Speak Out for Peace: MLK Edition” kits. The “Speak Out for Peace: MLK
Edition” kits contain information about Dr.
around non-violence, and a six week curriculum that leads students to plan and
participate in projects that promote their voice and vision for how their
communities can contribute to and create a peaceful society.
Most significant to the initiative is the opportunity for youth to make
use of a public platform for the purposes of promoting hope, peace and
literacy. Youth participants will be encouraged to explore public speaking,
creative writing, photo journalism, music creation, dramatic arts, etc. as
means of spreading the message, and engaging the public while educating,
informing and disseminating information.
“There’s no better feeling than hearing the proud voices of neighborhood
kids standing up for a better tomorrow, by taking action in their communities
today. That is what ‘Speak Out for Peace’ is all about. Following the example
of Dr.
President
afterschool programs will now have their own platform on which to be heard –
and they will do it in their own artistic way that we hope will inspire peace
& hope within their communities,” stated
After 3.
NJA3 will utilize its existing service-learning staff, partnering
AmeriCorps members, as well as youth development workers as Service Learning
Ambassadors, engaging between 3,000 to 4,000 NJA3 youth in service-learning
projects under the themes of hope, peace and literacy. Additionally, 2,000 to
3,000 community and family members will join students during their culminating
events.
For more information on specific NJ After 3 Afterschool sites
participating with Speak Out for Peace events, please contact:
Director of Program Content & Special Initiatives, New Jersey After 3 @
ctarica@njafter3.org or 732-246-7948.
About New Jersey After 3, Inc.
New Jersey After 3 (NJA3) is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated
to expanding and improving afterschool opportunities for
giving them the opportunity to participate in high-quality, comprehensive,
structured, supervised and enriching afterschool activities. Currently NJA3
supports a network of programs serving over 14,000 children in over 100
schools in urban, suburban, and rural communities. For more information on
how to support the continued growth of New Jersey After 3 – please visit:
www.njafter3.org
SOURCE New Jersey After 3