PEN OR PENCIL National Mentoring Initiative

PEN OR PENCIL (POP™) is a 12-month culturally-based academic and mentoring enhancement curriculum created by the National Alliance of Faith and Justice (NAFJ). POP is implemented by a rapidly growing diverse nationwide network of autonomous affiliates who enter into Memorandum of Understanding with NAFJ (subject to appropriate review and screening of oversight coordinators and certifications) to provide school- and/or community-based mentoring since 2005. In keeping with efforts by NPS to develop new national partnerships as liaisons, in 2013, NAFJ entered into its first cooperative agreement with the agency and became a primary partner in the planning and coordination of the NPS Civil Rights Commemorative events and activities designed to engage youth civic engagement, cultural-based mentoring, volunteerism, and educational opportunities for diverse youth communities. NAFJ/POP served as lead partner in joint efforts to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington by co-hosting the POP March on Washington Youth Education and Mentoring Summit at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. Excerpts from the event may be viewed on the CSPAN network -“Civil Rights and Mentoring.” POP was renewed by NPS for five additional years in July 2017- NAFJ entered into cooperative agreement to fulfill Opportunities for Social Research on History; Youth Centered Education and Programming.